Foreign Policy Semester

This course is designed to introduce students to the variety of institutions, agencies and committees in Washington, DC outside of Congress and the Executive Branch that focus on the making, implementation, evaluation and advocacy of global policy, broadly defined. It will bring in experts from, or involve site visits to, intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, think tanks and advocacy/lobbying groups that work in the global policy space. The course will unpack these organizations to understand their mandates, governance and operational structures, policies and processes, and influence, as well as how they interact with other key agencies and work to address contemporary policy challenges.

This course will focus on the role of U.S. government institutions—from Congress and the Courts to various departments and agencies in the Executive Branch—in developing, funding, implementing, and overseeing U.S. foreign policy across a wide array of areas including defense, diplomacy, development, intelligence, and economic statecraft.

Using background reading material and discussions during the first class, the students and professor will choose a topic that deals with an ongoing global policy issue and is under consideration in Washington. In preparation for each subsequent class students will be required to search for relevant information/media stories related to the topic. Students will present this material in class for open discussion. Students will apply knowledge and skills acquired in the other two courses pertaining to institutions, organizations, and processes that play a part in creating global policy at the federal level.

Students will receive academic credit and jump-start their global career through an internship with a public, private, nonprofit or nongovernmental organization. Internship selection will be student-driven with assistance from their adviser/s and the LBJ Washington Center. Successful completion of the internship will account for three hours of academic credit.