Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• CAS HI 698: African American Historiography
  Graduate seminar in African American history surveys shifts in historiography in the last 25 years in slavery studies, Black women's, Black youth history, Great Migration, the histories of racial justice and coalitional movements (CR, BP, BLM), and the recent turn in carceral studies.
• CAS HI 800: European Historiography
  Examines historical writing about Europe through changing trends in method and approach.
• CAS HI 801: The Historian's Craft
  Intensive training in the best practices of historical research, writing, publication, and oral presentation. Culminates in the production of a publishable journal article.
• CAS HI 802: Graduate Topics in History
  Modernism: This seminar explores the explosion of new forms of art and thought in late-19th and early 20th century European capitals -- including Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and London -- against the backdrop of political, social, and economic transformations.
• CAS HI 803: Pedagogy and Professionalization
  Offers graduate students the opportunity to think about issues of course design and classroom teaching, to practice the concrete steps of academic preparation, and to develop the skills for a professional identity.
• CAS HI 843: Problems in Twentieth-Century History
  An international and comparative approach to major problems of the twentieth century. Readings on such topics as modernization, urbanization, revolution, and war and its consequences. Topics change annually.
• CAS HI 849: Race, Region, & Reunion in US History, 1830-1920
  Historiographic investigation of various central themes in nineteenth century US history, covering the years 1830-1920. Introduces students to scholarship on such issues as plantation slavery; abolition; Civil War; Reconstruction; and race relations after the Civil War.
• CAS HI 850: American Historiography
  Examines the methodological and professional development of American historians since the 1880s, changes in the field since the founding period, and new directions in U.S. history.
• CAS HI 851: Recent American History
  Advanced graduate seminar that investigates significant problems in the history of the United States since 1900. The specific focus of the seminar changes from year-to-year. Topics have included "Politics and Popular Culture in Twentieth Century America" and "State and Society."
• CAS HI 856: Historical Methods
  This seminar explores the variety of methods historians employ to research and write their histories as well as influential theoretical approaches (including from other fields such as anthropology, geography, and sociology) and their practical applications for historians.
• CAS HI 870: African Historiography
  Examines historical writing about the African continent through key trends in the study of themes and regional historiographies. Also highlights recent works in the field.
• CAS HI 900: Dissertation Writing
  Graduate Prerequisites: dissertation level in History. - A workshop designed for students writing a dissertation that provides them with critical responses to their work and addresses important issues associated with becoming a professional historian.
• CAS IR 500: Topics in International Relations
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Examines aspects of international relations. May be repeated for credit if topics are different. Topics for Fall 2024. Section A1: Technology & War. How do countries make choices between military technologies? How do they use them? What about emerging technologies? Examines the drivers behind countries' development of military technologies, how they operationalize them, and why they sometimes restrict them. Section B1: Financing Development in Africa. Canvases the set of development challenges that the countries in Africa face and the avenues and opportunities for mobilizing the necessary financing in order to meet the region's development goals. Section C1: Global History of Military Occupation. Analyzes the theory and practice of military occupation from the early nineteenth century through the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. Considers political, legal, cultural, and military aspects of occupation through comparative examination of a series of case studies. Section D1: Global Trade & Development. Provides deep understanding into the impact of global trade on socio-economic development, emphasizing the role of global and regional institutions. Special attention is given to the transformative rise of global supply chain trade and its intricate links to development outcomes. Section E1: China and the Political Economy of Global Development. Covers the path and trajectory of China’s international economic engagement and interactions with global economic institutions, with case studies in Africa, Latin America, Asia. Focuses on China’s role in institutions such as the IMF, the G20, and Multilateral Development banks. Topics for Spring 2025. Section A1: Latin America and International Law. It is widely believed that over the past two centuries Latin America has been exceptionally committed to developing and implementing international law. This course interrogates this notion through a range of historical and contemporary topics and controversies. Section B1: Weapons & War in Europe. Examines the politics, history, and technologies surrounding security and defense on the European continent—with an emphasis on weapons procurement. It analyzes the evolution of these policies in EU and among key players, including France, Germany, and UK. Section C1: Africa Development: Policy & Practice. Provides deep understanding of the theories, challenges, opportunities and strategies for promoting development in Africa through structural change that students will encounter in their careers as international relation professions as well as in the broader policy world. Section D1: The Politics of History and Historical Memory. Explores the politics of history. Topics include the legacies of World War II and communism, war crime tribunals and truth commissions, reparations for war crimes and human rights violations, and how the past is commemorated in public spaces. Section E1: Development Financing. Introduces the role of development finance institutions in fostering economic and social development. Examines the operating model for development finance institutions (DFIs) and the changing operating environment with special focus on DFIs operating in Africa. Section F1: Identity, Culture & Practices of Conflict Resolution in Africa. Introduces conflict resolution practices in Africa. The causes of conflicts, the types of disputes in the continent, and their relation to political economy, history, identity, and culture. Explores traditional approaches and modern techniques of peacebuilding and conflict-resolution practices.
• CAS IR 501: Conflict and Cooperation in Asia
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Meets with CAS PO 554. Investigates patterns of conflict and cooperation in South and East Asia surrounding issues ranging from water resources and health to borders and war. Analyzes how such issues contribute to instability in the region, as well as methods of cooperation.
• CAS IR 503: The U.S. in the Middle East
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing. - Meets with CAS PO 503. Examines the historical development and present status of the United States' association with the Middle East: American commercial, economic, political, military, and humanitarian interests in the area and their interaction.
• CAS IR 504: Politics of the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Limited to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Graduate Prerequisites: Limited to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Meets with CAS PO 577. An in-depth examination of the political, economic, and societal evolution and interactions of states and non-state actors in the Persian Gulf and Arabian. Critically assesses dominant political narratives. Considers factors ranging from politics and history to demography and resources. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS IR 505: Arms Control and Proliferation of Weapons
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. First Year Writing Seminar ( e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - Examines why and how arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation have become important issues in modern diplomacy. Analyzes the progress made in concluding global and regional agreements, verification and compliance techniques, and their role in post-Cold War security issues. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry II.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Social Inquiry II
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS IR 506: India and the World: The Foreign Policy of a Rising Power
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior, senior, or graduate standing; or qualified sophomores with con sent of instructor. - Today, India is a nuclear power with a huge and growing economy. This, along with the rise of China and 9/11, has catapulted India into the international limelight. This course examines India's rise, focusing on its foreign policy and international role.
• CAS IR 510: Comparative Immigration and Racial Politics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Senior Standing or consent of instructor. - Examines immigration policies and domestic racial hierarchies across world regions and regime-types. Role of immigration and racial hierarchy in economic development, state formation, nationalism, and electoral politics in three largest migrant-receiving regions: North America, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf.
• CAS IR 511: The Middle East Today
  A critical survey of the rise and development of modern nations, states, and economies in the Middle East and North Africa since 1900. Provides context and perspective essential for understanding contemporary issues (e.g., peace process, gender relations, religion's roles, democracy).