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 IR 700: Topics in International Relations
  Examines aspects of international relations. May be repeated for credit if topics are different. Topic for Spring 2026. Section A1: Project Management. A practical course providing students with a deep understanding of infrastructure project management, from policy to practical implementation using live projects from economic infrastructure sectors such as energy, transport or ICT. Special focus on the role of government, the private sector and financial institutions in successful project delivery.
• CAS IR 703: International Security
  Introduces core concepts of international security, including deterrence, balance of power theory, alliance politics, arms races, asymmetric warfare, and non-traditional security concerns such as terrorism. Topics are considered from both a theoretical basis and in historical and contemporary context.
• CAS IR 713: Latin America Past and Present
  Prerequisites: Graduate student standing. Open to select undergraduate students who have demonstrated the ability to be successful in a graduate seminar. Undergraduates must hold junior or senior status and a GPA of 3.3 or above. - The interdisciplinary study of Latin America through history, from pre-colonial indigenous times to contemporary achievements and challenges, including culture and the arts, archaeology, society, politics, and international affairs.
• CAS IR 732: Public Diplomacy
  Graduate Prerequisites: graduate standing. - Public diplomacy is the principal way in which states engage with overseas publics. The course examines the principles, functions, and practices of public diplomacy, as well as how they are affected by technological and political change. Effective Spring 2026, this course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital Media Expression, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry 1.
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  • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS IR 735: Global Health Diplomacy
  Graduate Prerequisites: graduate standing. - Examines how diplomatic action has addressed global health challenges, the strengths and weaknesses of these efforts, including in the COVID pandemic, and how global health has emerged as a field for competition among states and other stakeholders.
• CAS IR 759: Understanding Global Money
  Explores the causes, mechanisms, and effects of the globalization of financial markets. Major topics include financial crises, the role of the dollar and other fiat and crypto currencies, cross-border capital flows, development and climate finance, financial regulation, and cooperation among central banks.
• CAS IR 778: Problems of Strategic Intelligence
  Explores major aspects of strategic intelligence; interrelationship of intelligence and other aspects of foreign policy; performance of U.S. intelligence community; and intelligence as a tool in the formulation of foreign policy.
• CAS IR 780: CIA's National Clandestine Service
  The National Clandestine Service spends 15% of the US Intelligence budget but receives 95% of public and private scrutiny. Examines the unique legal mandate and culture of the clandestine service: espionage, covert operations, counterintelligence, and special operations.
• CAS IR 788: International Relations of Asia-Pacific
  Focuses on the Asia-Pacific region. Analysis of issues that have defined international relations; the impact of the Cold War, of regional economic growth and dynamism, and the emergence of contention over regional identity and its relations to global politics.
• CAS IR 789: Globalization, Development, Governance
  Graduate Prerequisites: (GRSIR603) or consent of instructor. - Covers the history, theory, and contemporary policies of the Bretton Woods Institutions and their offshoots, as well as the newly established development banks, with special emphasis on sustainability policy perspectives.
• CAS IR 798: Global Development Capstone
  Graduate Prerequisites: At least 12 credits toward the MA in Global Development Policy or the MA in Global Development Economics. - (Meets with GRS EC 798 and GE798.) Capstone course for MA students in Global Development Policy and Global Development Economics. Students, working in groups, design and carry out an interdisciplinary policy analysis comparable to those performed for a government or nonprofit agency.
• CAS IR 799: Master's Paper
  Provides structure and support to Masters paper writers, through individual mentorship of a faculty member. Goals include formulating researchable questions, creating viable research and writing strategies, and critiquing intermediate efforts. Normally taken in final semester for 4 units. May be taken in two consecutive semesters with permission.
• CAS IR 825: Seminar: Women and Social Change in the Developing World
  (Meets with GRS SO 820.) Studies women in nonindustrial countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, stressing empirical research, theory, and methodology. Comparisons between regions and with industrial countries. Focus on sex segregation, female labor force participation, migration, fertility, family roles, and women and political power.
• CAS IR 901: Directed Study 1
  Advanced independent study in international relations under the supervision of a faculty member. Usually requires a formal research paper. Hours arranged.
• CAS IR 902: Directed Study 2
  Advanced independent study in international relations under the supervision of a faculty member. Usually requires a formal research paper. Hours arranged.
• CAS LC 680: Modern Chinese Literature & Film
  Graduate Prerequisites: Graduate standing. - A seminar on the major works of modern Chinese literature and cinema from the May Fourth period to the present, with a focus on close reading and visual analysis. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
• CAS LC 951: Directed Study in Chinese
  Graduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and department.
• CAS LC 952: Directed Study in Chinese
  Graduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and department.
• CAS LE 529: Swahili with a Health Focus 1
  Graduate students in professional health fields are introduced to conversational Swahili with a particular focus on applications in global health settings. Designed for public health students who intend to work internationally or have an interest in a cross-cultural understanding of health.
• CAS LE 530: Swahili with a Health Focus 2
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLE529) or consent of instructor. - Building on CAS LE 529, this course continues to develop a student's conversational Swahili skills in global health settings. Second course in sequence designed for public health students who intend to work internationally or have an interest in a cross-cultural understanding of health.