USSC2601
US in the World explores the dramatic political and economic changes taking place today in America that will shape lives in Australia and around the world for years to come. This dynamic unit focuses on US foreign policy in the 21st century and explores the policy challenges posed by the new diffusion of global power, the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression, far-reaching changes in the Middle East, and the expanding struggle against violent Islamic extremism.
This highly interactive unit features guest lectures and conversations with leading American and Australian experts. In the past these included multiple Pulitzer Prize–winning author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard, US Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich, and influential China-watcher at The Atlantic James Fallows. Students are given an experience of the practical and strategic aspects of US foreign policy.
The major piece of assessment for this unit is a policy report. Students who author the best reports are nominated to the US Consul General who then invites the top three to present their findings at a roundtable lunch with the US Consulate staff where they receive the award for their work on the burning US foreign policy issues and solutions.
Students in this unit will learn using the Socratic Method, a crucial analytical tool in political science and is fundamental to the development of views that can be clearly expressed and reasonably defended.
The focus will be on role of the United States amid the challenges posed by the key global transformations of the contemporary era. Both lectures and tutorials will be designed to engage students fully, in order to increase their knowledge and develop their skills: analysing situations, forming opinions, solving problems and defending positions.
By the end of this Unit of Study students will be able to:
Classes
Taught in Semester 2, 2022
1 x 1.5 hour lecture per week
1 x 1 hour tutorial per week
Assessment
15% reaction paper (500 words)
30% midterm exam
40% policy report (2500 words)
15% participation
Prerequisites
12 credit points in American Studies
More details
Visit the University of Sydney website for information about fees, cross-institutional and non-award study, and more.