Britain is at a crucial juncture in its history. Brexit – the decision to leave the European Union – is leading many to question the United Kingdom’s entire political, social and economic relationship with Europe as a whole. This course critically examines the origins and evolution of the complex relationship between Britain and the European Union.

This course traces the evolution of the politics and international relations of Europe in the post-Cold War world. It seeks to address the question of whether there is one Europe or many by focusing on the issues of European politics and identity and Europe’s role internationally. It evaluates the causes and effects of the collapse of communism and the process of political and economic transition in Eastern Europe. Europe’s post-1989 wars in the former Yugoslavia are examined in the context of Europe’s institutional order as are the emergence of a series of sub-regional groupings within the European political system. The course then focuses on threats to pan-European security and the institutions and state alignments with which these threat can be met. The role of the European Union is a vital one and the course highlights the particular nature of the role the European Union plays in the evolution of contemporary Europe. Lastly, the course assesses the impact of Europe’s external relations on its international standing and the possibility of the creation of a single ‘European voice’.

This course is an introduction to Security Studies, a branch of International Relations that dates back to the beginning of the Cold War. During the Cold War, the security environment was dominated by the Superpower struggle between the US and USSR and the focus was on nuclear deterrence, the arms race, national liberation struggles and Superpower involvement in proxy wars in the Third World. Since the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization, the strategic agenda has changed considerably. The traditional focus on peace and war between states has been broadened to include the threats to international peace and security deriving from conflicts within states, from transnational actors – such as terrorist groups, insurgents and criminal organizations – and from environmental factors. It also embraces a more inclusive understanding of security that includes individual and societal freedom in terms of human rights and development. While the state remains the most important actor in the contemporary international security environment, it is facing new security threats such as weapons proliferation, international terrorism and migration. The course explores how contemporary states have met these challenges and if they have been successful in preserving their citizens’ security.

The course covers the basic elements of Middle East history and politics with special emphasis on political Islam. It begins with a broad introduction to the main features of the region and the historical background to the twentieth century. The contemporary period is then analysed in greater detail by focusing on the rise of the state system, the establishment of Israel, the emergence and discrediting of Arab nationalism, and the post-Cold War Middle East. All these twentieth century developments are examined for their own sake but also because of their contribution to the rise of political Islam, which is studied in the second part of the course. It will elaborate on political Islam as ideology and its ambiguous relationship with the nation-state, democracy and human rights and violence. The course will attempt to link the study of Islam and the Middle East with the events on and after September 11th and the Arab uprisings of 2011 in an in-depth manner.

Field work directly related to international issues in a public or private setting under the supervision of a faculty member. Related readings and an analytical paper are minimal requirements.

This course provides a general introduction to the sources of law of the English and Welsh legal system and how that law is implemented and enforced. It starts with a general outline of the various sources that the United Kingdom draws upon for its law, which will then be discussed in more detail throughout the course. It then examines the relationship that exists between the three institutions that make up the constitution of the United Kingdom, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, and their respective parts in the law-making process. The course then covers how legislation is created through Parliament and the political process which led to the enactment of the Human Rights Act, and the effect the Act has had on the traditional relationship between Parliament and the Courts. The course then outlines the role of the courts and the court structure and the methods the judiciary use to interpret legislation through the courts. Judicial law-making is then discussed through the development of the common law and how judges create law through case law and the system of precedent. The course then focuses on the area of judicial review, which is the means by which the courts control the exercise of governmental power and the conflict this creates between the executive and the judiciary. Finally the course focuses on the European Community and Union and how community law is incorporated into United Kingdom law as well as the impact of Brexit.

Much hype surrounds the media: their liberating and empowering potential, their educational role and their responsibility for true public deliberation, their overwhelming presence in our lives and their irresistible seductiveness. Yet, at the same time, suspicion and criticism of the media are growing. Television is often accused of “dumbing down” culture, of offering nothing but poor entertainment, escapism and diversion, rather than creating a meaningful, critical public debate. Global media corporations are depicted as the new missionaries of capitalism and cultural imperialism, promoting commercial values while denigrating journalism and culture. The Internet is said to increase levels of loneliness and erode any sense of community. Facebook and other social media platforms are said to have blurred traditional boundaries between public and private and create new forms of sociability. The global coverage of suffering is seen to create “compassion fatigue” and alienation. The media are sexist, we are told. And so on and so forth. In short, the media have a pervasive social presence that deserves close scrutiny, and media literacy is now as significant as traditional literacy. The goal of the proposed course is to offer theoretical tools for thinking critically about the media, by analysing its relationship with social, cultural, historical, political and economic processes and structures. It will examine the centrality, power and influence of media as institutions, industries, representations and technologies. The course will examine key theoretical debates concerning media and communications: Frankfurt School’s critique of the “culture industries” and its implications for media power, the role of the media in the creation and sustainment of a public sphere, the implications of social media for personal and social life, gender and the media, and the ethical and moral impact of the media in today’s culture and society.

In ACC 111, students learn to construct, read, interpret and analyze the four general-purpose financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of retained earnings, and statement of cash flows) used by current and potential investors and lenders to understand and evaluate a business. The focus of ACC 111 is on preparing and interpreting information primarily for users that are external to the business. In ACC 221, students will build a tool kit of skills enabling them to identify, analyze and improve the revenue, cost and profit drivers within a business. Fundamental accounting mechanics covered in ACC 111 will be applied and utilized. However, the emphasis is on learning and applying various tools used to provide information to the internal decision makers in a business. In summary, ACC 221 will focus on information needed by company management to operate and improve the business.

Introduction to the business issues associated with information systems, designed to provide a broad perspective for utilizing and managing an organization's information resources. Frameworks are presented for understanding the placement and relationship of different types of information systems within an organization. Includes an overview of computing technology currently used in business organizations, techniques for developing and implementing information systems, advanced applications of information technology, and the strategic implications of information systems and technology for business.

The course examines the impact of international financial economics on markets and the management of both domestic and multinational firms. Emphasis is placed upon institutional and environmental factors influencing trade, foreign exchange, and capital acquisition and allocation.

This course has been designed with a holistic approach to provide the students with foundation knowledge in the area of production and operations management. In this sense, students will be trained to understand the role of operations management and its relation to other functional areas within businesses. With a sustainable approach to operations, students will be introduced to the concept of operations management and throughout the course will be provided with the tools and conceptual frameworks that are crucial in operations decision-making. Key issues regarding optimization of operations, global supply chain management, models for capacity and demand management as well as different operating systems and quality management tools will be discussed.

Several surveys in the last three years have asked employers and recruiters what the most important skills are that they look for in college graduates. Unanimously, these surveys find that employers are looking for new recruits who have strong people skills, yet many ineffective managers don’t exemplify these. In fact, many organizations report frustration with new hires that are technically bright, but do not know how to relate well with others in the workplace. Consequently, this course has been designed to provide you, as prospective managers and organization members, with the personal, interpersonal and group skills necessary to effectively contribute to the success of the organizations you join.