Courses for Spring 2026 | International Relations

	Title	Instructor	Location	Time	Description
INTR 2600-301	Counterintelligence	Frank Plantan	WILL 316	W 3:30 PM-6:29 PM	This course will address the conceptual and practical issues of the practice of counterintelligence as it relates to the national defense, economic competitiveness, and foreign policy decision-making and the role of the intelligence community in thwarting intelligence gathering and espionage against the United State and the United Kingdom. Because the closer is to the contemporary world and the inherent secrecy the surrounds intelligence and counterintelligence activities, much of this class focuses on historical cases where long term public research and declassification of government documents have allowed us to look into the system and process of intelligence gathering, analysis, and recommendations for action. We will explore recurrent and prominent themes of intelligence failures, the trade-offs and calculations of a strong CI infrastructure as it relates to ethics, democracy and national power and prestige that shape our understanding of the subject and how it directly and indirectly impacts our lives and our society. Students will gain an appreciation of how the practice has been utilized by government, specifically: its structure, analytical processes, organizational culture, practice-related ethics, perception(s) by the public, guiding charter, and governmental oversight. This class covers the diverse array of counterintelligence applications - within the government as well as in the private sector and our individual lives. TO APPLY FOR THIS COURSE, EMAIL INSTRUCTION FOR APPLICATION FORM FPLANTAN@SAS.UPENN.EDU
INTR 2700-001	International Strategy: History, Theory, and Practice	Farah Naz Jan	WILL 639	TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM	International Strategy is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of how states craft and implement strategies in pursuit of their national interests. Moving beyond security issues alone, the course explores how diplomatic, economic, military, and cultural tools are employed to advance broader strategic objectives within the global system. We will compare historical and contemporary examples—from classic theorists like Sun Tzu and Clausewitz to present-day debates on emerging technologies and climate policy—to understand how and why strategies succeed or fail. Students will examine a wide range of strategic concerns: deterrence and coercion, alliance-building, economic statecraft, and the influence of international institutions. We will study how domestic politics, leadership psychology, and international power dynamics shape a nation’s choice of strategic approach. The course also spotlights current challenges such as cyber warfare, the proliferation of advanced military capabilities, shifting global alliances, and the rise of new powers, analyzing how these developments reshape the art of strategy. By linking core theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies, students will gain analytical tools for identifying the key factors that shape foreign policy decisions and for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different strategic options. Whether you have a background in political science or simply a keen interest in understanding how and why countries act as they do, this course will equip you with the knowledge to critically evaluate global events and debates through a strategic lens. No prerequisites are required, though familiarity with international relations or modern history may be beneficial.
INTR 2900-301	Topics in International Relations: International Relations on Film	Allison Schmidt	WILL 318	MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM	Topics in International Relations focuses on specialized issues, practical or applied approaches, policy and other topics of contemporary relevance in modern study of international relations. These are experimental or occasionally offered classes. Past topics of included US Foreign Policy and the Arab Spring, the Iraq Wars, Secret Intelligence & American Democracy, Counterintelligence, Homeland Security, the US & South Asia Cold War and New Alignments, and Think Tanks and Global Governance.
INTR 3500-001	Res Methods/Prac in IR	Valeriya Kamenova	WILL 639	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	International Relations is concerned with both theory and practice so we employ a range of analytical tools to examine actors and events in world politics. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the various research methods utilized by students and scholars in the field of IR including: case studies, historical - comparative and archival research, survey research, interviewing techniques, simulations, quantitative and statistical analysis.
INTR 4297-301	Senior Seminar II	Farah Naz Jan	WILL 639	T 1:45 PM-4:44 PM	Seminar in international relations. Second semester of a two semester sequence including review of advanced international relations theory and research methods for the preparation of the senior thesis.
INTR 4297-302	Senior Seminar II	Valeriya Kamenova	WILL 639	W 1:45 PM-4:44 PM	Seminar in international relations. Second semester of a two semester sequence including review of advanced international relations theory and research methods for the preparation of the senior thesis.
INTR 4297-303	Senior Seminar II	Allison Schmidt	WILL 639	R 1:45 PM-4:44 PM	Seminar in international relations. Second semester of a two semester sequence including review of advanced international relations theory and research methods for the preparation of the senior thesis.