Theory and a practicum on Japanese as second language acquisition.
This course will provide students with introductory knowledge on philanthropy and social impact drawing on local and international cases. Lectures will explore the Social Value Investing management approach, the role of philanthropy in international development, and new tools for effective public sector investment in social change. In addition to international case studies, students will learn from local social change and nonprofit experts working in New York City. The class will have an opportunity to deliberate, put their new tools and knowledge to use, and make a $10,000 grant.
It is now a well known fact that countries embroiled in conflict seldom emerge from it "once and for all." They tend to relapse back into conflict within months or years. The reasons are also well-known: low education and high poverty levels, weak or non- existent institutions, poor governance, exclusion and marginalization of certain groups including women and poor economic prospects certainly in livelihoods. And yet Peace building in the international context is a relatively new concept. It appeared in the in the UN lexicon in the 1980s and has evolved as a normative concept since. Peace building is complex and multi-faceted encompassing security, human rights, development and reconciliation of past differences and ultimately societal transformation. It is before everything else a political exercise. This course will ask: How is Peace building done, who are the actors and stakeholders? What lessons have we learnt since the 1980s? What does it take to build the peace? The course will give an understanding of the evolution of the norm of peace building at the United Nations and discuss the new UN Peace building architecture. Ten years after its creation, has the Peace Building Commission made a difference and why? What have been its challenges? It will look at the many stakeholders on the ground and discuss the issue of coordination and the need for integrated strategies. It will provide examples of countries that have succeeded, analyze the root causes of the conflicts and the tools which were used. It will extract the lessons learned and the conditions for peace building to succeed.
Does the United Nations matter? The course will offer a broad assessment and analysis of the place, performance and potential of the United Nations within the nation-state system. It will assess the world body based on a range of distinct expectations through the prism of global threats, global norms and global responsibilities. Increasingly the world is confronted with phenomena - related to both security and development - which require global responses; the question this course seeks to answer is to what extent can we rely on the UN to act as a global instrument for constructive change?
This six-week course will provide an analytical framework with which to understand the transformation that has characterized development thinking and practice at the United Nations over the last twenty years. It will familiarize participants with the key UN reports and resolutions that define the UN's contribution and reflect on the evolution in development cooperation in practice through the prism of one UN institution in particular, in this case the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It will also analyze current debates about the future of development cooperation and the evolving shape of multilateralism. The course will provide practical examples and draw from the extensive practical experience of the instructor.
This course explores the unique and distinct foreign policy behavior of different states in the international system. Explanations of state behavior will be drawn from many overarching international relations frameworks including but not necessarily limited to realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The effects of power, culture, institutions and history will be examined.
This course is designed to help students understand the interrelation between economic reasoning and public policy. The objective is to provide students with economic tools of analysis and to use these tools to analyze some of the important public policy issues of today. Calculus is generally not required, but we will review and utilize the fundamental concepts developed in intermediate courses in the economics of public finance and certain parts of macroeconomics.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of statistical analysis. We will examine the principles and basic methods for analyzing quantitative data, with a focus on applications to problems in public policy, management, and the social sciences. We will begin with simple statistical techniques for describing and summarizing data and build toward the use of more sophisticated techniques for drawing inferences from data and making predictions about the social world.
This course examines the foundations, decision-making processes, and substance of American foreign policy, particularly as it has developed over the past fifty years. We explore the role of American political culture, the presidency, Congress, and the foreign policy bureaucracy in helping to determine America's relationship with other states and international organizations. We pay particular attention to the recurring tensions that run through American foreign policy: isolationism v. internationalism, security v. prosperity, diplomacy v. military power, unilateralism v. multilateralism, and realism v. idealism. Each week we will explore a broad theoretical/conceptual theme and then focus on a specific topic that exemplifies a practical application of the theme.
Through a review of major academic literature, lectures, and class discussion, this course examines many of the central concepts, theories, and analytical tools used in contemporary social science to understand international affairs. The theoretical literature is drawn from fields including comparative politics, international relations, political sociology, and economics. The course is designed to enhance students' abilities to think critically and analytically about current problems and challenges in international politics.
This course serves as an introduction to the politics of international economic relations. We study the principal conceptual approaches in the field of international political economy, and then apply them to key substantive issue areas such as money, finance, trade, investment, income inequality and poverty, and globalization. The course is both an introduction to the basic elements of the global political economy, and an exercise in comparing how scholars ask questions and propose arguments to explain those topics.
Prerequisites: Obtained internship and approval from a faculty advisor.
May be repeated for credit, but no more than 3 total points may be used for degree credit. Only for Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering graduate students who include relevant off-campus work experience as part of their approved program of study. Final report required. May not be taken for pass/fail credit or audited.
Prerequisites: Obtained internship and approval from a faculty advisor.
May be repeated for credit, but no more than 3 total points may be used for degree credit. Only for Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering graduate students who include relevant off-campus work experience as part of their approved program of study. Final report required. May not be taken for pass/fail credit or audited.
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of economic policymaking in a global context. The course has two main sections. The first examines open economy macroeconomics. We explore exchange rates, monetary policy, capital flows, fiscal policy and long-run economic growth. We also consider the causes and consequences of recent financial crises. The second part of the course examines the political economy of international trade. We analyze the major theoretical frameworks, trade policy instruments, protectionism and liberalization, the multilateral trading system, and representative contemporary trade issues.
Sustainability management matters because we only have one planet, and we must learn how to manage our organizations in a way that ensures that our planet is maintained. The course is designed to introduce you to the field of sustainability policy and sustainability management. This is not an academic course that reviews the literature of the field and discusses how scholars think about the management of organizations that are environmentally sound. It is a practical, professional course organized around the core concepts of management and the core concepts of sustainability and the role that public policy plays in influencing behavior within organizations and among individuals, in order to facilitate and speed up the transition to a sustainable economy. Each week we will go through several cases in sustainability management or policy, and some background material designed to help you answer the questions posed at the end of each case exercise. The cases always pose practical issues for decision makers to address-but issues that are best addressed with a firm grounding in the literature of policy, management and sustainability. Some cases will be used as the basis for class discussion, while other cases require a written assignment - either individually or in a group. The literature and case material we will study this semester are based on lessons learned in government, non-profits and the private sector. However, most of my own work focuses on government and non-profits so this course will emphasize management in public and nonprofit organizations and the role of public policy in sustainability.
This intensive three-day, one-credit course explores several aspects of crisis communication strategy and skills. The course uses many teaching techniques: short lectures, individual and group exercises, videotaped presentations, role plays, case discussions, video clips, and writing assignments. We'll begin by considering some recent crises and evaluating the strategies used to manage them and then discuss best practices in crisis communications. You'll have a chance to practice developing key messages for a controversial topic and practice responding to difficult and hostile questions about your position on that topic. We'll also hear from an expert in the field of crisis and media about strategies and practices that have worked in the past. Finally, you'll work with a team to develop a statement and set of core messages you'll aim to communicate during a mock "press conference."
Communicating in Organizations is a survey course that explores aspects of day-to-day managerial communication, relating to presentations and other high-profile moments, as well as more routine elements of interpersonal communication. The course uses many teaching techniques: short lectures, individual and group exercises, videotaped presentations, role plays, case discussions, video clips, and writing assignments. It is highly experiential with exercises or presentations scheduled in most sessions. Initially, we'll focus on the communication skills and strategies that help you present your ideas to others. I'll ask you to do two benchmark assignments a letter and a brief presentation-to assess the abilities you bring to the course. In several of our class sessions you'll be the one in front of the room, delivering either a prepared talk or brief, impromptu comments. Such assignments will give you a chance to develop your skills as a presenter. I'll also discuss the link between listening and speaking, showing you how developing your listening skills will improve your effectiveness as a speaker. And we'll explore several elements of visual communication, including how to design effective visual aids and written documents. To communicate effectively in such roles as coach, interviewer, negotiator, or facilitator, you need to be skilled at listening, questioning, observing behavior, and giving feedback. We'll practice each of these skills in class exercises and assignments. The Social Style instrument will give you detailed feedback about how others view your communication style. You'll find out how style differences may lead to miscommunication, missed opportunities, or mishandled conflict.