Instructor: Dr. Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Office: J266 / office hours as scheduled & by app’t
Voice: 951.343.4288 / Fax: 951.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu
Diplomatic History of the
POL 443
MWF 9:00-9:50AM
This course in Diplomatic
History explores the philosophical, social historical, and legal aspects of the diplomatic relations of the
A combined socratic-seminar format will be followed, allowing students to
gain confidence in their knowledge of diplomacy in the American historical
context. Thus, by the end of this course,
students should be able to:
1) Gain a basic understanding of, and knowledge of the
various contours within, the history of American diplomacy
2) Question “history” in order to understand how and why
history emanates from subjective positions in terms of the shape stories are
told, presented, or remembered
3) Articulate the origins of the nation’s foreign policy
along with its strengths and weaknesses, whether institutionally, socially,
politically, and culturally
4) Explore how we construct our knowledge of the world
from the perspective of governmental mandates, institutional agendum and
international interactions
5)
Test and
strengthen our Christian worldview by employing diplomatic history as a tool
for understanding self and society within our modern-day world
The course is open to all students able and willing to engage in
advanced study, and can be used to fulfill undergraduate History and Political
Science major or minor upper division unit requirements for approved students.
Required Texts
Jerald Combs, The History
of American Foreign Policy 3rd ed (M.E. Sharpe, 2008)
in 2 vols. – Volume I: To 1920; and Volume II: From 1895
Both volumes are required, and are readily available,
new & used, from web shops such as Amazon.com and Barnes &
Noble, as well as from the CBU Bookshop. Additional required readings may
also be scheduled throughout the term, drawing from items available through the
Internet (such as through Lexis-Nexis). See the syllabus for details.
Readings & Assignments Schedule
|
Week #1 |
Introduction to course, requirements and
expectations |
|
Week #2 |
C1, ch 1-2 |
|
Week #3 |
C1, ch 3-4 |
|
Week #4 |
C1, ch 5-6 |
|
Week #5 |
C1, ch 7-8 |
|
Week #6 |
C2, ch 1-2 |
|
Week #7 |
C2, ch, 3-4 |
|
Week #8 |
Midterms week |
|
Week #9 |
C2, ch 5-6 |
|
Week #10 |
C2, ch 7-8 |
|
Week #11 |
C2, ch 9-10 |
|
Week # 12 |
23rd: C2, ch 11 |
Week #13 |
C2, ch 12-13 |
|
Week #14 |
C2, ch 14-15 |
|
Dec 16 |
Final Examination period as set by
University, 8:00-10:00AM |
Caveat
This syllabus schedule is
composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings and assignments that will guide
us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make
adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of
the course. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and
you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.
Assessment & Grading Scale
|
Midterm Exam = 30% |
90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-) |
|
Final Exam = 45% |
80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B-
/ 87-89 = B+) |
|
Journaling Project = 20% (10 x 2% each) |
70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C-
/ 77-79 = C+) |
|
Participation in-class = 5% |
60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D-
/ 67-69 = D+) |
|
|
0 - 59 = F |
Comprehensive Examinations
Both the midterm and final exam
will be wide-ranging in nature, with an emphasis on analytical skills and essay
writing that together draw from the full scope of our studies. The exams will
comprise objective and essay sections, covering materials from the beginning of
the term (midterm), or from the midterm to the end (final).
Each exam is closed
book/open notes. Meaning of open notes:
you are permitted to bring one sheet
of standard sized (8½” x 11”) paper with notes written on it, in any size
handwriting, type or font, without regard to margins, front and back.
Journaling Project
Students
should begin compiling an electronic journal related to this class. This means
that one should be journaling (that is, preparing substantive written entries
in some digital format that can be transmitted to the instructor via email)
each designated week, irrespective of whether the student actually attended
that week’s sessions.
A
substantive entry is 200 words (minimum, lengthier entries are always welcome)
summarizing and reacting to some key points from a particular week’s readings
and class discussions, perhaps relating to some real world case or event, some
recently read piece of academic literature, or simply related ideas provoked by
life. These entries can form a series of reflections, so linking entries along
the way one to another like an intellectual diary, or can be independent
musings week-by-week.
To
be considered timely, any entry should be received in the instructor’s email
inbox (dskubik@calbaptist.edu)
either as plain text within the body of the email or as a Word attachment) no earlier than Wednesday at 11:50am
(end of Wednesday’s class) and no later
than midnight of the subsequent Sunday of each class week for which credit
is sought. Thus, for example, a journal entry for Week 2—when we meet first on
Monday, September 21st—is due no earlier than the end of the class
period on Wednesday, Sep 23rd and no later than midnight Sunday, Sep
27th). Entries for any week that are received before the Wednesday
class session actually ends or after that Sunday deadline will be accepted as
part of the overall journaling project, but will not be marked and counted
towards your final grade.
Participation & Attendance
Although speaking in class, publicly putting and
defending a position or interpretation, can be daunting, you are strongly
encouraged to learn to think through your own and others’ experiences and
insights within the context of our discussions. In this setting, you are not
being evaluated for reaching “right” conclusions, but for demonstrating your
facility in forming arguments for any conclusions or ideas put, given the
material we cover.
To give direct incentive to so engage, 5% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your participation during the semester. Participation in-class includes substantive contributions to our discussions on a regular basis and does not include attendance (which is expected since mandated by the University).
CBU Statement on Academic Dishonesty
Faculty
in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) have been asked to include the
following statement in all our syllabi. Do speak with your instructor if at any
time you have questions or concerns about this statement and its meaning for or
application in your classes.
Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, copying,
and other forms) will be reported to the Dean of Students. Judicial sanctions
for offense [sic] are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the seriousness
of the violation, prior violations and other factors. Judicial sanctions may
include, but are not limited to, loss of a letter grade or failure in the
course in which the offense occurred, suspension, and/or dismissal from the
University. A detailed discussion of academic dishonesty is located in the
Student Handbook. [Source: 2006-2007
Undergraduate Catalog, at p.80]