Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - IS 830 G100

Analytic Approaches for International Studies (4)

Class Number: 8111

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Mon, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course critically examines the processes and methods of global knowledge production with the objective of preparing students to become discerning consumers of knowledge and responsible producers of knowledge. The course will begin with a brief overview of the debates surrounding the question: What is knowledge? The rest of the class will be structured around the question: Who gets to produce what kinds of knowledge, for whom, and how? This will be broken down into three different components: (1) The ethics and politics of knowledge production; (2) Logics of research; (3) Methods of data collection and analysis (qualitative, quantitative, mixed).

This course will be heavily discussion and workshop based. In addition to lectures to contextualize course readings, students will be expected to participate in group-based in-class exercises to deconstruct media reports, academic research, or other forms of produced knowledge. Furthermore, for their final assignment, students will be expected to complete either a research proposal for a thesis project or a prospectus for two extended essays. Each week, students will present their own and critique each other’s draft components of the research proposal or essay prospectus. 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:


Grading

  • Group Exercises 25%
  • Proposal/Prospectus Presentation 10%
  • Proposal/Prospectus Discussion 15%
  • Weekly Assignments (Components of proposal/prospectus) 20%
  • Final Assignment (Proposal/prospectus) 30%

NOTES:

Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.

The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.

REQUIREMENTS:


Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS