IR214 International Law
IR214 International Law
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Hamza Preljević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the principles, sources, actors, and subjects of international law. It explores the historical development of international law, the relationship between international and domestic law, and the role of states and power in shaping legal rules. Students will examine key areas such as diplomatic and consular law, jurisdiction, dispute settlement, the use of force, and human rights, enabling them to understand and critically evaluate the role and relevance of international law in global affairs.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
von Glahn, G., & Taulbee, J. L. (2017). Law Among Nations: An Introduction to Public International Law (Eleventh edition). Routledge.
Additional Literature
N/ATeaching Methods
Lectures and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RW. Intro. | N/A |
| 2 | Introduction | None |
| 3 | The Rise of International Law | 1 and 2 |
| 4 | International Law and Municipal Law | 6 |
| 5 | Sources of the International Law – Treaties (PART I) | 3 and 4 |
| 6 | Sources of the International Law – Customary law (PART II) | 3 and 4 |
| 7 | Subjects of the International Law | 7 and 8 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | All above |
| 9 | Nationality | 9 |
| 10 | Jurisdiction: Domain over places and persons | 10 and 11 |
| 11 | Diplomatic and consular law | 14 |
| 12 | International law and the use of force by states | 19 |
| 13 | The settlement of disputes by peaceful means | 5 and 17 |
| 14 | International Humanitarian law/Human rights, freedom and protection of humankind | 15 and 20 |
| 15 | Review and Discussion | See detailed reading list |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR214.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.14 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F1.31 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F1.31 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Presentation
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Participation
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
56 hours ⏳ (14 week × 4 h)
Assignments
18 hours ⏳ (6 week × 3 h)
Midterm exam study
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
Final exam study
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR214] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR214 | International Law | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | IR101 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Hamza Preljević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:00-12:00 Friday: 9:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| hpreljevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the principles, sources, actors, and subjects of international law. It explores the historical development of international law, the relationship between international and domestic law, and the role of states and power in shaping legal rules. Students will examine key areas such as diplomatic and consular law, jurisdiction, dispute settlement, the use of force, and human rights, enabling them to understand and critically evaluate the role and relevance of international law in global affairs. | |||||||||
| Textbook | von Glahn, G., & Taulbee, J. L. (2017). Law Among Nations: An Introduction to Public International Law (Eleventh edition). Routledge. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | RW. Intro. | N/A | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction | None | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The Rise of International Law | 1 and 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | International Law and Municipal Law | 6 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Sources of the International Law – Treaties (PART I) | 3 and 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Sources of the International Law – Customary law (PART II) | 3 and 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Subjects of the International Law | 7 and 8 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | All above | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Nationality | 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Jurisdiction: Domain over places and persons | 10 and 11 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Diplomatic and consular law | 14 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | International law and the use of force by states | 19 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The settlement of disputes by peaceful means | 5 and 17 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | International Humanitarian law/Human rights, freedom and protection of humankind | 15 and 20 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and Discussion | See detailed reading list | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Consult Instructor | |
| Participation | 1 | 10 | 3,4 | Consult Instructor | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 4 | 14 | 56 | |||
| Assignments | 3 | 6 | 18 | Midterm exam study | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Final exam study | 6 | 3 | 18 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||