IR101 Introduction to International Relations
IR101 Introduction to International Relations
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Joseph Jon Kaminski
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This introductory course will provide students with the requisite background knowledge and conceptual tools that they need to understand the multifaceted and complex world of contemporary international relations. This course will first introduce students to the various theories and methodological approaches most commonly used in the discipline. It will then move on to discuss the workings of the state system, the causes of international conflict and violence, and international economic relations. By the end of the course, students should have a solid foundation for any future political science and international relations courses they may take.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Goldstein, J. and Pevehouse, J. (2021). International Relations. 12th Ed. (Global Edition). New York: Pearson.
Additional Literature
N/ATeaching Methods
Lecturing
Video clips
Quizzes
Examinations
And in-class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [23.2] Introduction lecture: The Globalization of International Relations | Syllabus Distribution & Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 1 (pp. 35-73) |
| 2 | [2.3] No Class- BiH Independence Day | No class |
| 3 | [9.3] Realist Theories of International Relations | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 2 (pp. 74-109) |
| 4 | [16.3] Liberal and Social Theories of International Relations | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 3 (pp. 110-145) |
| 5 | [23.3] QUIZ #1 & Foreign Policy | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 4 (pp. 146-169) |
|
Quiz will be held during the first 45 minutes of the class.
|
||
| 6 | [30.3] International Trade | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 8 (pp. 288-319) |
| 7 | [6.4] "The Global Village" Video | No reading; start studying for midterm |
| 8 | [TBD] Midterm (Covering Weeks 1-7) | Study |
| 9 | [20.4] The North-South Gap [Pt. 1]- Conceptualizing Inequality | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 12 (pp. 416-449)- 1st half |
| 10 | [27.4] The North-South Gap [Pt. 2]- 'The True Cost' Documentary Video | No Reading; Video and Discussion |
| 11 | [4.5] International Development | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 13 (pp. 450-485) |
| 12 | [11.5] QUIZ #2 & International Conflict | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 5 (pp. 170-205) |
|
Quiz will be held during the first 45 minutes of the class.
|
||
| 13 | [18.5] Military Force, Terrorism and Counterinsurgency | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 6 (pp. 206-241) |
| 14 | [25.5] Human Rights, International Law, and the Responsibility to Protect | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 7 (pp. 242-287) |
| 15 | [1.6] Catch up and final exam review | No new readings; Review for exam |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR101.1 | Course | Monday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.15 - Amphitheater II | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 14:00 | B F1.33 | |
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 17:00 | B F1.33 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Quiz 1
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Quiz 2
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 4
Attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 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
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
75 hours ⏳ (15 week × 5 h)
Quizes preparation
10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)
Midterm exam preparation
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Final exam preparation
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 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 [IR101] 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 May 05, 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 | |||||||||
| IR101 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 | 0 | 6 | M 900-1150/Room B F 2.15 (Amphitheater II) | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | IR211, IR212, IR214, IR215, IR216, IR301, IR304, IR305, IR312 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Joseph Jon Kaminski | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-14:00 Tuesday: 14:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| jkaminski@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This introductory course will provide students with the requisite background knowledge and conceptual tools that they need to understand the multifaceted and complex world of contemporary international relations. This course will first introduce students to the various theories and methodological approaches most commonly used in the discipline. It will then move on to discuss the workings of the state system, the causes of international conflict and violence, and international economic relations. By the end of the course, students should have a solid foundation for any future political science and international relations courses they may take. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Goldstein, J. and Pevehouse, J. (2021). International Relations. 12th Ed. (Global Edition). New York: Pearson. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecturing, video clips, quizzes, examinations, and in-class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | [23.2] Introduction lecture: The Globalization of International Relations | Syllabus Distribution & Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 1 (pp. 35-73) | ||||||||
| Week 2 | [2.3] No Class- BiH Independence Day | No class | ||||||||
| Week 3 | [9.3] Realist Theories of International Relations | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 2 (pp. 74-109) | ||||||||
| Week 4 | [16.3] Liberal and Social Theories of International Relations | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 3 (pp. 110-145) | ||||||||
| Week 5 | [23.3] QUIZ #1 & Foreign Policy | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 4 (pp. 146-169) | ||||||||
| Week 6 | [30.3] International Trade | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 8 (pp. 288-319) | ||||||||
| Week 7 | [6.4] "The Global Village" Video | No reading; start studying for midterm | ||||||||
| Week 8 | [TBD] Midterm (Covering Weeks 1-7) | Study | ||||||||
| Week 9 | [20.4] The North-South Gap [Pt. 1]- Conceptualizing Inequality | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 12 (pp. 416-449)- 1st half | ||||||||
| Week 10 | [27.4] The North-South Gap [Pt. 2]- 'The True Cost' Documentary Video | No Reading; Video and Discussion | ||||||||
| Week 11 | [4.5] International Development | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 13 (pp. 450-485) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | [11.5] QUIZ #2 & International Conflict | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 5 (pp. 170-205) | ||||||||
| Week 13 | [18.5] Military Force, Terrorism and Counterinsurgency | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 6 (pp. 206-241) | ||||||||
| Week 14 | [25.5] Human Rights, International Law, and the Responsibility to Protect | Pevehouse and Goldstein, Ch. 7 (pp. 242-287) | ||||||||
| Week 15 | [1.6] Catch up and final exam review | No new readings; Review for exam | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 15 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 15 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm | 1 | 30 | 1,2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 5 | 15 | 75 | |||
| Quizes preparation | 5 | 2 | 10 | Midterm exam preparation | 10 | 1 | 10 | |||
| Final exam preparation | 10 | 1 | 10 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 05/05/2026 | |||||||||