Outline

Overview

This unit focuses on the institutions and individuals that make American foreign and national security policy. It begins by examining the power of the president and Defense Department, as well as the State Department, CIA and NSC. It then provides a historical overview, examining WWII, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The third module examines the impact of nationalism and liberalism on US foreign policy. Then several regional and bi-lateral relationships are studied, including US-China relations, US-NATO relations and US policy in the Middle East. Lastly, America’s responses to global warming and the international refugee crisis will be explored.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	USSC6903
Academic unit	United States Studies Centre
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Brendon O'Connor, brendon.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Brendon O'Connor, brendon.oconnor@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Daniel Cooper, daniel.cooper@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Class participation n/a	15%	Ongoing	13 weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay n/a	45%	STUVAC Due date: 29 May 2023 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reading report Review one of the five books listed on canvas	20%	Week 05 Due date: 20 Mar 2023 at 11:00	Write a 1000 book review
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay proposal Details on the Canvas	20%	Week 08 Due date: 17 Apr 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Class participation: Students are expected to have thoroughly prepared for each seminar. Prior to the seminar, you should have read and critically considered all the required readings. The seminars will be interactive. Students will be asked to refer to the set texts and to have the texts with them.
Group presentation: For the final seminar, students will prepare in groups a presentation (of around 20 minutes) responding to the seminar topic (US Foreign and National Security Policy: Where to Next?) Individual presentations will focus on a specific aspect of contemporary US foreign or national security policy, utilizing models and frameworks discussed throughout semester.
Research essay proposal: Students in USSC6903 must prepare a 1,000 word research proposal on a challenge of American national security. It can be topical, thematic, or historical.
Research essay: The major essay is a 3500 word ( or – 10%) assignment. The aim of the major essay is three-fold: (1) to improve the student’s capacity to marshal evidence in support of a thesis; (2) to gain greater insight into an aspect of American foreign and national security policy through examining its “sources,” (3) to write a professional academic essay. This is not an opinion piece. It is expected that students’ will answer the question contained in their earlier research proposal (or a revised version thereof). It is expected that the major essay will be of the highest academic quality.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Very well written and well-structured paper. Answers the set question directly and incisively. Close and deep reading of relevant literature. Based on reading at least 12 different texts. Uses illuminating texts to develop important arguments. The paper develops an argument rather than just commenting on a series of quotes and other people’s ideas.
Distinction	75 - 84	Well written paper. Displays a close reading of relevant texts. Uses texts to develop arguments. Although this paper develops an argument it lacks the focus, coherence or originality of an HD as it relies too much on other people’s arguments. Or what holds the paper back is that it still needed more redrafting to sharpen its argument and overall coherence. Draws on at least 10 different texts.
Credit	65 - 74	A solid effort that focuses on relevant texts but reads like an early draft. Shows reading of relevant literature but this reading is not particularly close or deep. The analysis does not provide strong insights into the set question. A credit essay often fails to directly answer the set question or answer it in enough depth. Often a credit essay needs better structuring, and it reads as each paragraph is exploring a new thought, rather than paragraphs building upon each other. Or credit essays tend to become repetitive as the essay is not based on deep or wide enough reading to develop more than a few thoughts.
Pass	50 - 64	This essay does enough to pass a university unit as it shows familiarity with relevant literature. A pass essay tends to be written in a manner that is hard to follow or the essay is not particularly well constructed. The amount of research and reading presented in the essay is underwhelming. The essay tends to lack any sustaining or convincing argument to keep the essay together as a coherent piece of work. Pass essays tend to be vague or repetitive. They are often hard to read as the marker is looking for the argument and some structure and failing to find it. Pass essays often read like first drafts or essays that need help with improving the writing of the essay.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction – The Power of the President in Foreign Affairs (and the lack of power of the Congress)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	The CIA, NSC, Defense Department, State Dept, USAID: what do they do?	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	US foreign policy history (1): WWI, Versailles, WWII, Korea, Vietnam	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	US foreign policy history (2): Vietnam, Cold War in the 1980s, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Ideas in American Foreign Policy: Four traditions and American Exceptionalism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Ideas in American Foreign Policy: Realism, Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Soft power vs Hard Power	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	American Alliances: ANZUS and NATO	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	American policy in the Middle East	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	US-China Relations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Public Opinion and Anti-Americanism: Does it matter?	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Trump Doctrine: What is it? Emerging Biden approach...	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Wither US Leadership? Refugees, Climate Change and the Future	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

COVID-19 Announcement:

This unit will now be taught online. Zoom, Echo360, and discussion boards will replace regularly scheduled class time and / or consultations. Recordings will be made available to students and accessibility needs will be considered. Tutorial participation will be judged on the basis of participation in the Canvas discussion boards and involvement in Zoom tutorials. For those students who cannot attend Zoom tutorials, they will have the option to send a summary of the weekly readings.

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the multiple disciplinary contexts for understanding the United States, such as those of political science and international relations; cultural and media studies; and business and economics
LO2. demonstrate a deep knowledge of the history, culture, media, politics and economy of the United States
LO3. demonstrate a capacity to work across disciplinary boundaries to solve specific and advanced analytic problems in the study of the United States
LO4. demonstrate an ability to decipher complicated written, oral, visual, material and digital texts, and contribute to secondary literature about them
LO5. construct an evidence-based argument in written, oral, visual, or digital form
LO6. to relate the interdisciplinary methods of US Studies to issues encountered in professional contexts

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The student evaluations have been closely read and changes have been made to the unit such as having one less reading report and a longer lecture.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

USSC6903: US Foreign and National Security Policy

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect