Diplomacy and World Affairs

Overview

DWA is Occidental College's nationally recognized International Relations (IR) major. This innovative department grounds students in IR theory, security and human security, international organizations, economic development, and case studies regarding state-building, nationalism, religion, identity, and ethnic conflict. Recognizing the variety of academic connections that can inform the study of global politics, offerings in the Economics, History, Politics, Religious Studies, and Urban and Environmental Policy departments can be used by students to supplement the DWA major's core offerings.

The Chevalier Program in DWA was established in 1957 by the late Mrs. Stuart Chevalier to honor the memory of her husband, a distinguished lawyer and pioneer leader on behalf of the United Nations, who for 19 years served as a member of Occidental's Board of Trustees. The program is one of the few undergraduate interdisciplinary majors in international relations offered at a Liberal Arts institution such as Occidental.

OCCIDENTAL-AT-THE-UNITED NATIONS

DWA students are strongly encouraged to participate in study and research programs abroad and on Occidental's UN program in New York. Students interested in this rich array of opportunities should work with an advisor to plan their curriculum to include language and other prerequisite courses as early as possible

CAREERS

Opportunities of interest to DWA graduates include service with U.S. government agencies, such as the Department of State and the Foreign Service, the Peace Corps, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense, and the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as careers with the United Nations or one of its affiliated agencies, and in the non-governmental organization (NGO) community. Students also have an opportunity to prepare themselves for work in the general fields of international business and banking, law, or the academic world.

Major Requirements

Core courses (6 total)

Language:

Students must complete the equivalent of four college semesters of one language (202), or two college semesters each of two languages (102).

Additional Electives:

Four additional classes numbered 200 or higher in International Affairs at the College. At least two of these courses must be in DWA. Department credit can be given for up to two courses in international relations from a different Occidental academic department, the United Nations Program, or from study abroad; off-campus courses must be approved by the department chair prior to departure.

WRITING REQUIREMENT

Students majoring in Diplomacy and World Affairs will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's writing requirement by taking one 300-level DWA junior seminar. These junior seminars will focus on preparing students to do their Senior Comprehensive Project (DWA 490) and will include substantial writing assignments and a requirement that the instructor deem a student's writing proficient. See the Writing Program for additional information on the College's writing requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT

Seniors will complete DWA 490 as their comprehensive requirement in the spring of their senior year. There are two options within DWA 490:

• Thesis: a 30-50 page thesis based on independent academic research.
• Film/Documentary: Production of a documentary film that advances knowledge in the IR field. To undertake the documentary option – it is recommended that you complete MAC 242 or take a filmmaking course through the Art Center at Night Program.

Details on these options will be given to students during the spring of their junior year. Students must submit a proposal for the option they hope to pursue during the fall semester of their senior year for approval by the department.

HONORS

Qualified majors may achieve Departmental Honors at graduation through maintenance of an overall grade point average of 3.25, with a 3.5 GPA in the major (inclusive of courses from all departments taken at Occidental that count toward fulfilling DWA major requirements; study abroad, language, and Oxy-at-the-U.N. courses do not count toward the major GPA); and through completion of the comprehensive requirement with a grade of Pass with Distinction (Honors). Those interested should see the Honors Program and consult the department chair for details, preferably in the junior year.

Courses

Diplomacy and World Affairs Courses

Faculty

Regular Faculty

Laura Hebert, chair

Associate Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.A., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee M.A., University of Oregon Ph.D., University of Denver

Anthony Chase

Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.A., UC Santa Cruz; M.A.L.S., Columbia University; M.A.L.D., Ph.D., Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Lan T. Chu

Associate Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs; Affiliated Faculty, Latino/a and Latin American Studies

B.A., M.A., New York University; Ph.D., George Washington University

Sophal Ear

Associate Professor, Diplomacy & World Affairs

B.A. University of California, Berkeley; M.P.A. Princeton University; M.S., M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Sanjeev Khagram

John Parke Young Chair in Global Political Economy

B.A.; M.A.; Ph.D. Stanford

Movindri Reddy

Associate Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.A., University of Natal; M.A., Ph.D., Cambridge University

Derek Shearer

Stuart Chevalier Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

BA, Yale University; PhD, The Union Graduate School

On Special Appointment

Jacques Fomerand

Assistant Director, Occidental-and-the-U.N. program; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.A., Lycée Janson de Sailly; M.A., Diplôme de I’Institut d’Études Politiques; Ph.D., City University of New York

Douglas Gardner

Non Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Diplomacy & World Affairs

B.A., Denison University; M.A., Thunderbird School of International Management

Carina Miller

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.A., Universidad de Buenos Aires; M.A., Ph.D., Georgetown University

Sherry Simpson Dean

Adjunct Instructor, Diplomacy & World Affairs

B.S. Boston University

Horacio Trujillo

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs

B.S.F.S., Georgetown University; M.A., Stanford University