Syllabus - Spring 2009 
Issues in Humanitarian Studies (HSA 5312)

This is a three-credit graduate course and is one in a series of courses in the online Humanitarian Services Administration program developed by the University of Connecticut's Center for Continuing Studies. This course is a core course in the online Master of Professional Studies degree with a field of study in Humanitarian Services Administration. The developer of this course is Dr. Rodney Allen.

Course Information

Course Title: Issues in Humanitarian Studies (HSA 5312)
Credits: 3
Instructor(s):  Rodney Allen

Email: R.Allen@uconn.edu

This course examines current global human development issues from diverse organizational perspectives: non-governmental, private voluntary, international, multi-governmental aid, humanitarian assistance, U.S. military, and U.S. governmental. It will discuss the stresses that are currently forcing many organizations to re-evaluate their current policies and procedures.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. identify the sources of and response to global conflict and explain the importance of conflict as a contextual issue in humanitarian challenges,
2. examine the underlying causes of humanitarian crises and discuss how we might broaden our base of responses to them, and
3. summarize and discuss current humanitarian issues and the strategies used to overcome them.

Course Requirements and Grading

Grading for this course will adhere to the University system for assigning grades. Plus and minus grades will be assigned in concert with the traditional A to F grading system.  This is a reading, research, information analysis, writing, and discussion course with multiple assignments.

The course is divided into two major content areas: Issues of Context and student-led discussions.

Content Area One (400 points)

1. Paper on analysis of Samuel P. Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations?" (150 points)

2. Paper of student's choice with approval of instructor (150 points)

3. Article summaries from the textbook and other required readings (100 points)

Content Area Two: Student-led discussions (200 points)

This portion of the course will be student-led.  Students or teams of students will nominate discussion topics for review by all students and the instructor.  Topics for the last half of the course will be selected and leaders for each topic will be identified.  The topic leader or team will identify readings and discussion questions for the topic area, facilitate the discussion, and provide a summary of the issues involved. 

Grading will be based on the quality of the presentation and preparation for the module as well as discussion during the second half of the course.  A total of 200 points is available during this phase of the course.

There is a total of 600 points.

Final letter grades for this course will be determined based on the following scale:

You are responsible for acting in accordance with the Student Code, available at http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code.cfm.

Course Materials

This text may be purchased locally or through an online bookstore.

Required textbook:

Crocker, C. A., & Hampson, F.O. (eds.) with Aall, P. (2007). Leashing the Dogs of War:  Conflict Management in a Divided World .  Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace Press.  ISBN 978-1-929223-97-8

Other required readings:

Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict. (1997). Preventing deadly conflict: executive summary of the final report. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict. Retrieved December 2, 2005 from http://wwics.si.edu/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/rept97/finfr.htm (This publication is free online by visiting the previous Web site.)

Roberts, D.L.(1999). Staying alive: safety and security guidelines for humanitarian volunteers in conflict areas. Geneva, Switzerland: International Committee of the Red Cross. (This publication may be purchased at http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList528/04D30E4375ED080DC1256C5B002A4027)

Software Requirements

Microsoft Word

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Your Internet browser and browser settings need to be Vista compatible. See Settings.

Course Outline

1. Content Area One: Issues of Context

Module 1: The Macro-Approach

Module 2: Sources of Conflict and Force in Conflict Management

Module 3: Statecraft, Institutions and Governance in Conflict Management and Order

2. Content Area Two: Student-led discussions.

Evaluation of the Course

Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research. In addition, the Center for Continuing Studies will send a CCS Online Course Evaluation via each student's HuskyCT mail account.  This second survey includes questions unique to the online course format.