IM Courses

INAF 500 A World in Motion and Its Impact on Women: The Feminization of International Migration

Explores the significant effect of globalization on the migration phenomenon since the end of the Cold War, with particular emphasis on trends as they affect women. Topics include trafficking of women vs. migrant smuggling, the impact of migrant remittances on family structure, the vulnerability of refugee women and children, and government responses to these shifts in migration trends.

Examines trends in international trafficking as they relate to the United States. Emphasis is placed on recent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress and challenges confronting national and local government entities mandated to implement prevention, protection, and prosecution components of the legislation. Attention is also given to the role played by non-governmental organizations in combating the effects of trafficking in the U.S.

Examines anti-trafficking laws, conventions, and protocols created by individual governments, regional bodies, and global organizations in response to current human trafficking trends. Emphasis is placed on the intent of these initiatives as a means to address trafficking issues and on their effectiveness in obtaining results.

Examines the historical rise, current conditions, and future prospects of cross-border or transnational communities, especially in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Devoting attention to public policies and challenges governments confront in managing transnational communities, the course surveys economic relationships that fuel international migration, examines social experiences of the migrants, and explores interactions between newcomers and long-settled, domestic minority groups. .

INAF 504 Women Working Abroad: Migration and Remittances

Examines links between migration and remittances. Special emphasis is placed on the role remittances play in migration decision-making, as well as on how resources women send 'back home' are used there. The course also examines modalities for sending remittances, including the emerging involvement of international financial institutions. Prospects for allocation of these resources for achieving national social and economic development goals are assessed.

Identifies regions and countries from which women and children migrants originate, examining conditions that influence the trafficking phenomenon. Special emphasis is placed on a spatial analysis that highlights the interconnectivity of a country or region's geographic, historic, economic, political, and cultural characteristics as they influence migration trends and decisions and the scale of emigration.

Examines criminal organizations involved in international human smuggling and trafficking operations. The role and functions of international crime syndicates in juxtaposition with smaller operations are explored. The course also highlights challenges faced by national and international entities combating human smuggling and trafficking.

Analyzes international migration and the exploitation of women and children through the application of tools and techniques available to the intelligence analyst. Emphasis is placed on illegal migration as an issue that challenges governmental and non-governmental actors and stimulates an array of policies and programs. Research requires students to interact with diverse organizations and individuals in order to produce a professional quality monograph on the international migration of women and children. Contact instructor prior to enrollment.

Surveys issues in the international migration of women and children from the perspective of their inclusion in the middle and secondary school curricula. Students explore tools and techniques for developing student awareness of migration-related issues, with an emphasis on how these issues affect their lives. Resources for classroom use are identified.

Surveys current U.S. immigration law, with a particular emphasis on smuggling and trafficking. Issues relevant to businesses dependent on immigrant labor and to migrant rights and advocacy organizations are highlighted. The course also profiles legislative initiatives and their real or potential impact on labor migration to the United States.

INAF 520 Strategic Information Management and Intelligence for Businesses and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Addresses how organization can improve information management through the use of intelligence applications. Reviews intelligence methodologies used for collecting, compiling, analyzing and corroborating information. Emphasis is placed on methods, sources and tool kits required to achieve strategic information management goals and on practical applications in such subject areas as international marketing, economic development, humanitarian assistance and international migration. Students identify critical issues, problems, and potential areas in which intelligence is applicable and utilize techniques to assist policy-makers in corporate and non-governmental settings

Under the supervision of program staff, the student develops a case study designed to draw upon the full range of acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities. The end product is a monograph-length study covering a relevant and current topic of interest to both the student and a broader audience of policy-makers, analysts, or program managers.

By special arrangement, students are placed with an international, intra-governmental, governmental, or non-governmental organization engaged in issues in international migration related to women and children. During the 96-hour internship, students are expected to apply acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities to make a positive contribution to the work of the host organization.

Introduces the principles and concepts of project management. Topics include project initiation, project planning, team selection, project monitoring and control, risk management, and project closeout. Emphasis is placed on how to identify and meet schedule, cost, and technical constraints while focusing on customer needs. Contact instructor prior to enrollment.

Applies basic principles of intercultural communication to the analysis of specific situations involving cultural differences. Emphasis is on the influence of culture on the communication process, including differences in values, assumptions, and communication. Models of intercultural communication analysis are developed and applied to issues dealing with relations between a dominant society and subcultures, social change, and international relations.

Examines border cultures and how women are particularly affected when living in one. Through literature, cultural anthropology, ethnography, religion, the arts, community studies, and migration studies, this course questions different aspects of cultural politics. The course will improve student communication skills and foster the importance of comparative analysis and gaining cultural insight.

Examines the realities and representation of the immigrant experience in recent American history. The course features analysis of literary voices and cultural actions.

Examines domestic violence and its relationship to social violence, seeking to raise both awareness and the support of leadership from within families and communities for the rights of women and children. The course offers a basic multidisciplinary perspective from educators, economists, international organizations, legislators, and policy-makers, as well as from popular writers of fiction.

POLS 332/333/334/335/336/337 Comparative Politics: Developing Areas/ Russia and Eastern Europe/ China and East Asia/ Latin America/ Middle East/ Africa

Individual courses examine the political systems of the geographic region or realm covered, emphasizing similarities and differences among systems and their approaches toward modernization and development.

Analyzes the effects of the individual on the group and the group on the individual. Topics include unstructured collective behavior, group formation and development, member characteristics, conformity, cohesiveness, and leadership.

Emphasizes the experiences of women in theories and research that provide a framework for examining adult development. An interdisciplinary approach stresses the interrelatedness of psychological, socio-cultural, and biological factors in human growth. Central issues of identity, interpersonal relationships, productivity, gender roles, self-concept, and adaptation to transition are explored. Contact instructor prior to enrollment.

Surveys the global problems of hunger, overpopulation, energy, pollution, war, and extremism (slavery, apartheid, relocation, genocide), and how they are built into society.

Explores theories of population growth, trends in population growth, problems associated with uncontrolled population growth, problems that result from urbanization in the Third World, and strategies for slowing population growth.

While the International Migration certificate program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree, advanced undergraduate students may pursue the certificate program once they have completed the prerequisites listed below. Undergraduate students must also complete an internship