Students analyze the theory and practice of international affairs and acquire practice in designing an independent research project. Topics vary with faculty expertise, and have included war and political violence; global environmental issues, social mobilization and protest, and development, race, and gender. IA 501 further prepares students for their international experience and helps them design individualized research topics for their capstone project in IA 701. This course must be taken before IA 701 and in most cases, before the student undertakes an international experience.