Syllabi

on the UN and International Organizations

Contents
Antecedents to the UN ................................................................................................................................ 2
Atomic, Biological and Chemical Energy and Disarmament ........................................................................ 2
The Atomic Bomb .................................................................................................................................... 3
Disarmament ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Culture ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
World Heritage Sites ................................................................................................................................ 4
Development ............................................................................................................................................... 4
The World Bank and IMF ......................................................................................................................... 5
Environment ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Food and Agriculture ................................................................................................................................... 6
Food ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Governance ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Health .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Human Rights .............................................................................................................................................. 9
International Law ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Development and International Law ..................................................................................................... 13
Environment and International Law ...................................................................................................... 14
Human Rights and International Law .................................................................................................... 14
Peace and Security .................................................................................................................................... 15
Technical Agencies ..................................................................................................................................... 16
ILO .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
Women and Children ................................................................................................................................. 17
Women .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Children ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Syllabi for Students Participating in Model UN ......................................................................................... 18

Antecedents to the UN
Genocide and Human Rights
This University of California, Berkeley course provides a multidisciplinary introduction to
genocide and human rights by studying the history of the idea of human rights, genocidal events,
and finally, approaching the question of how to prevent future genocides. The first third of the
course has useful materials on the pre-1945 period.
The Great Depression
This is an annotated list from Foreign Affairs on the major works on the Great Depression.
The Global Great Depression
The first half of this syllabus from University of California, Davis deals with the Great
Depression in a global context, though concentrating primarily on Western countries.
The Great Depression
This website lists a number of syllabi on the New Deal, Depression and World War II in
America. It also links to good online sources on the topic.
Global Capitalism Since 1920
The first half of this Swarthmore College economics course investigates the present global crisis
in light of the past, but presents good readings on the interplay between events, economic
theories and government policies.
Dealing with Global Financial Crisis
This freshman seminar at Harvard University from 2009 asks how we can apply lessons from
other eras and economies to the present financial situation. It contains useful readings on the
Great Depression (and 1990s Japan).

Atomic, Biological and Chemical Energy and Disarmament

Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Weapons
This course from Kings College London has an extensive list of literature on CBN, disarmament
and arms control from World War II to the present. It also contains a list of literature on the
Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions, along with all other topics related to CBN. This
should be the first port-of-call for any syllabus or initial research on CBN after 1945.
Nuclear Weapons and International Law
This highly detailed syllabus from Fordham University School of Law considers the lawfulness
of the threat or use of nuclear weapons under international law, including ICJ decisions. It also

covers contemporary proliferation issues in Iran and North Korea. Mostly importantly, for the
history of the UN, it deals with the IAEA.
Arms and Arms Control
This University of Pennsylvania course introduces students to causes and consequences of arms
racing, theory and practice of arms control, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
proliferation, and arms control issues in Europe, Korea, South Asia and the Middle East from
1945 to the present.
Technology and Change in International Politics
This Georgetown University syllabus contains a section on the influence of the CBN on
international politics and global security.

The Atomic Bomb

Atomic Energy and Education
A primary source in and of itself, this 1958 UNESCO document considers how to teach British
children about atomic energy.
The Nuclear World
This syllabus from the College of William and Mary explores the emergence of nuclear
technology and its widespread impact on global politics, business, and culture roughly from the
Second World War to the present day.
Collection of syllabi on the Nuclear Age
This website at American University lists over 30 courses on various aspects of the atomic bomb,
arms control, WMD and the nuclear age. They mostly focus on the American perspective.
The Atomic Bomb and the Nuclear Age
This syllabus from Cornell University examines the nuclear age from multiple perspectives,
particularly the U.S., Soviet Union and Japan. It also includes films every week.
The Atomic Bomb from 1945 to the 1960s
This course from University of California, Santa Barbara examines the nuclear era from the
1890s to the signature of the first arms treaties between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. in the 1960s. It
focuses on the role of scientists and American popular perceptions of atomic and hydrogen
bombs.

Disarmament
Armament and Disarmament
This political science course at the Geneva Graduate Institute introduces students to theories on
armament and disarmament and considers arms control treaties and bans.
The Cold War
This syllabus from American University examines the Cold War with much literature on
disarmament and the arms race in general. There are of course many other syllabi on the web on
the Cold War, but this one presents a significant amount of relevant literature on disarmament.

Culture
UNESCO itself produces many documents on education (click here). However, few courses
address the history of UNESCO itself; those that do tend to concentrate on World Heritage Sites.

World Heritage Sites

World Heritage: The Players and Politics of Protecting the Past
This course at Brown University investigates physical and non-physical cultural heritage and
also examines heritage preservation as a profession. UNESCO World Heritage Sites play a key
role in the syllabus.
Heritage: History and the Past Today
This seminar at the New College of Florida takes an anthropological perspective on heritage and
considers this topic in light of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

Development
Women and Development
This course at the University of Oregon examines WID, GAD, the Third World, development,
empowerment, and patriarchy and suggests readings for critical perspectives on theoretical
concepts.
Women and International Development
This interdisciplinary course from Colorado State University draws from history, economics,
politic science, anthropology, sociology and international relations to look at international
development from a gender perspective.
Inequality and Development in a Globalizing World

This course at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna examines
the effects of global markets on development and the role of global economic institutions such as
the Bank and Fund in addressing unequal opportunity.
Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice
This Columbia University course aims to serve as a foundation course for a Masters in
Development Practice. Its multidisciplinary approach focuses on the interrelationship between
health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and management, addressing practical and
conceptual issues.

The World Bank and IMF

Global Capitalism Since 1920
The second half of this Swarthmore College economics course investigates the global
governance after World War II and considers each continent in separate weeks with separate
readings.
Human Rights Accountability
This New York University Law School course from 2006 addresses the accountability of the
IMF and World Bank for human rights through examining the history of human rights, the Bank
and Fund and specific case studies.

Environment
For an extensive range of syllabi on environmental issues, see H-Environments course syllabus
library.
International Tribunals and the Environment
This Rutgers University syllabus from 2006 analyzes how International Court of Justice, the
Permanent Court of Arbitration, World Trade Organization and NAFTA panels and specialized
bodies like the UN Compensation Commission have arbitrated and reviewed recent
environmental disputes.
Economy of Energy
This University of California, San Diego syllabus partially explores energy in a global context
from OPEC to the impact of energy on development.
Technology and Change in International Politics
This Georgetown University syllabus contains a section on the influence of the environment on
international politics.
Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice

This Columbia University course aims to serve as a foundation course for a Masters in
Development Practice. Its multidisciplinary approach focuses on the interrelationship between
health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and management, addressing practical and
conceptual issues.

Food and Agriculture

Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice
This Columbia University course aims to serve as a foundation course for a Masters in
Development Practice. Its multidisciplinary approach focuses on the interrelationship between
health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and management, addressing practical and
conceptual issues.

Food
Food, Nutrition and Human Rights
This syllabus from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
considers the human right to adequate food and nutrition from legal, political-economic,
nutritional, and cultural perspectives. The course investigates UN reforms, the follow-up to the
global development summits, and government and NGO food-and-nutrition program efforts.
Nutrition Rights
This course at the University of Hawaii studies the working of human rights systems by
considering the human right to food and nutrition.
Seminar on International Relations and the World Food System
This seminar at the University of Hawaii considers the global human rights movement through
an examination of the world food system.
Agriculture
The Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture
This Stanford University course examines the economic, ecological, and social aspects of
sustainable agriculture in the context of globalization and includes a case study of the Yaqui
Valley, Mexico.

Governance
The UN and Diplomacy
This syllabus developed by the University of British Columbia introduces undergraduates to the
UNs current role in diplomatic negotiations.
Introduction to International Relations

This Harvard University course introduces theories of international relations and addresses the
role of the UN as one of its policy issues.
Program Development and Management for International Organizations
This collection of York University Wagner syllabi from 2004 onwards deals with the UN
system. The courses examine the political aspects of negotiations at the United Nations system,
including relations with other regional and global bodies, and cover the different parameters of
the debate about relevance and reform.
The UN and International Relations
This undergraduate syllabus from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee examines aims, policies
and impact of UN organizations in peacekeeping, economics, environment and diplomacy. Its
particular strength lies in the weekly debate and study questions based on the readings.
International Organizations and Global Governance
This McGill University course from Winter 2011 focuses on the contemporary history of the UN
and its organs. It does not cover the World Bank or global economic governance, but provides an
excellent overview of the UNs current role in global governance with some initial weeks on the
history of UN structures.
Global Governance
This University of Toronto course from 2011 explores the operation and reform of current global
governance, though the first part of the course deals with the growth of global governance since
1945.
International Institutions
This Carleton College political science course from 2008 introduces students to key concepts and
theories of international institutions. It addresses two foci simultaneously: the dynamics of
international and intergovernmental organizations such as the UN, WTO and IMF; theoretical
considerations of institutional structures and organization.
Gender and International Relations
This joint history and political science course at University of Toronto examines the use of
gender in international relations theory and practice. It includes weeks on gendercide and global
governance.
International Organizations Courses
This website by the Chinese University of Hong Kong provides links to many syllabi from
various U.S. universities on international organizations, though the list was compiled in 2000.

International Organizations and Documents

This course from Toronto University examines the nature and characteristics of documents,
publications and electronic information produced by the UN and other international
governmental organizations, particularly the World Bank Group and IMF, EU, OECD and WTO.
It discusses theoretical and practical aspects of bibliographical control, access, availability and
reference work and assesses pertinent selection and reference tools.
Global Regulatory Reform
This 2010 course at Columbia Law School investigates the current failure of the financial
regulatory system and considers the emerging role of various international organizations,
including the IMF and World Bank.

Health
History of Global Health
This Harvard University History of Science course explores the interrelated histories of public,
international and global health from the nineteenth century to the present.
International Health
This course at the San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health examines the
key principles and concepts in global health and its first section deals with the history, principles
and goals of global health.
Medicine, Human Rights and the Physician
This Harvard Medical School course from 1998 analyzes the links between health and human
rights, including a few weeks on the historical perspective. It also examines the role of the
physician in uncovering human rights abuses.
Health and Human Rights
This University of California, Berkeley course uses various countries as case studies to examine
inequality, global frameworks for human rights in matters such as female circumcision and asks
about the health consequences of economic development and other current global issues.
Health and Human Rights in the Law
This course at St. Thomas University School of Law analyzes the relationship between modern
concepts of health and human rights from an international perspective and examines legal issues
arising from these intersections.
Peace through Health

This University of Waterloo, Canada course views war and violence through the lens of public
health to provide a reexamination of both. It also examines how far health professionals can
work for peace.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Global Health
This University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health course examines
contemporary issues in global health, including the role of the WHO and the representations of
global health in the media. It includes a useful resources section.
Introduction to Global Health Policy
This New York University Wagner School of Public Service course explores global health,
means of intervention to improve health and incorporates multiple disciplines, though there is
little history.
Global Maternal and Child Health
The Boston University School of Public Health course addresses contemporary public health
challenges for women and children. It applies comparative methods of inquiry to issues and their
management across the income and development spectrum.
Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice
This Columbia University course aims to serve as a foundation course for a Masters in
Development Practice. Its multidisciplinary approach focuses on the interrelationship between
health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and management, addressing practical and
conceptual issues.

Human Rights
The History of Human Rights
This MIT seminar considers the history of human rights and human rights discourse through
anthropology and legal philosophy as well as historical case studies of individual states and
human rights organizations.
Theories of Human Rights
This political science course at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign explores the history
and evolution of the term human rights and theories surrounding it. It is based mainly on
primary sources.
Peace and Human Rights in the Twentieth Century

This world history seminar at Indiana University examines peace and anti-war movements
throughout the twentieth century and ends with a consideration of the UN and NGOs in
promoting human rights and conflict resolution.
Human Rights and World Politics
This Harvard University syllabus from 2000 analyzes the expansion, emergence and enforcement
of the international human rights world.
The Global Politics of Human Rights
After examining several historical transgressions of human rights, this Stanford University
course considers the construction of an international human rights regime.
The Politics of Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention
This University of California, Berkeley course examines the history and politics of humanitarian
intervention over the past fifty years and assigns readings that analyze the delivery of
humanitarian aid and the function of tribunals as instruments for delivering justice.
Human Rights and Global Change
This course from the University of San Francisco introduces students to the literature on
international law, human rights and global politics.
Human Rights and Crimes Against Humanity
This Florida State University course involves a critical multidisciplinary examination of human
rights and crimes against humanity from the perspectives of history and ethics, social psychology
and political theory, and criminological theory. It mainly focuses on Nazi crimes.
Human Rights and Foreign Policy
This University of Denver, Colorado syllabus addresses human rights in the context of foreign
policy, focusing on United States foreign policy in the post-Cold War era.
Human Rights and Intervention
This Monterey Institute of International Studies, Graduate School of International Policy Studies
course considers abuses and injustices, particularly those worsened by post-Cold War trends,
through a human rights perspective.
Human Rights Politics and Policy
This Duquesne University, Pittsburgh course examines the philosophical, legal and moral
foundations of human rights and evaluates the enforcement of human rights policies.
Human Rights Education

This syllabus at University of San Francisco School of Education presents four case studies to
analyze the concept of human rights and to understand the UN and NGOs roles in defending
them.
Nutrition Rights
This University of Hawaii course studies the working of human rights systems by considering
the human right to food and nutrition.
Medicine, Human Rights and the Physician
This Harvard University Medical School course from 1998 analyzes the links between health and
human rights, including a few weeks on the historical perspective. It also examines the role of
the physician in uncovering human rights abuses.
Health and Human Rights
This University of California, Berkeley course uses various countries as case studies to examine
inequality, global frameworks for human rights in matters such as female circumcision and asks
about the health consequences of economic development and other current global issues.
Health and Human Rights in the Law
This St. Thomas University School of Law course analyzes the relationship between modern
concepts of health and human rights from an international perspective and examines legal issues
arising from these intersections.
Human Rights and the Body in Law and the Humanities
This interdisciplinary course (law, literature, film) at Florida State University studies the
historical development of the idea of human rights in both western and non-western traditions
and then critically examines contemporary human rights. A specific case study focuses on
immigrant women and children.
European Human Rights Regime
This syllabus at the European Inter-University Center, Venice, Italy provides readings on human
rights within Europe, looking at intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.
Labor and International Human Rights
This Florida State University seminar on international employment issues examines global trends
and the ILOs role in labor management.
The Politics of Migration

This Wellesley College course on the politics of migration includes several weeks on the UN and
migration.
Refugees, Displaced Persons and Exiles
This Michigan State University course from 1997 focuses on contemporary refugee problems,
including many involving the UN.
Women and/in the UN
This Central European University seminar syllabus examines how women became integral to the
UNs agenda and provides a wide variety of excellent readings on women and the UN. The
course also analyzes how womens rights became human rights.
Women, Law and Human Rights
This seminar at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law examines various legal cases and UN
resolutions to analyze the intersection between womens economic, political and human rights
and the law.
Studies in Comparative Genocides
This Florida State University syllabus, drawn up by an expert on the Nazi regime, considers
historical, theoretical and legal issues surrounding genocide since its definition as a crime by the
UN in 1948.
Genocide and Human Rights
This College of New Jersey course provides a multidisciplinary introduction to genocide and
human rights by studying the history of the idea of human rights, genocidal events, and finally,
approaching the question of how to prevent future genocides.
Human Rights and Religion
This Claremont Graduate University School of Theology course examines the relationship
between ideas of human rights and religion.
Literature and Human Rights
This Columbia University course considers both legal and literary texts on situations in which
rights are at stake to gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as torture, freedom of
expression, and due process.
The Literature of Human Rights
This Florida State University literature course analyzes a range of films and novels along with
international public policy discourses, critical theory, political philosophy, human rights reports,

legal briefings, UN documents, literary criticism, and other kinds of discourses that touch on the
question of contemporary human rights.

International Law
Introduction to International Law
This UCLA undergraduate course provides an introduction to the basic terms and ideas of
international law from a political science perspective.
Introduction to Public International Law
This course from the Boston University Geneva Program introduces students to the main
concepts of public international law and provides a global understanding of the laws governing
international relations.
Law and UN Organizations
Each week of this course from Chicago-Kent College of Law focuses on a different UN
organization to examine the legal and policy issues involved in the functioning of international
and intergovernmental organizations.
International Law from a European Perspective
Taught in spring 2011 at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad, the course focuses on
international law since 2001 and on debates between Europe and the U.S. over the role of
international law. It provides an extensive bibliography in international law on issues ranging
from the International Convention on the Sea to several weeks devoted to the UN. It also has
good suggestions for films on international legal issues, such as Rwanda.
Global Law and Governance
This Harvard University Law School course looks at a range of legal disciplines that examine
how global governance functions or attempts to function.

Development and International Law

Law and Economic Development

This Harvard University Law School courses examines the past and present role of law in
economic development.
Anti-Corruption Law and Development

This course from the University of Houston Law Center has the UN Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC) as its centerpiece and examines domestic and international anti-corruption
law, including issues such as oil in Africa.

Environment and International Law

Climate Change Law
This Columbia University Law School course from spring 2011 examines the negotiation,
implementation and current status of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Copenhagen Accord, and the Cancun Agreements and then US
climate legislation.
International Tribunals and the Environment
This Rutgers University syllabus from 2006 analyzes how International Court of Justice, the
Permanent Court of Arbitration, World Trade Organization and NAFTA panels and specialized
bodies like the UN Compensation Commission have arbitrated and reviewed recent
environmental disputes.
Nuclear Weapons and International Law
This highly detailed syllabus from Fordham University School of Law considers the lawfulness
of the threat or use of nuclear weapons under international law, including ICJ decisions. It also
covers contemporary proliferation issues in Iran and North Korea. Mostly importantly, for the
history of the UN, it deals with the IAEA.

Human Rights and International Law

The UN Human Rights System
This Washington College of Law syllabus examines the UN Human Rights System from a legal
perspective, including case studies.
International Human Rights Law
This Tufts University Fletcher School of Law introductory survey course acquaints students with
international human rights law and procedures.
International Human Rights Law
This Tufts University course examines global and regional mechanisms for the protection of
human rights along with international humanitarian and criminal law.
International Human Rights Law

This University of California, Berkeley course introduces students to the major human rights
treaties, including those on economic, social and cultural rights. It also examines regional human
rights systems.
International Human Rights
The course at Florida State University uses, for its basic material, the course developed by the
International Bar Association and the United Nations for the training of lawyers and judges and
provides case studies for elaboration upon this.
International Refugee and Asylum Law
This Florida State University course considers international refugee and domestic American
asylum law through a series of case studies.
Legal Issues regarding Israel/Palestine
This Harvard Law School course examines the history and legal aspects of the Israel/Palestine
conflict.
Comparative Refugee Law
This University of Chicago course looks at human rights, state sovereignty and persecution
through the lens of comparative refugee law.
Health and Human Rights in the Law
This St. Thomas University School of Law course analyzes the relationship between modern
concepts of health and human rights from an international perspective and examines legal issues
arising from these intersections.
Human Rights and the Body in Law and the Humanities
This interdisciplinary course (law, literature, film) at Florida State University studies the
historical development of the idea of human rights in both western and non-western traditions
and then critically examines contemporary human rights. A specific case study focuses on
immigrant women and children.

Peace and Security

Historical Evolution of Global Security
This course from the Graduate Institute in Geneva explores the history and evolution of global
security and economic institutions of multilateral governance from the nineteenth century to the
present. It mainly assigns excellent selections of primary sources.

The United Nations and Global Security

This politics seminar at Drake University, Iowa evaluates the UNs peacekeeping record.
Peace and Human Rights in the Twentieth Century
This world history seminar at Indiana University examines peace and anti-war movements
throughout the twentieth century and ends with a consideration of the UN and NGOs in
promoting human rights and conflict resolution.
The UN and Terrorism
This American Public University syllabus examines the history of domestic, international and
counter-terrorism and incorporates UN resolutions and readings written by UNITAR.
Human Rights and Conflict
This American University course explores the intersection between human rights and conflict
and the human rights of those involved in conflict and its aftermath. It includes case studies of
various conflicts, many of which were administered by the UN.
The Politics of Migration
This Wellesley College course on the politics of migration includes several weeks on the UN and
migration.
Refugees, Displaced Persons and Exiles
This 1997 course from Michigan State University focuses on contemporary refugee problems,
including many involving the UN.
Legal Issues regarding Israel/Palestine
This course from Harvard University Law School examines the history and legal aspects of the
Israel/Palestine conflict.
Peace through Health
This course at University of Waterloo, Canada views war and violence through the lens of public
health to provide a reexamination of both. It also examines how far health professionals can
work for peace.

Technical Agencies
ILO
Labor and International Human Rights

This seminar at Florida State University on international employment issues examines global
trends and the ILOs role in labor management.

Women and Children

Global Maternal and Child Health
The Boston University School of Public Health course addresses contemporary public health
challenges for women and children. It applies comparative methods of inquiry to issues and are
their management across the income and development spectrum.
Human Rights and the Body in Law and the Humanities
This interdisciplinary course (law, literature, film) at Florida State University studies the
historical development of the idea of human rights in both western and non-western traditions
and then critically examines contemporary human rights. A specific case study focuses on
immigrant women and children.

Women
Women and/in the UN
This Central European University seminar syllabus examines how women became integral to the
UNs agenda and provides a wide variety of excellent readings on women and the UN.
Gender and International Relations
This joint history and political science course at University of Toronto examines the use of
gender in international relations theory and practice. It includes weeks on gendercide and global
governance.
Women and Development
This course at the University of Oregon examines WID, GAD, the Third World, development,
empowerment, and patriarchy and suggests readings for critical perspectives on theoretical
concepts.
Women and International Development
This interdisciplinary course from Colorado State University draws from history, economics,
politic science, anthropology, sociology and international relations to look at international
development from a gender perspective.
Women, Law and Human Rights

This seminar at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law examines various legal cases and UN
resolutions to analyze the intersection between womens economic, political and human rights
and the law.

Children
The Child
The course at Harvard University School of Public Health considers general principles relevant
to childrens rights as elaborated in international human rights instruments, primarily the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Syllabi for Students Participating in Model UN

AMUN Collegiate Model Syllabus - Semester

The American Model UN provides a model syllabus for a semester-long course in preparation
for the Model UN.
AMUN Collegiate Model Syllabus - Quarter
The American Model UN provides a model syllabus for a quarter-system course in preparation
for the Model UN.
AMUN Teaching Resources
This website provides excellent links and resources for teaching a course in preparation for
Model UN.
UN Processes and Peacekeeping
This Suffolk University syllabus provides good materials in connection with the UN and Africa
in particular.
UN Perspective on IR
This is a year-long course from 2011-12 in preparation for the Midcoast Model UN with useful
insights into blending online learning and collaboration.
UNCW syllabus
This University of North Carolina Wilmington syllabus includes a useful list of resources to find
out about the UN on the web and good ideas for weekly assignments.
UCSC syllabus

This University of California, Santa Cruz syllabus provides an outline of topics and structure for
preparing for a model UN.