DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL REALTIONS

TEACHING

Since its foundation up to nowadays the curriculum of the department “International Relations” provides students with a broad area of specialized courses such as “History of International Relations and Diplomacy”, “Modern History”, “New History”, “History of the Russian Empire diplomacy”, “History of Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of the USSR”, “History of Armenian Diplomacy”, “History of Armenian Colonies”, “New and Modern History of Near East and Middle East Countries”, “Armenian Cause and International Diplomacy”, “Armenian Genocide and Great States at the end of the 19th century and at the Beginning of the 20th Century”, “Theory of State and Right”, “International Right”. There are also taught special courses on foreign policy of Armenia and International right such as “Foreign Policy of the Third Republic of Armenia (Eastern and Western directions)”, “Kharabagh Problem and International Diplomacy”, “Theory of International Relations”, “Geopolitics”, “Principals of Diplomacy”, “Diplomatic and Consular Service”, “Diplomatic Procedure ”, “European Right”, “Contractual Law”. Courses on international organizations and regional problems are a part of curriculum as well. Learning a language and understanding a culture are the two most important parts of the program. Two foreign languages are offered in the curriculum: one European (English, French and German) and the other - one of the Eastern languages (Turkish, Arabian). Naturally English is chosen by the most of students and this course aims at enhancing the students’ speechmaking skills through such speaking activities as oral presentations, discussions, debates. Express their thoughts fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Have a good command of a broad lexical vocabulary and use language effectively. The two linguaphone laboratories are widely used by the students, with an objective to improve their pronunciation and intonation as well as communicating skills. The library with a rich collection of foreign professional literature as well as the course of “Area Study” create favorable conditions to gain the above- mentioned objectives. This course is taught depending on the languages: European and Eastern and it includes the history of the given country, its geography, economy, political system, home and foreign policy, lifestyle, customs and traditions, national and religious holidays etc. A special attention is drawn on computer skills. Students are given chance to develop their computer skills, surf the Net. The main objective of the educational process is to be fluent in foreign languages and computer skills as in this case it is a proven fact that it becomes easier in the labor market to find a corresponding job. The following courses have a great contribution in formation and development of students’ world outlook, taste and attitude towards beautiful: “Psychology”, “Politology”, “Aestheticism”, “Physical Education”, “Culturology”, “Logic”, “History of Foreign Literature”, “Ethno psychology”, “Principals of Ecology” etc. During the years of study the students of the faculty of International Relations have an opportunity to do research on the problems they are interested in: foreign policy problems, events, phenomena, works of statesmen and political figures. Learning outcomes are assessed in individual works, term papers; final research works which are displayed in the scope of specialized subjects as well as in annual conferences of Students scientific association. To fulfill this goal the students have at their disposal not only a library with rich collection of specialized literature but also electronic library. The students present interesting, high quality reports in the conference of Students scientific association and they are awarded a prize, a diploma and a letter of acknowledgement. An important point in faculty work is the organization of pre-final educational practicum which is one of the most essential phases in developing practical skills of future specialists. In addition to the main courses, the students in these programs are required to have a supervised practicum in different local and international organizations and get practical experience and skills. The main goal of the practicum is to demonstrate knowledgeable approach to it by using the theoretical knowledge the students have received at the University into practice. Besides, within a month of the practicum the students are provided with an opportunity to get acquainted with various kinds of diplomatic documents and correspondence, particularly with the contents of certain agreements, to study and analyze them and later the results of the analyses use in their final research work. This programme combines both academic and professional work with the objective of promoting the application of theory and research. According to University curriculum the students of “International Relations” pass their practicum during the eighth term; it lasts one month and it is organized in Constitutional Court on RA, in the National Assembly Standing Committees on Foreign Relations and European Integration. In the Constitutional Court of RA the students get acquainted with its structure, authorities, activities; they study the magazines “Almanac”, “Constitutional Justice” and “Bulletin of the Constitutional Court” published by CC. Besides, the students meet with the authorities of CC departments; get acquainted with the contents of certain international agreements, CC decisions, systemization works of international agreements according to thematic fields; they take part in lectures, in several court sittings as well as they examine the texts of international ratified and still non-ratified agreements, write summaries, do bilateral translation of correspondence (from English and Russian into Armenian and vice versa). In the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and European Integration the students get acquainted with the structure of committees and departments, problems, organizational works, inter-parliamentary relations; they take part in committee sessions, bill debates; they study the contents of certain international agreements and laws, their compliance with RA Constitution. During the practicum the students have a possibility to translate diplomatic documents from English into Armenian and vice versa. While fulfilling the practicum each student is given a character reference which is kept in their personal file. After the practicum the knowledge gained within the course of the practicum is compared with the theoretical one they got during the years of their study. For this purpose the chair of “International Relations and History” after H.Hakobyan organizes a defense of students’ reports on their practicum. In the year the best students defend final thesis on the subject “History of International Relations and Diplomacy” and take a state exam on “International Right and Modern Problems of International Relations”; the rest of he students take two state exams on the two above-mentioned subjects. The students of the faculty of International Relations are awarded a state standard diploma of bachelor degree.

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