This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary character of international studies. It is designed to provide a broad foundation for other courses in the program by acquainting students with major trends and topics in global affairs today. Those include both academic trends (discipline-based concepts, analytical tools, research theories, and ideologies) as well as thematic topics (in line with the research profiles of SIS). Different components for studying international affairs will be surveyed, including cultural, historical, environmental, economic, legal, and political perspectives on controversies related to globalization. Special attention will be placed on how such issues are managed through global governance institutions. The course, taught in collaboration with multiple departments, will enable students to use a combination of approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of studying – and understanding – global affairs.