GOVT 425 American Foreign Policy

A course on U.S. foreign policy since 1945. Emphasis is not on a detailed examination of events but rather on the practical use of history for public policy-making and management.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*

*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


As the world’s leading superpower, America bears the responsibility for leadership in the modern world. The first listed aim of Liberty University’s mission speaks of the importance of giving students an understanding of international events. This course seeks to explain how America has exercised its international political role in recent decades and the challenges it faces in doing so in the future.


Article readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be 400–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge with at least 3 citations per post, including the integration of required module reading material in each post. In addition to the thread, the student will reply to the threads of at least 2 classmates. Each reply must be 200–250 words. Current APA format must be used.

Essay Assignments (2)

For each essay, the student will write a 3–5-page research-based paper in current APA format that focuses on topics that are relevant to the course content. Each essay must include 5–7 citations in addition to the course textbook and the Bible.

Midterm Assignment

The student will write 2 essays on separate topics, submitted as 1 assignment. For each essay, the student will write a 2–3-page research-based paper in current APA format. Each essay must include 5–7 references in addition to the course textbook and the Bible.

SWOT Analysis Paper Assignments (2)

The student will write two 4-6-page analysis papers in current APA format that evalutes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to in American foreign policy. One SWOT analysis will evaluate a State the international system and and one SWOT analysis will evaluate an issue. Each SWOT analysis must include 7–10 references in addition to the course textbook and the Bible.


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