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THE
MAJOR
The International
Affairs major is a department within the College
of Arts & Letters.
JMU
Concentrations: Comparative Study, International
Politics
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSINTA.shtml
Description
of Major:
The International Affairs major is an interdisciplinary major offered through the College of Arts and
Letters. It is a liberal arts program that draws upon course offerings from academic departments
throughout the university. International Affairs provides an interdisciplinary understanding of
foreign cultures and societies, the dynamics of world politics, and how other nations perceive the
world and why they act the way they do. Students must choose a foreign language relevant for their concentration and develop
a competency in this area. Individuals majoring in International Affairs may also incorporate a
minor in Africana, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle East, or Russian Studies. Complementing this
major with a minor in a Modern Foreign Language is strongly encouraged. International Affairs is a
Bachelor of Arts degree program.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
The field of International Affairs is broad and flexible; it does not steer individuals toward one particular career but instead exposes them to different cultures and societies and the international dynamics among societies. The global community is in need of new professionals who have an international outlook. Due to the flexibility of the field individuals may pursue various career paths. Usually students in this field will study areas such as history, political science, economics and foreign languages to learn about other countries and the international community. Students tend to concentrate on one geographical region or on the dynamics of the entire international system for more in-depth study.
Tell
me more about specializations in this field.
Specializations in the study of International Affairs enable students to combine interests in particular portions of the global community with a desire to work on particular global issues faced by people around the world. On the first front, students and professionals in International Affairs tend to focus either on the dynamics of a particular geographic region (such as Africa, Asia, Europe, etc.) or on the dynamics of the global system (such the International Court of Justice, the United Nations, the World Bank, etc.). In turn, issue-oriented specializations are as numerous as can be. International Affairs students can focus on conflict resolution, democratization, economic development, education, the environment, poverty reduction, public health, womens rights, and many other issues. Training in the dynamics of individual countries and global systems helps to prepare students for a variety of careers in government agencies, international organizations, non-profit organizations, global divisions of multinational firms, journalism, law, and cross-cultural communication.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
International Affairs majors commonly major or minor in a Modern Foreign Language. Some other combinations might include: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Communication Studies, Conflict Analysis and Intervention, Criminal Justice, Cultural Communication, Economics, Environmental Studies, Health Communication, History, Humanitarian Affairs, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Middle Eastern Communities & Migrations, Modern European Studies, Nonprofit Studies, Political Communication, Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, Religion, Russian Studies, Sociology, or Women's Studies.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Communication skills, especially interpersonal, are extremely important. Ability to learn another language and adapt to other cultures is also very important. International travel and exposure to different cultures is essential in this competitive field.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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