Dr. Jessica R. Adolino, Coordinator

Phone: (540) 568-6413

E-mail: adolinjr@jmu.edu

Mission

The major in international affairs provides an interdisciplinary understanding of foreign cultures and societies, the dynamics of world politics, and other nations’ world views and their consequent actions. A liberal arts program (B.A. degree), the international affairs major combines interdisciplinary, intercultural and multilingual education. It offers students a choice between two concentrations: international politics and comparative study. The courses for these concentrations stem from a broad variety of traditional liberal studies disciplines. The major also allows students to incorporate a minor in Asian, Latin American or Russian studies as well as the Studies Abroad programs. Because of limited course offerings, specializations in Asia or Africa and the Middle East may require language training from another university.

Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs

International affairs is a 50-credit hour major, with a 32 credit common core and 18 credits of concentration study. For further information and a complete list of the distribution requirements and eligible courses, contact the coordinator.

Degree Requirements

General Education 1	41
Foreign Language classes (Intermediate level required) 2	0-14
Philosophy course (In addition to General Education courses)	3
University electives	12-26
Major requirements (listed below)	50
	120

1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language’s placement test.

Major Requirements

                                                                   

Courses	Credit Hours
GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics	3
ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)	3
ECON 270. International Economics 1	3
INTA 295. Cross-National Research Skills 2	4
INTA 489. Seminar in International Affairs 3	4
POSC 230. International Relations	3
POSC 240. Comparative Politics	3
Choose one of the following:	3
HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History
POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy
Modern Foreign language courses 4	6
(One at the 300 level and the other at or above 300 level)
	32

 

1 Students should complete these core economics requirements before enrolling in upper-level economics courses.

2 Math 220, Elementary Statistics, is a prerequisite for INTA 295.

3 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.

4 Students meeting the 300-level modern language requirement through native language equivalency (competency must be approved by the Foreign Languages department) must complete 6 hours of American Studies course work. The 6 hours must include GAMST 200 and ENG 247-248 OR GHIST 225.

Concentrations

International Politics Concentration

The international politics concentration requires four courses on various themes of world politics. One of these four courses must be either POSC 370, U.S. Foreign Policy or HIST 330, U.S. Diplomatic History (whichever is not taken as a core course). In addition, students must take two area courses, one focused on a specific geographic region and one with a broader (cross-national) focus.

Comparative Study Concentration

The comparative study concentration requires four courses in one of the following geographic areas: Western Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia or Africa and the Middle East. Of these courses, one must be a history course and the others must cover at least two of the following subject areas: political science, economics, geography or culture. In addition, students must take two courses on themes of world politics from at least two different disciplines.

Internships

An approved four-credit internship experience may fulfill certain requirements. For information about internships in international affairs, please contact the international affairs coordinator.