Academic Programs
International Affairs
Dr. Jonathan Keller, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-6497
E-mail: kelle2jw@jmu.edu
Location: Miller Hall, Room 2177
Web site: http://www.jmu.edu/polisci/intlaffairs.html
Mission
Concentrations
Internships
Study Abroad and Washington Semester
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 relations 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 Africana, Asian, Latin American, Modern European or Russian studies as well as the Studies Abroad programs. Because of limited course offerings, certain specializations may require language training from another university. International affairs is a 50-credit hour major, with a 32-credit common core and 18 credits of concentration study.
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 Education1 | 41 |
| Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required)2 | 0-14 |
| Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses)3 | 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 Languages, Literatures and Cultures' placement test. The international affairs major requires an additional year of language study. That is, students must have three years of a foreign language appropriate to their course of study in the major. Students majoring in international affairs who use proficiency in a native language to meet the INTA language requirement must make the following substitutions for the two 300-level foreign language courses: GAMST 200 AND one of the following courses: GHIST 225, GENG 247 or
GENG 248.
3 If students have taken a GPHIL course to meet their General Education requirements, they must take an additional course to meet the B.A. degree philosophy requirement.
Major Requirements
Students may choose either the comparative study or international relations concentration. The international affairs major requires that all students complete a common core. Students should be aware that it is not always possible to offer courses on their regular rotation and that new courses may be added and existing ones deleted. Therefore, key requirements should not be left until just before graduation. Any course substitutions must be approved by the international affairs coordinator in consultation with other faculty members.
| Core Courses | Credit Hours |
| ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro) | 3 |
| ECON 270. International Economics1 | 3 |
| GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| INTA 295. Cross-National Research Skills2 | 4 |
| INTA 489. Seminar in International Affairs3 | 4 |
| POSC 230. International Relations | 3 |
| POSC 240. Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Choose one of the following:4 | 3 |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History | |
| POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| FL 300. Grammar and Communication5 | 3 |
| FL 320. Oral and Written Communication5 | 3 |
32 |
|
1 Students should complete these core economics requirements before enrolling in upper-level economics courses. Students double-majoring in economics and international affairs may substitute ECON 370 for ECON 270 to meet their core requirement.
2 Students should note that MATH 220 is a prerequisite for INTA 295.
3 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Completion of all courses in the core requirement of the major and senior standing.
4 Students in the international relations concentration must count POSC 370 in the core. HIST 330 must be taken as an international relations requirement (listed under the international relations concentration requirements. In other words, students who are following the international relations concentration must take both POSC 370 and HIST 330.
5 Students must be proficient at the third-year level of a foreign language. In most languages this will require the completion of courses numbered 300 and 320. Some languages may not use this course numbering. In this instance, students must take two 300-level courses that focus on grammar, oral and written communication. The second 300-level course may not be a literature, cinema or civilization course. Some languages (including Russian and Japanese) cannot be completed through the 300 level at JMU. Students studying these languages may have to complete course work during the summer or abroad at a specialized language program. Students should consult with the Department of Foreign Lanaguages, Literatures and Cultures on this point. Each student's foreign language must be appropriate for their track. French is acceptable for the Africa and Middle East tracks.
Concentrations
International Relations Concentration
The following international relations, cross-area and area courses are required in addition to the core courses listed under Major Requirements. Students in the international relations concentration must complete the requirements for all four headings. Students may use three credits of INTA 301W for cross-area, area or international relations credit. INTA 301W will always count as a political science course. The precise manner in which INTA 301W will count toward the major will be determined in consultation between students wishing to take INTA 301W and the international affairs coordinator.
| Cross Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete one course: | 3 |
| Anthropology | |
| ANTH 340. The Invention of Race | |
| Communication Studies | |
| SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 312. Comparative Economic Systems | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 280. Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape | |
| GEOG 300. Population Geography | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 340. Political Development in the Third World | |
| POSC 347. Comparative Public Policy | |
| POSC 348. The Politics of Cultural Pluralism | |
| POSC 349. Comparative Political Behavior | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics1 | |
| Sociology | |
| SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies |
1 When course topic is appropriate for the chosen concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete one course: | 3 |
| Africa | |
| HIST 263. Africa | |
| HIST 361. Class and Ethnicity in Africa | |
| HIST 470. Modern Africa | |
| POSC 353. African Politics | |
| Asia | |
| HIST 274. Modern Asia | |
| HIST 371. India | |
| HIST 375. History of Modern Southeast Asia | |
| HIST 377. History of Korea | |
| HIST 460. Modern Japan | |
| HIST 480. Modern China | |
| POSC 355. East Asian Politics | |
| Europe | |
| HIST 301. European Military History | |
| HIST 321. European Women's History | |
| HIST 384. England and the Empire-Commonwealth | |
| HIST 386. Russia since 1855 | |
| HIST 390. France since 1789 | |
| HIST 465. Twentieth Century Britain | |
| HIST 475. Modern Russia | |
| HIST 478. Eastern Europe | |
| HIST 486. Europe since 1914 | |
| POSC 344. Politics of the European Union | |
| POSC 345. Politics of Western Europe | |
| POSC 346. Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | |
| Latin America | |
| HIST 444. Revolution and Social Change in Latin America | |
| HIST 445. Latin America and the United States | |
| HIST 447. South America | |
| POSC 350. Latin American Politics | |
| The Middle East | |
| HIST 270. Modern Middle East | |
| HIST 473. The Islamic World | |
| HIST 485. Colonialism in the Greater Middle East | |
| POSC 354. Politics of the Middle East |
|
| International Relations Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (These courses must come from at least three fields of study. One of these courses must be HIST 330. The potential fields are listed below.) |
|
| Economics | |
| ECON 365. Economic Development | |
| ECON 370. International Trade and Trade Policies | |
| ECON 372. International Finance and Payment | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 375. Political Geography | |
| History | |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History2 | |
| Justice Studies | |
| JUST 300. Perspectives on Comparative Justice | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 361. Topics in International Politics3 | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations | |
| POSC/JUST 392. Peace Studies | |
| POSC 430. International Security in the Post-Cold War World | |
| POSC 435. Seminar in International Terrorism | |
| POSC 458. International Political Analysis | |
| POSC 493. Simulations3 | |
| Religion | |
| REL 314. Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 HIST 330 must be one of the course taken to fulfill the international relations courses for the IP concentration.
3 When course topic is appropriate for the chosen concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
Comparative Study Concentration
The following international/cross-area courses and area courses are required in addition to the core courses listed under Major Requirements. Students in the comparative study concentration must complete the requirements for all three areas. Students may use three credits of INTA 301W for international/cross-area or area credit. INTA 301W will always count as a political science course. The precise manner in which INTA 301W will count toward the major will be determined in consultation between students wishing to take INTA 301W and the international affairs coordinator.
| International and Cross-Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete two courses:1 | 6 |
| (Each course must come from a different field of study. The potential fields are listed below.) |
|
| Cross-Cultural | |
| GANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology | |
| SOCI/ANTH 313. Processes of Social and Cultural Change | |
| ANTH 340. The Invention of Race | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 312. Comparative Economic Systems. | |
| ECON 372. International Finance and Payments | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 280. Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape | |
| GEOG 300. Population Geography | |
| GEOG 325. Environmental Ethics | |
| GEOG 344. Economic Geography and Development Issues | |
| GEOG 375. Political Geography | |
| History | |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 340. Political Development in the Third World | |
| POSC 347. Comparative Public Policy | |
| POSC 348. The Politics of Cultural Pluralism | |
| POSC 349. Comparative Political Behavior | |
| POSC 361. Topics in International Politics2 | |
| POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| POSC/JUST 392. Peace Studies | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations | |
| POSC 430. International Security in the Post Cold War World | |
| POSC 458. International Political Analysis | |
| POSC 493. Simulations2 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 When course topic is appropriate for the chosen concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
Area Requirements
Students may choose from five tracks to fulfill the area requirement: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America or the Middle East. Students must complete four courses for their specific area. These courses must come from at least three fields of study. The potential fields are listed below. At least one of these courses must be a history course. Students with advanced language skills may also enroll in a 400-level literature course to meet the culture requirement.
The following lists the potential courses for each of these areas.
Africa Track
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (These courses must come from at least three fields of study.
The potential fields are listed below.). |
|
| Africana Studies | |
| GAFST 200. Introduction to Africana Studies | |
| AFST 489. Africana Studies Senior Research Experience2 | |
| Culture | |
| ANTH 280. Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology2 | |
| ARTH 210. African Art and Culture in the Humanities | |
| ARTH 410. African Art: The Sahara and Northern Sahel | |
| ARTH 412. African Art: Sub-Saharan | |
| ARTH 419. Topics in African Art | |
| ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt | |
| ENG 432. Studies in African Literature | |
| REL 300. Selected Topics in Relgion2 | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Tradition | |
| REL 330. African and African-American Religion | |
| SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 365. Economic Development | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 335. Geography of Africa3 | |
| History | |
| HIST 263. Africa | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History2 | |
| HIST 361. Class and Ethnicity in Africa | |
| HIST 470. Modern Africa | |
| HIST 473. The Islamic World | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 353. African Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics2 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 May be taken only when the subject matter is appropriate for this geographic concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
3 This course is found in the university catalog but is taught very infrequently. As such, students should not count on this course being available for scheduling in a timely fashion.
The following course is taught abroad ONLY and is accepted for culture credit in the Africa track:
ANTH 391. Study Abroad (in Kenya only)
Asia Track
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (These courses must come from at least three fields of study.
The potential fields are listed below.) |
|
| Culture | |
| ANTH 295. Peoples and Cultures of East Asia | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology2 | |
| ARTH 416. Arts of Oceania | |
| ARTH 430. Far Eastern Art | |
| REL 300. Selected Topics in Relgion2 | |
| REL 310. Hindu Traditions | |
| REL 312. Religions of East Asia | |
| REL 313. Hindu Ethics | |
| REL 316. Topics in Hinduism | |
| PHIL/REL 385. Buddhist Thought | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 334. Geography of East and Southeast Asia3 | |
| History | |
| HIST 274. Modern Asia | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History2 | |
| HIST 371. India | |
| HIST 375. History of Modern Southeast Asia | |
| HIST 377. History of Korea | |
| HIST 379. Family and Gender in East Asia | |
| HIST 460. Modern Japan | |
| HIST 480. Modern China | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 355. East Asian Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics2 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 May be taken only when the subject matter is appropriate for this geographic concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
3 This course is found in the university catalog but is taught very infrequently. As such, students should not count on this course being available for scheduling in a timely fashion.
Europe Track
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (These courses must come from at least three fields of study.
The potential fields are listed below.) |
|
| Required | |
| POSC 344. Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| Culture | |
| GARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern | |
| ENG 341. Contemporary British Novel | |
| ENG 374. Introduction to Anglo-Irish Literature | |
| FR 308. Contemporary French Civilization | |
| FR 425. Twentieth Century French Literature | |
| FR 465. French Cinema, 1930-1980 | |
| FR 466. Contemporary French Cinema | |
| GER 308. Contemporary German Civilization | |
| GER 426. Modern German Literature | |
| ITAL/HIST 308. Contemporary Italian Civilization | |
| ITAL 425. Modern Italian Literature | |
| ITAL 465. Italian Cinema | |
| RUS 405. Russian Literature of the 19th Century | |
| RUS 406. Russian Literature of the 20th Century | |
| SPAN 307. Spanish Civilization | |
| SPAN 405. Spanish Novels of the 19th and 20th Centuries | |
| SPAN 406. Spanish Drama of the 19th and 20th Centuries | |
| SPAN 460. Postwar Literature in Spain | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 332. Geography of Europe2 | |
| History | |
| HIST 301. European Military History | |
| HIST 321. European Women's History | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History3 | |
| HIST 384. England and the Empire-Commonwealth | |
| HIST 386. Russia since 1885 | |
| HIST 390. France since 1789 | |
| HIST 462. The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany, 1918-1945 | |
| HIST 465. Twentieth Century Britian | |
| HIST 475. Modern Russia | |
| HIST 478. Eastern Europe | |
| HIST 486. Europe since 1914 | |
| HIST 487. World War II | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History3 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 337. Politics of Russia and the Former Soviet Union2 | |
| POSC 345. Politics of Western Europe | |
| POSC 346. Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics3 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 This course is found in the university catalog but is taught very infrequently. As such, students should not count on this course being available for scheduling in a timely fashion.
3 May be taken only when the subject matter is appropriate for this geographic concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
The following courses are taught abroad ONLY and are accepted for culture credit in the Europe track:
ARTH 313. Masterpieces in Italian Renaissance Art (Semester in Florence only)
ARTH 314. Masterpieces in Spanish Art (Semester in Salamanca only)
ARTH 315. Masterpieces in British Art (Semester in London only)
ARTH 317. Masterpieces in French Art (Semester in Paris only)
Latin America Track
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (These courses must come from at least three fields of study.
The potential fields are listed below.) |
|
| Culture | |
| ANTH 265. People and Cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology2 | |
| ANTH/HIST 436. Afro-Latin America | |
| ENG 431. Studies in Caribbean Literature | |
| GHUM 252. Cross-Cultural Perspectives2 | |
| SPAN 308. Latin American Civilization | |
| SPAN 385. Latin American Drama and Short Stories | |
| SPAN 395. Latin American Poetry of the 20th Century | |
| SPAN 408. Aspects of Latin American Civilization | |
| SPAN 415. The Spanish-American Novel | |
| SPAN 446. Special Topics in Linguistics, Literature or Civilization | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 337. Geography of Latin America3 | |
| History | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History2 | |
| HIST 444. Revolution and Change in Latin America | |
| HIST 445. Latin America and the United States | |
| HIST 447. South America | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 350. Latin American Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics2 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 May be taken only when the subject matter is appropriate for this geographic concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
3 This course is found in the university catalog but is taught very infrequently. As such, students should not count on this course being available for scheduling in a timely fashion.
Middle East Track
| Area Courses | Credit Hours |
| Complete four courses:1 | 12 |
| (Each course must come from at least three fields of study. The potential fields are listed below.)1 | |
| Culture | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology2 | |
| ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt | |
| ENG 433. Studies in Arabic Literature | |
| REL 300. Selected Topics in Religion2 | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Tradition | |
| REL 320. Judaism | |
| SOCI 342. Muslim Movements in the Middle East | |
| SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 365. Economic Development | |
| History | |
| HIST 270. Modern Middle East | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History2 | |
| HIST 473. The Islamic World | |
| HIST 485. Colonialism in the Greater Middle East | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 340. Political Development in the Third World | |
| POSC 354. Politics of the Middle East | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics2 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 May be taken only when the subject matter is appropriate for this geographic concentration. Students should consult with the INTA coordinator about the suitability of a particular course.
The following course is taught abroad ONLY and is accepted for culture credit in the Middle East track:
REL 338. The Culture of Israel
Internships
A maximum of three credits in the major may be earned through an internship. Students must consult with the international affairs coordinator PRIOR to doing an internship to check on its applicability to the major.
Many of the courses available to students through JMU's Office of International Programs and the Washington Semester program can be used to fulfill requirements in the INTA major. Students planning to go abroad should keep this in mind in working out their schedules and must consult the INTA coordinator for course approvals and substitutions.
