International Affairs
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, Middle Eastern, 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
| Required Courses | Credits |
| General Education 1 | 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. Such students who have a diploma from a U.S. high school may take 6 credits of any foreign language, at any level, instead of the above two courses. These courses must focus on grammar, oral and written communication; they cannot be literature, cinema or civilization courses.
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. GPHIL 120 and GPHIL 150 cannot be used to fulfill the B.A. 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 Economics 1 | 3 |
| GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics | 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: 4 | 3 |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History | |
| POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| FL 300. Grammar and Communication 5 | 3 |
| FL 320. Oral and Written Communication 5 | 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. If taken in the summer from an INTA faculty member, POSC 295 will count as 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 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 Languages, 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.
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 | |
| GANTH195. Cultural 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 | |
| GEOG 325. Environmental Ethics | |
| GEOG 344. Economic Geography and Development Issues | |
| GEOG 345. Geography of Poverty | |
| GEOG 380. Cultural 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 Politics 1 | |
| Sociology | |
| SOCI/ANTH 313. Processes of Social and Cultural Change | |
| SOCI 336. Race and Ethnicity | |
| SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| 3 | |
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 East Asia, 1600 to the Present | |
| HIST 371. India | |
| HIST 375. History of Modern Southeast Asia | |
| HIST 377. History of Korea | |
| HIST 378. China in the Modern World | |
| HIST 460. Modern Japan | |
| 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 337. Politics of Russia and the Former Soviet Union | |
| POSC 344. Politics of the European Union | |
| POSC 345. Politics of Western Europe | |
| POSC 346. Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | |
| Latin America | |
| ANTH/HIST 436. Afro-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 | |
| 3 | |
| 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 Payments | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 375. Political Geography | |
| History | |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History 2 | |
| HIST 456. The Global Economy and Nationalism | |
| Humanities | |
| GHUM 252. Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation 3 | |
| Justice Studies | |
| JUST/POSC 331. Human Rights in Theory and Practice | |
| JUST/POSC 372. Ethics and International Politics | |
| JUST 375. Genocide in the 20th Century | |
| JUST 377. Global Futures | |
| JUST/POSC 392. Peace Studies | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 361. Topics in International Politics 4 | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations | |
| POSC 398. Simulations 4 | |
| POSC 430. International Security and Conflict Management | |
| POSC 435. International Terrorism | |
| POSC 458. International Political Analysis | |
| Religion | |
| REL 314. Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation | |
| REL/IA 363. Apocalypticism, Religious Terrorism and Peace | |
| 12 | |
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 courses taken to fulfill the international relations courses for the international relations concentration.
3 GHUM 252 will only count here when the topic is "Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation"
4 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 | |
| SOCI 336. Race and Ethnicity | |
| SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies | |
| ANTH 340. The Invention of Race | |
| SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication | |
| Economics | 2 |
| ECON 312. Comparative Economic Systems | |
| ECON 365. Economic Development | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 280. Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape | |
| GEOG 300. Population Geography | |
| GEOG 320. Human Dimensions of Global Change | |
| GEOG 325. Environmental Ethics | |
| GEOG 344. Economic Geography and Development Issues | |
| GEOG 345. Geography of Poverty | |
| GEOG 375. Political Geography | |
| GEOG 380. Cultural Geography | |
| History | |
| HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History | |
| HIST 456. The Global Economy and Nationalism | |
| Humanities | |
| GHUM 252. Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation 3 | |
| 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 Politics 4 | |
| POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 4 | |
| POSC/JUST 392. Peace Studies | |
| POSC 395. International Law | |
| POSC 396. International Organizations | |
| POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations | |
| POSC 398. Simulations 4 | |
| POSC 430. International Security and Conflict Management | |
| POSC 458. International Political Analysis | |
| 6 | |
1 No course taken for this requirement may be used to fulfill a requirement elsewhere in the major.
2 Students double-majoring in economics and international affairs may count ECON 372 (International Finance and Payments) as an international and cross-area course, in the economics box.
3 GHUM 252 will only count here when the topic is "Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation."
4 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 Culture | |
| ANTH 280. Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology 2 | |
| ARTH 210. African Art and Culture in the Humanities | |
| ARTH 310. African Art: The Sahara and Northern Sahel | |
| ARTH 312. 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 Religion 2 | |
| 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 Africa 3 | |
| History | |
| HIST 263. Africa | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History 2 | |
| HIST 361. Class and Ethnicity in Africa | |
| HIST/ANTH 436. Afro-Latin America | |
| HIST 470. Modern Africa | |
| HIST 473. The Islamic World | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History 2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 353. African Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 2 | |
| 12 | |
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 Anthropology 2 | |
| ARTH 430. Far Eastern Art | |
| ENG 427. Studies in South Asian Literature | |
| REL 300. Selected Topics in Religion 2 | |
| 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 Asia 3 | |
| History | |
| HIST 274. Modern Asia | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History 2 | |
| HIST 371. India | |
| HIST 372. Afghanistan in Regional and Global Systems | |
| HIST 375. History of Modern Southeast Asia | |
| HIST 377. History of Korea | |
| HIST 378. China in the Modern World | |
| HIST 379. Family and Gender in East Asia | |
| HIST 460. Modern Japan | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History 2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 355. East Asian Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 2 | |
| 12 | |
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 | |
| Culture | |
| GARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern | |
| ENG 340. Modern British and Irish Literature | |
| ENG 341. Contemporary British Novel | |
| ENG 374. Introduction to Anglo-Irish Literature | |
| ENG/FR 435. Studies in French Literature | |
| ENG 436. Studies in German Literature | |
| ENG 437. Studies in Italian Literature | |
| ENG 438. Studies in Russian Literature | |
| FL 446. Special Topics in Literature 2 | |
| FL 447. Special Topics in Civilization and Culture 2 | |
| FR 266. French Literature in Translation | |
| FR 308. Contemporary French Civilization | |
| FR 375. Business in Society in France | |
| FR 425. Twentieth Century French Literature | |
| FR 465. French Cinema, 1930-1980 | |
| FR 466. Contemporary French Cinema | |
| GER 266. Contemporary German Literature in Translation | |
| GER 308. Contemporary German Civilization | |
| GER 426. Modern German Literature | |
| GER 465. German Cinema | |
| ITAL/HIST 308. Contemporary Italian Civilization | |
| ITAL 375. Business and Society in Italy | |
| ITAL 425. Modern Italian Literature | |
| ITAL 465. Italian Cinema | |
| RUS 266. Contemporary Russian Literature in Translation | |
| RUS 308. Introduction to Russian Civilization | |
| RUS 405. Russian Literature of the 19th Century | |
| RUS 426. Russian Literature of the 20th Century | |
| SPAN 307. Spanish Civilization | |
| SPAN 390. Spanish Poetry of the 20th Century | |
| 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 | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 301. Economies in Transition | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 332. Geography of Europe 3 | |
| GEOG 333. Geography of Russia and the Former Soviet Union | |
| History | |
| HIST 301. European Military History | |
| HIST 321. European Women's History | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History 2 | |
| HIST 382. Europe in the 20th Century | |
| HIST 384. England and the Empire-Commonwealth | |
| HIST 386. Russia since 1855 | |
| HIST 388. Germany since 1871 | |
| HIST 390. France since 1789 | |
| HIST 462. The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany, 1918-1945 | |
| HIST 465. Twentieth Century Britain | |
| HIST 475. Modern Russia | |
| HIST 478. Eastern Europe | |
| HIST 486. Europe since 1914 | |
| HIST 487. World War II | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History 2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 337. Politics of Russia and the Former Soviet Union 3 | |
| POSC 345. Politics of Western Europe | |
| POSC 346. Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 2 | |
| 12 | |
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 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 Anthropology 2 | |
| ENG 431. Studies in Caribbean Literature | |
| ENG/SPAN 434. Latin American Literature in Translation | |
| SPAN 308. Latin American Civilization | |
| SPAN 375. Business and Society in Latin America | |
| 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 Spanish Literature 2 | |
| SPAN 447. Special Topics in Spanish Civilization and Culture 2 | |
| Geography | |
| GEOG 337. Geography of Latin America 3 | |
| History | |
| GHUM 252. Latin American Cultures 4 | |
| HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History 2 | |
| ANTH/HIST 436. Afro-Latin America | |
| HIST 437. Latin America and Latin Americans Through Film | |
| HIST 444. Revolution and Social Change in Latin America | |
| HIST 445. Latin America and the United States | |
| HIST 447. South America | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History 2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 350. Latin American Politics | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 2 | |
| 12 | |
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 oordinator 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.
4 GHUM 252 will only count here when the topic is Latin American Cultures.
Middle East 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.) 1 | |
| Culture | |
| ANTH 395. Special Topics in Anthropology 2 | |
| ARTH 332. Islamic Art and Architecture | |
| ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt | |
| ARAB 446. Special Topics in Arabic Literature 2 | |
| ARAB 447. Special Topics in Arabic Civilization and Culture 2 | |
| ENG 433. Studies in Arabic Literature | |
| REL 300. Selected Topics in Religion 2 | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Traditions | |
| REL 320. Judaism | |
| REL 350. Islamic Law and Society | |
| 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 History 2 | |
| HIST 473. The Islamic World | |
| HIST 485. Colonialism in the Greater Middle East | |
| HIST 489. Selected Topics in World History 2 | |
| Political Science | |
| POSC 340. Political Development in the Third World | |
| POSC 354. Politics of the Middle East | |
| POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics 2 | |
| 12 | |
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.
Study Abroad and Washington Semester
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.
