Career Guide

Overview 

The International Affairs major is offered through the Department of Political Science, one of two departments in the School of Public and International Affairs within the College of Arts and Letters.

Concentrations

• Comparative Studies: Africa; Asia; Europe; Latin America; or the Middle East
• Foreign Policy and Global Governance 
• Global Human Development 
• International Conflict and Security 

Admission and Progression Standards

Visit the Major Snapshots site to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major.

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 23 academic programs 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 to their concentration and develop a competency in this language. Individuals majoring in International Affairs often incorporate related minors including African, African American, and Diaspora Studies, Economics, History, Humanitarian Affairs, Political Science, Woman’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as well as regionally focused minors including Asian Studies, Modern European Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Middle East Communities and Migrations, and others. Complementing this major with a minor in a Modern Foreign Language is strongly encouraged, as are study abroad programs and applied internships. International Affairs is a Bachelor of Arts degree program. It is offered through the Department of Political Science at JMU. This department also offers a major in Public Policy and Administration, a major in Political Science, and minors in Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, and Political Communication (in coordination with the Department of Communication Studies).

More About the Field 

The field of International Affairs is broad and flexible; it does not steer individuals toward one particular career but instead develops a skillset that exposes them to different cultures, societies, and systems of governance, while situating those countries and their interactions with others within the larger context of international system. The breadth and flexibility of the field leads to a variety of career paths including foreign service and diplomacy, public service, international business, media, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and consultancies, education, and more. 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.

Specialization

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 and states around the world. On the first front, students and professionals in International Affairs may gain expertise in either a specific region, subregion, or country (e.g., Asia, South Asia, or India, respectively) through an in-depth study of the culture, history, politics, language, foreign policy, etc, of that region or country. On the other hand, students and practitioners might focus on a specific issue or dynamic of international affairs (including international conflict and security, diplomacy, human security and development, democracy, intergovernmental organizations, international law, economic development and more. These do not need to be exclusive; one might develop an expertise in Middle Eastern security, for example. This training prepares students for a variety of careers in government agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, global divisions of multinational firms, journalism, law, and cross-cultural communication, to name a few.

Complementary Majors and Minors 

International Affairs majors frequently add a second major or minor(s) to complement their INTA major. The most common programs are Modern Foreign Languages, African, African American & Diaspora Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Conflict Analysis and Intervention, Criminal Justice, Cultural Communication, Economics, Environmental Studies, Health Communication, History, Humanitarian Affairs, Intelligence Analysis, International Business, Justice Studies, 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, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Recently, there has been an increasing number of students pairing International Affairs with Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. 

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 may require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.

• Academic Exchange Specialist
• Airport Public Affairs Officer
• Attorney
• Border Patrol Agent
• Budget Analyst
• Case Manager
• Community Affairs Director
• Community Agency Director
• Consular Assistant
• Contract Specialist
• Convention Planner
• Corporate Recruiter
• Cultural Events Planner
• Cultural Relations Consultant
• Customs Officer
• Development Associate
• Embassy Officer
• Emergency Relief Coordinator
• English Language Officer
• Federal Campaign Coordinator
• Foreign Affairs Officer
• Foreign Correspondent
• Foreign Culture Analyst
• Foreign Service Officer
• Foreign Trade Administrator
• General Services Officer
• Government Investigator
• Human Rights Advocate
• Immigration Inspector
• Import/Export Officer
• Information Resource Officer
• Intelligence Specialist
• International Affairs Educator
• International Marketing Manager
• International Radio Broadcaster
• International Relations Specialist
• International Visitor Exchange Specialist
• Interpreter
• Investor Relations Specialist
• Legislative Assistant
• Lobbyist
• Passport Specialist
• Peace Corp Officer
• Political Consultant
• Political Fund Raiser
• Project Assistant
• Public Affairs Specialist
• Public Diplomacy Officer
• Public Policy Analyst
• Research Assistant
• Security Analyst
• Scientific Linguist
• Tourism Promotion Officer
• Training Instructor
• Treasury and Trade Associate
• Visa Specialist
• Writer/Editor
• Youth Prevention Coordinator

Who Employs Graduates?

Advocacy Groups, Banking Institutions, Colleges/Universities, Consulting Firms, Educational Organizations, Federal Government Agencies (i.e. Department of State, Immigration & Naturalization, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, Intelligence Agencies), Foreign News Agencies, Import/Export Companies, International Development Programs, Lobbying Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, Research Institutes, and the United Nations.

Internships and Experiential Opportunities 

A variety of opportunities exist. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad through one of the JMU sponsored Study Abroad Programs to gain exposure to a different country and its culture. Students are encouraged to find internships through the Department of Political Science’s internship program or by participating in the Washington Semester program.

Career Profiles 

• Foreign Affairs Careers