Cameron G. Thies, DEAN
Established in 1967, James Madison College is a residential learning community dedicated to innovative and inclusive undergraduate teaching, research and engagement in public affairs. The college is dedicated to the highest standards of excellence, both for the students and the faculty and staff. The curriculum and individual courses are multidisciplinary, cultivating in our students’ skills of rigorous thought, lucid prose writing and articulate speech. The residential environment nurtures a living-learning environment that promotes exchange and collaboration between students, faculty, staff and the broader MSU community. The College has graduated numerous Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholars, Marshall Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation Fellows, Mitchell Scholars and regularly represents a high percentage of Michigan State University's Phi Beta Kappa class.Its undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in one of five majors: International Relations, Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, Politics, Rights, and Culture, Public Affairs for Secondary Education, and Social Relations and Policy. This rigorous program features serious attention to written work, analytical writing, critical thinking, lively and respectful class discussion, and collaborative work. Competency in writing is strongly emphasized for all students in James Madison College, and research papers and other writing assignments have been incorporated into the requirements for each of the majors and all the College courses.The faculty of James Madison College have been recruited from several academic disciplines, such as American studies, economics, history, sociology, political science and political theory. The college emphasizes teaching excellence, individualized attention to students and scholarly research in public and international affairs. Faculty members devote a substantial amount of time to individual student advisement; as a result, programs of study are designed to satisfy the academic needs, intellectual curiosity and career goals of each student. The College’s courses are conducted as either lecture-discussion or collaborative classes in which student participation is encouraged and often expected. A typical class might focus on such issues as how globalization affects civil society, or how theories of justice evolve into systems of laws, or how a society's cultural and social values influence its economic development. In short, the emphasis throughout the program is on the dynamics of public and international affairs and public decision making.Included in the James Madison College program is a concentrated junior or senior year field experience where students work for an agency of government, private enterprise, non-profit and community organizations, media, and many other institutions. The full-time internship is intended to provide students with the opportunity to connect their education to the realm of practice. Placements are available throughout the United States and internationally. The college is an excellent choice for students pursuing careers in government, politics, administration, non-governmental organizations, community service organizations, business and foreign service. It is also appropriate for those considering post-Baccalaureate studies in law, social sciences, business, public administration and many other fields.Total enrollment is limited to maintain a small college environment within Michigan State University. In addition, the College is housed in Case Hall, which includes not only the residence hall rooms of its on-campus students, but also faculty offices, classrooms, dining facilities and seminar rooms.In the evenings, cultural programs, speakers, presentations and other extracurricular events are regularly scheduled. At the same time, the college's students are full members of the Michigan State University student body. They take approximately half their courses in other units of the university and enjoy all benefits of living on a large, beautiful campus.Students admitted to Michigan State University are also admissible to James Madison College. Enrollments in the college are, however, limited. Prospective first year and transfer students should notify the Michigan State Office of Admissions as early as possible of their desire to enroll in the college. Limited numbers of currently enrolled MSU students may also be eligible to transfer into the college; such students are encouraged to contact the Recruitment Coordinator in the college early in the fall semester. Subject to space availability, students may transfer into the college until their junior year without delaying completion of their degrees.ADDITIONAL MAJORS. Students who elect to pursue additional majors should notify the James Madison College Assistant Dean or their advisor as early as possible in order to plan their academic program. For additional information, see the Additional Major entry in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog.
The Minor in Muslim Studies, administered by James Madison College, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. The minor provides students with the opportunity for sustained study of Muslim societies and Islam in a range of disciplines and topics.
With the approval of the department that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements of the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
The student’s program of study must be approved by the Muslim Studies coordinator prior to enrollment in any course.
Requirements for the Minor in Muslim Studies
Students must complete the requirements specified below (16 to 32 credits):
The Minor in Political Economy, administered by James Madison College, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. The minor is intended to instill a fundamental understanding of political economy and to allow students a choice of policy areas for focused study.
To achieve this breadth and depth of knowledge in political economy, students must complete at least 22 credits. Students in anthropology, economics, international relations, or public resource management will find this specialization especially appealing as preparation for graduate study or public-policy positions.
Requirements for the Minor in Political Economy
The Minor in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy (STEPP) is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. The minor will expose students to policy-making processes at the local, state, national and international levels; examine historical trends and analyze social relationships; build a strong understanding of scientific principles used to formulate sound policy initiatives; and facilitate a linkage between policy-making and science, technology and the environment.
Students who are interested in this minor must contact the coordinator for the Minor in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy in James Madison College. The student’s program of study must be approved by the STEPP coordinator prior to enrollment in any courses counted toward the minor. Study abroad programs or internships require prior approval of the coordinator to ensure their relevance to the STEPP curricular goals.
With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
Requirements for the Minor in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy
The Minor in European Studies, which is administered by James Madison College, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree. The Minor in European Studies provides an opportunity for students to pursue a significant and coherent body of course work in the culture, history, politics, economics, and geography of Europe. Some of the courses in the minor focus on individual countries, while other courses are comparative and cross–national. A Steering Committee, composed of faculty from the colleges whose courses are included in the Minor in European Studies, oversees the minor. The student's program of study for the minor must be approved in advance and in writing by the chairperson of the Steering Committee. Students who elect the Minor in European Studies are encouraged to complete courses that are related to Europe in partial fulfillment of the University Integrative Studies requirement. Requirements for the Minor in European Studies The student must meet the requirements specified below:
The following disciplinary major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in James Madison College is available for teacher certification: public affairs for secondary education. Students who complete the requirements for this disciplinary major and the requirements for teacher certification are recommended for a teaching certificate in social studies. Persons with teacher certification in social studies are qualified to teach history, political science, geography, and economics.
The James Madison College Social Studies certification is available for secondary certification. This is a comprehensive teaching major, requiring 50 or more credits and does not require completion of a teaching minor for secondary certification. Optional teaching minors can be completed in addition to the comprehensive Social Studies major and can include credits already applied to the Social Studies teaching major. James Madison College students pursuing a teaching major in Social Studies, who are interested in earning elementary certification, must complete an additional major or dual degree in Education in order to fulfill the elementary program requirements.
Students must contact the James Madison College Director of Academic and Student Affairs.
For additional information, refer to the statements on the disciplinary majors referenced above and to the statement on TEACHER CERTIFICATION in the Department of Teacher Education section of this catalog.
James Madison College, in collaboration with Michigan State University/College of Law, offers an opportunity for selected JMC students to earn a baccalaureate degree after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 91 credits at Michigan State University and a minimum of 29 credits through subsequent enrollment at Michigan State University/College of Law. Only students who matriculate as first-year students at James Madison College may pursue this option. Students interested in this option should consult with their academic advisors during the first year in the college.
Admission to the Michigan State University/College of Law component of this program is limited to a small number of students who complete the specified university and college requirements and who earn a GPA and LSAT score that is acceptable for admission to Michigan State University/College of Law.
All students in this program will complete a minimum of 91 credits at Michigan State University, at least 47 of which (not to include James Madison College 400 and 401) shall be James Madison College credits. The requirements for the program are as follows:
Upon satisfactory completion of the specified Michigan State University/College of Law credits, students in this program will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree.