Michigan State University

James Madison College



Address: South Case Hall
City: East Lansing
State: MI
Zip or Postal Code: 48825-1205
Country: USA
Program Director (or best person to contact): Grant Littke, Director of Field Experience and Student Affairs
Email: littke@pilot.msu.edu
Phone: 517-353-6757
Fax: 517-432-1804
Web Address:

Brief Program Summary
James Madison College is a residential college of Michigan State University, offering a liberal arts curriculum with a public affairs focus. Our four-year curriculum starts with a required, common sequence in Writing and in Public Affairs. Beginning in the Sophomore year, students major in one or more of the four curricular fields of the College: Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, Social Relations, Political Economy, and International Relations. College courses, which comprise roughly 50% of the total courses required for graduation, are taught by faculty employed full-time by James Madison College.

Sources of funding
Michigan State University

Program Reports To:


Are students charged an additional fee:

The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 16
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 7
Fulltime Instructors: 7
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0

Parttime Tenured Faculty: 3
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 0
Parttime Instructors: 2
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 1

Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 0

Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 34
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 25
Second Year: 25
Third Year: 25
Fourth Year and above: 25
Graduate Students: 0

Total Number of Students: 1000

Year the Program Began:1966

Academic Courses Offered In The Community
Identity and Community: An Approach to Writing I and II (3 cr. each) -- required Introduction to the Study of Public Affairs I and II (4 cr. each) -- required International Relations I and II (4 cr. each) -- required of IR majors Foundations of Political Economy (4 cr.) -- required of PE majors Politics and Markets (4 cr.) -- required of PE majors Classical Republicanism (4 cr.) -- required of PTCD majors Constitutionalism and Democracy (4 cr.) -- required of PTCD majors Political Theory and Political Issues (4 cr.) -- PTCD elective Social Theory and Social Relations (4 cr.) -- required of SR majors Immigrants, Minorities and American Pluralism (4 cr.) -- required of SR majors Politics, Society and the Third World (4 cr.)-- IR and PE elective International Law and Organization (4 cr.) -- IR elective Great Power Foreign Policy: Russia (4 cr.) -- IR elective Great Power Foreign Policy: Japan (4 cr.) -- IR elective Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in the Middle East (4 cr.) -- IR elective Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa (4 cr.) -- IR elective Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean (4 cr.) -- IR elective Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Asia (4 cr.) -- IR elective Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Europe (4 cr.) -- IR elective State and Society in Comparative Perspective (4 cr.)-- IR and PTCD elective American Foreign Policy (4 cr.) -- required of IR majors The Comparative Analysis of Foreign Policy (4 cr.) -- IR elective Economic Growth (4 cr.) -- required of PE majors Labor Market Theory and Industrial Relations (4 cr.)-- required of PE majors Urban and Regional Development (4 cr.) -- PE elective Radical Challenges to Liberal Democracy (4 cr.) -- required of PTCD majors Beyond Liberal Democracy? (4 cr.) -- required of PTCD majors African American Political Thought (4 cr.) -- PTCD elective Constitutionalism: The Supreme Court (4 cr.) -- PTCD elective Constitutionalism: The Presidency and Congress (4 cr.) -- PTCD elective Social Policy (4 cr.) -- required of SR majors American Politics and Equality (4 cr.) -- SR elective Social Movements (4 cr.) -- SR elective African American Politics (4 cr.) -- SR and PTCD elective Metropolitan Society (4 cr.) -- SR elective Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations (4 cr.) -- IR and SR elective Women and Power in Comparative Perspective (4 cr.) -- IR and SR elective Jews and Anti-Semitism (4 cr.) -- SR and IR elective Field Experience (5 or 9 cr.) -- required of all students Field Experience Analysis and Interpretation (3 cr.) -- required of all students Advanced International Political Economy (4 cr.) -- IR and PE elective US Industry and the World Economy (4 cr.) -- IR and PE elective Policy Evaluation (4 cr.) PE elective Senior Seminar in International Relations (5 cr.) -- required of IR majors Senior Seminar in Social Relations (5 cr.) -- required of SR majors Senior Seminar in Poltical Theory and Constitutional Democracy (5 cr.) -- required of PTCD majors Senior Seminar in Political Economy (5 cr.) -- required of PE majors Independent Study (1-4 cr.) -- elective in all fields

Other Academic Offerings


Classrooms in hall


Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget The College is located in a 1000 student dormitory, shared with students from across the University. All faculty and staff offices and classrooms are located in the building. All freshman live in the builidng, and upper-class students have the option of remaining.

Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
Fully-equipped computer lab with 20 work stations. All residence rooms have ethernet connections.

The Role of Community Partnerships
Required Field Experience internships link students to organizations, agencies, offices and firms in the community. Student-led Community Service Network involves students in community service projects.

The Role of Leadership Development
Students participate in University and College governance, including a JMC Student Senate.

The Role of Research
Faculty research includes students, through a Professorial Assistants program. Tenured and tenure-track faculty have normal scholarly expectations and activities.

Summary of Assessment Activities
American Association of Liberal Education accreditation participation in MSU accreditation reviews student assessment of faculty performance College evaluation of faculty performance periodic College-initiated self-studies and external reviews

Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
community service projects periodic speaker series and topical panel discussions Student Senate-initiated social activities opportunities for student performance (poetry, music, theater, dance) student participation in academic conferences

The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
All fields are inter-disciplinary, with many cross-listed courses. Dual major and dual degree programs are encouraged, both between fields in the College and with programs elsewhere in the University.

How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
Many courses focus on issues of diversity, both domestically and globally. Structured academic support and retention program for freshmen.

How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Targetted student recruitment efforts. Compliance with MSU affirmative action policies in admissions and hiring. Minority student organizations.

Student Demographics


Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other: yes

Description of Other Rewards
Faculty have their tenure homes in the College, and are typically employed by the College on a full-time basis.

Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
Political Science, History, Sociology, Economics, American Studies, English, Slavic Languages

Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
yes

Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:


Suggested Bibliography