A World Perspective

Lafayette has been a leader in the establishment of a
progressive international affairs program. In this inter-
disciplinary major, you gain a multifaceted perspective on world issues and foreign policy from several fields of study while preparing for a career in foreign service, international business, or international law.

Because the major requires the scholarly insights and analytical tools of several disciplines, you are exposed to a variety of viewpoints in the social sciences and humanities. A required concentration in four major disciplines—
government, history, economics, and foreign languages—provides a diversified and balanced view of international relations.

“Lafayette has had this type of interdisciplinary program for more than 50 years and now other colleges want our blueprint,” says Rado Pribic, Williams Professor
of Foreign Languages and Literatures and chair of the international affairs program.

The program draws upon the talents and international specialties of faculty members primarily from the departments of foreign languages and literatures, economics and business, government and law, and history. They teach courses focusing on different aspects of international affairs and conduct research related to their specific international interests. You will have opportunities to work one-on-one with them through independent study or an honors thesis.
 

Special Features

Mastering a second language and gaining international experience through study abroad are both essential to the major.

Students are advised to continue foreign language training to a level of proficiency that will enable them to use foreign language sources for their research. Lafayette offers instruction in French, German, and Spanish on an advanced level, Hebrew, Japanese, and Russian on an intermediate level.

You are strongly encouraged to complete a significant
foreign-study program. Lafayette sponsors four semester-long foreign programs led by a Lafayette faculty member: The “Lafayette in Brussels” program based at Vesalius College of the Free University of Brussels, Belgium is especially appropriate for engineering students. Other study abroad programs led by a Lafayette faculty member include: “Lafayette in Athens,” based at College Year in Athens, Greece; “Lafayette in Ghana” based at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; and “Lafayette in Spain,” based predominantly in Madrid.

Lafayette is also affiliated with a program that enables selected students to study in Russia and the republics of the former Soviet Union. Additionally, Lafayette has formal affiliations with many study-abroad programs administered by other academic institutions in virtually all strategically important geographic areas. As is the case with Lafayette faculty-led programs, students can use their financial aid to study in these programs. The College also participates in six-week summer language programs in Italy, Germany, Mexico, and Spain. The program chair and a study-abroad adviser help you select a program and prepare for the experience.

In addition, Lafayette is also affiliated with two foreign affairs programs in Manhattan and Washington. Students may spend a semester in New York City at the Globalization and International Affairs Program based at Bard College, or in Washington, D.C. studying foreign policy in a program based at American University.

On Lafayette’s campus, your academic experience is enriched by a variety of extracurricular activities including interacting with foreign students from almost 50 countries and with many guest speakers. The International Affairs Club sponsors a number of cultural activities and career workshops. A popular event is a three-day European Union simulation session in Washington D.C. that includes visits to the state department, various embassies, and the European Union offices. Students have represented the countries of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, and Sweden.

After Graduation

Many international affairs graduates have been admitted to some of the most prestigious graduate and professional programs including Columbia University, University of Denver, Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Tufts University, and Yale University. Some have entered LAW schools including Harvard University, Temple University, Vanderbilt University, and University of San Diego. Others have pursued studies in such fields as public administration, business administration, international management, and international development.

Majors have found employment in a variety of national and multinational companies such as Accenture, Peat, Marwick & Mitchell, IBM, Xerox Corporation, Connecti-cut General Insurance, Freed, Fragomen & Debray, Charles Schwab International, Fiduciary Trust Co. International, and Chubb and Son. Others have been hired by various international investment companies and international banks such as Banque Suisse and Chase Manhattan Bank; various government agencies, the United Nations, international health organizations, United States Information Agency, foreign cultural missions, academic institutions, military services, and the media.

Among graduates in the class of 2003, 78 percent accepted full-time employment and 17 percent enrolled in graduate programs. Starting salaries for majors in the class of 2003 ranged from $24,000 to $35,000 with the mean salary $32,200.
 

Courses

Every student is required to take two specially designed seminars for IA majors only: Research Methods in International Affairs and Senior Seminar. In addition to foreign language courses, majors must choose at least three courses from each of the following areas:
 

Faculty

Selected for their knowledge and experience in international areas:

Rado Pribic, Edwin Oliver Williams Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures and Chair of International Affairs Program. Ph.D., Vanderbilt University. Interest areas: interdisciplinary studies, Eastern Europe, Germany; comparative literature. Recipient of Lindback Distinguished Teaching and Jones Lecture Awards.

James DeVault, Associate Professor of Economics. Ph.D., University of Wisconsin. Interest areas: international trade, trade policy, and finance.

Michael Jordan, Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Ph.D., Emory University. Areas of interest: 19th- and 20th-century Latin American literature and culture.

Ilan Peleg, Charles A. Dana Professor of Social Science. Ph.D., Northwestern University. Interest areas: international relations, national security, the Middle East. Recipient of Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award, Van Artsdalen Prize for scholarship, and Jones Lecture Award.

Joshua Sanborn, Associate Professor of History. Ph.D., University of Chicago. Areas of interest: Russia, Eastern Europe, war and society, peace studies, nationalism, and gender studies.

David Veshosky, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chair of A.B. Engineering, and Director of Research Services, Provost’s Office. Ph.D., Lehigh University. Interest areas: management of technology, life-cycle economics, and project management. Recipient of Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award.

For general information:
Office of admissions
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 330-5100
FAX (610) 330-5355
admissions@lafayette.edu