There is something distinctive about James Madison College and its people. What we share, what brings us together, is a fascination with public affairs and problem solving. Students who enroll in the College approach undergraduate education with seriousness. They seek careers and decision‑making roles in law, politics, government service, the Foreign Service, social services, journalism, education, business, and industry. We provide a challenging, multidisciplinary curriculum in the social sciences, which covers a range of subjects from social, political, and economic problems to questions of theory. Our curriculum is academically demanding, with distinctive attention to written work, analytical writing, give‑and‑take class discussion and collaborative work. Students in James Madison College confront special challenges and opportunities.

What makes us distinctive? For one, the College is small -- limited to about 1200 students. We are also a residential college, which means that Case Hall is required housing for all beginning students, and a popular housing option for returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In keeping with the purpose of a residential college, Madison also locates its administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, library, and seminar rooms in Case Hall. As a residential facility, Case Hall offers a library, computer lab, cafeteria, convenience store, laundry rooms, and assorted recreational facilities. It is a "home" on the MSU campus for our students, while also including students who are not enrolled in James Madison College. We provide an intimate environment in which to pursue an education ‑‑ one that features close contact with faculty and fellow students with similar academic interests and one that provides extended opportunities for debate and discussion outside the classroom.

Madison classes tend to be small. In our first-year courses, the average section size is about twenty. Our sophomore and junior courses enroll no more than forty students per section. Senior seminars are confined to fewer than twenty students. As a result, most classes are conducted as lively discussions in which students are encouraged and expected to participate. They draw insights from various social sciences and related fields, including political science, economics, literature, sociology, philosophy, and history. The faculty at Madison teach. Our instructors are hired with the understanding that we place a high value on excellent teaching. Each of our tenure-track faculty members also serves as an academic advisor to students; this, too, is a practice that makes us special.

Our students take about half their course work in the College. The remainder is taken in other units at MSU (most commonly in the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Social Science, and in such departments as Economics, History, Communications, natural sciences, and foreign languages). As a result, they get the best of both worlds: the benefits of the Madison curriculum combined with the richness and diversity of Michigan State University.

ADMISSION INTO JAMES MADISON COLLEGE

Admission is open to any undergraduate (first-year or transfer student) who has been admitted into Michigan State University, including Honors College members, of whom there are many in Madison. Students must indicate the College as their "major preference" on the MSU application for admission using Madison's major code (2901). If a student is interested in Madison but has already applied to the University for another major, the student should immediately contact the MSU Office of Admissions (517-355-8332) to indicate that he or she would like to change his/her major to James Madison College. The Office of Admissions will evaluate each application according to the standard MSU admissions criteria; there are no separate or additional admissions requirements for Madison. However, students should know that James Madison College is a limited enrollment College and admission is on a space‑available basis. Students admitted after the College reaches capacity for its first-year students will be placed on a waiting list. We recommend strongly that high school seniors apply as early as possible.

VISITING MADISON

We strongly encourage visits from all prospective students and parents. Both students and parents are welcome to sit in on a class, talk with our faculty and staff, visit with our students, and tour Case Hall. Student visits should be arranged in advance by telephoning the James Madison College Office at (517) 353‑5260 during normal office hours.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE: WHAT TO EXPECT

As a residential College, Madison is an environment where students learn and grow not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom in many ways as well. We provide a host of activities that relate to students’ common readings, courses and career interests. Students can expect hallways filled with lively debate well after classes have ended for the day, and frequent guest speakers, career nights, panel discussions, and non-academic socializing. Recent and on-going opportunities include:

Madhouse - a coffeehouse atmosphere where students and faculty share talents and friendship.

Law School Night - this has included alumni who have “been there,” offering advice and, dispensing vital information about admissions and financial aid.

These are only a two of Madison’s student and faculty-sponsored efforts to promote a true “living/learning” environment.

By its nature, James Madison College also attracts students who are active, seeking participation in extra-curricular activities and opportunities for leadership. Following are just a few activities and programs popular among Madisonians.

JMC Student Senate

The James Madison College Student Senate was founded in 1993 by Madison students and faculty to serve as the official voice of students within the College. The Senate advises the Dean and faculty on college issues; provides leadership opportunities to students; and sponsors extra- and co-curricular activities. Senators are elected from the four majors within the College and the first-year class. Seat numbers are determined by a direct proportion of students enrolled per major. All Madison students are voting members of the Senate and have voice and vote within their major caucus.

Elections for the Senate are held each spring; elections for First-year Senators are held each fall. For more information about the Student Senate, or for meeting times during the academic year, students should contact the Field Experience and Student Affairs Office.

Marathon Readings

In 2004, James Madison College staged its first Reading Marathon when more than 40 students and faculty gathered together to read Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick. Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, the group took turns reading the entire 500 page novel aloud, and completed the book at 4:30 a.m. the following day—a total of more than 22 hours.

In the years since, the JMC Reading Marathon has become an annual event, sponsored by the college’s MADhouse group—a student group that fosters creative writing and an appreciation for literature through monthly readings. In 2005, the Marathon featured Salmon Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (read in two sessions totaling more than 30 hours), followed in 2006 by Walt Whitman’s epic Leaves of Grass (finished a mere 8 hours). In 2007 the Marathon celebrated the 50^th anniversary of Jack Kerouac’s novel On The Road with a reading that rolled on for 11 hours. As in years past, all those in attendance agreed that it had been a remarkable event, a great way to see the full sweep of a work of literature, and a fun way to build a sense of community within the college.

International Relations Organization, MOAS, Model UN, Model NATO

There are several organizations for students interested in international relations. The International Relations Organization (IRO) is a registered student organization that coordinates on and off-campus Model United Nations activities. It is also in charge of MSU's Model NATO team that competes in Washington D.C. every year. MOAS is a registered student organization that studies Latin America throughout the year. It also sends a group of students to compete in Washington, D.C. at the annual competition of Organization of American States team.

W.E. B. Dubois Society

The W.E.B. Dubois Society at James Madison College was created in 1998 to foster social-political, academic and cultural diversity. The society's mission is to strengthen and sustain the college's commitment to addressing the needs of all students and faculty, with particular emphasis on those of the minority population. The society is also committed to sustaining an environment that will encourage the recruitment of minority students, faculty, and staff. These collaborative efforts incorporate students, staff, faculty and alumni to encourage understanding and participation in college affairs.

Madison Ambassadors

The James Madison College Ambassadors consist of student volunteers who serve as ambassadors for the College. They assist the Madison Admissions Office by hosting prospective students and their parents, providing tours of Case Hall, and answering questions about academic and student life. They are also called upon to help host Madison's visit days in the fall, the two Alumni Distinguished Scholarship weekends in February, and other college-sponsored events. In addition, they help the College by telephoning students who have not visited campus and by going on-site occasionally to speak with groups of high school students and others about the College. Being a Madison Ambassador is an enjoyable way for students to get involved, and participation is open to students at all levels, first-year through senior. For more information about how to become a James Madison College Ambassador, contact the Director of Admissions at (517) 353-5260.

Additional Extra-Curricular Opportunities

As you can imagine, beyond these activities, Madison students have hundreds of outlets at MSU for their organizational and leadership abilities. The Associated Students of MSU (ASMSU) and the Senior Class Council are typically well represented by Madison students. The national-award winning MSU Debate Team is another group in which Madison students are highly visible. Madison students volunteer for a whole range of activities through MSU's Service Learning Center, from the Adopt a Grandparent organization to the Capitol Area Literacy Coalition. The range of possibilities is almost unlimited.

MADISON SUPPORT SERVICES

Academic Advising

All students in James Madison College have an academic advisor in the college. The College's staff advisors usually advise first-year students. Upper level students are usually advised by faculty members who teach in the Madison majors.

Academic advisors can help students think about long-term goals, as well as short-term course selections. In order to make the most of the advising relationship, students need to spend time getting to know their advisors. Waiting until the annual enrollment period and then making a single visit to pick classes is not very fruitful for either the student or the advisor. Academic advising is very individualized at Madison; we regard it as one of our most important responsibilities to students.

SUCCESS: Students United to Create a Community of Excellence, Strength, and Support

SUCCESS is a joint effort by the faculty, staff, and students of James Madison College to assure that students enjoy full opportunity to take advantage of Madison's residential college environment. The program supports students by enriching the residential experience and providing academic support as needed. Some activities or educational programs sponsored by SUCCESS in the recent past include a weekly study group accompanying MC 201-202 that is student-led with a faculty mentor.

The Madison Writing Consultancy

The first and only unit-level satellite writing center on campus, the Madison Writing Consultancy weaves the philosophy of the MSU Writing Center into the specific needs of JMC to provide writing support to all students free of charge. Experienced peer consultants, themselves upper-division Madison students familiar with the college’s curriculum, are available to consult with students of any level on any assignment at any stage of composition – brainstorming, drafting, revising. In addition to one-on-one consulting, Madison consultants host a variety of workshops and classroom presentations, such as “Reading a Complicated Text,” “Writing in the Major,” and “How to Peer Review,” to help Madisonians gain a better understanding of reading and writing in the social sciences. Finally the Madison Consultants work closely with the MSU Writing Center to provide technology consulting to students interested in using email, Internet research, or web page publishing.

E-Mail and JMADISON Listserv

MSU offers each student a free account on its e-mail system. To activate an e-mail account, students should follow the instructions at any MSU Computer Lab. For information students can call the Computer Information Center at (517) 355-4500. After activating their e-mail accounts, Madison students will begin receiving information regarding the College from “JMADISON.” If you would like to post a note on the “JMADISON” listserv please send that information directly to JMADISON@msu.edu.

CASE HALL SUPPORT SERVICES

Case Hall Black Caucus

Case Hall Black Caucus welcomes all residents of Case Hall regardless of race, sex, religious or ethnic background, who seek to learn and spread knowledge of African-American culture and history.

Case Hall Government

Case Hall Government promotes scholastic, athletic and social interests of the residents of Case Hall.

Interested students should contact their Resident Assistants or the Case Hall Director.

Case Hall Facilities

The home of James Madison College on the MSU campus is Case Residence Hall, the first of the coeducational living-learning centers at MSU and one of the first in the nation. Included in Case Hall are a library, a music room, a dining room, a convenience store, a seminar room, a computer laboratory, classrooms, recreation rooms and lounges, faculty offices, College offices, library, and student residences. Because of this living, teaching, and administrative facility, Madison is able to offer a "small-college" environment that features closer student-faculty contact, inside and outside the classroom.

Case Hall offers a variety of living options to accommodate a range of life styles. These include alternate wing arrangements (i.e., a wing of women situated next to a wing of men), quiet floors, and female-male alternating suite floors. The living arrangement consists of suites of two rooms joined by a connecting bath. There are normally two people to a room.

Life after Madison

The Madison curriculum, with its multi-disciplinary perspective and focus on applied social science, prepares students to face real world challenges with maturity, creativity and responsibility. Increasingly, employers are looking for students that have strong communication skills, can think critically, are able to solve problems, effectively manage their time and priorities, can work as a member of a team, and are open to learning and acquiring new knowledge. The Madison curriculum develops these skills, and the Field Experience requirement adds a practical experience that compliments the classroom education. Many Madison graduates elect to seek full-time positions immediately upon graduation, while others seek to further their education in MA, PhD, JD, MBA, and other professional degree programs.

Employment Paths

Madison’s reputation has been built both inside the classroom as well as out in the “Real World”. We’ve talked about the strength and depth of the Madison curriculum, which, when combined with the practical Field Experience requirement prepares students for success. In addition, Madison graduates and interns have established the College’s strong reputation among employers. Consequently, the College’s name garners considerable respect. Across Michigan, throughout the Midwest, and increasingly, throughout the country, new graduates find many employment opportunities available to them based on previous contact by employers with Madison students and graduates.

Following is a list of some employment paths recent Madison graduates have taken:

Head of Research, Fund for Independence in Journalism Procurement Agent, Boeing

Foreign Service Officer, US State Department Trade Analyst, JPMorgan Chase

Analyst, UBS Analyst, CIA

Legislative Assistant, US Senator Carl Levin Event Planner, Windy City

School Teachers: U.S, France, Korea, China Field house

Corps Member, Teach for America Peace Corps Volunteer

VISTA/Americorps Volunteer On-Air Reporter, WPBN/WTOM

Market Intelligence Analyst, Continental Tire Political Consultant, Marketing Dealer Sales Rep, Steelcase Resources Group

Software Engineer, Infosys Intelligence Officer, US Navy

Investment Banking Analyst, Banc of America Securities Market Analyst, Federal Reserve Legislative Assistant, Michigan House of Representatives Bank of New York

Industry Analyst, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Research Associate, J.D. Power Office Manager, American Cotton Shippers Association and Associates

Development Associate, CHOICE Legislative Aid, U.S. Senator Jon Legislative Correspondent, US Rep. Vernon Ehlers Corzine

Staff Assistant, US House Committee on Ways and Means Sales and Logistics, Dulcinea Sales, Kone Elevators Farms

Manager, Regional Resource Center, American Cancer Society Air Battle Manager, US Air Force

Research Assistant, Coalition of Service Industries Consultant, Accenture

Graduate School

James Madison College provides a strong liberal arts foundation, develops strong verbal, written, and analytical skills, and focuses on government and public affairs, which makes it a popular program for students interested in graduate of law school.

The rigorous demands and multi-disciplinary method of instruction in each of the majors at the College prepare students for graduate study in a wide variety of areas. Programs in Law, Political Science, History, Sociology, Labor and Industrial Relations, Business Administration, Economics, and International Relations hold Madison in high regard and look favorably upon students who have done will in the curriculum.

Many students continue in the same direction as their Madison major, while other students tackle areas of study markedly different from their undergraduate degrees. Madison students have gone on to graduate programs in Russian Literature, Medicine, Physics, Art History, Journalism, Public Health, Theatre, Resource Development, Urban Design and Architecture, besides programs in International Relations, Business and Economics, Sociology, Law, and Political Science.

JAMES MADISON COLLEGE CURRICULUM

OVERVIEW

Michigan State University and James Madison College are on the semester calendar. The JAMES MADISON COLLEGE overall curriculum is made up of University requirements, College requirements including the major, and Field Experience requirements and Electives, as described below. Most students complete about 30 credits per year. About half of these credits are taken in Madison classes taught by Madison faculty. The remainder of your course work comes from a variety of other colleges and departments on campus.

Academic Orientation

Most students entering their first year or transferring to Michigan State University begin planning their Madison studies at Academic Orientation, a two-day program that takes place in the summer. As part of the Academic Orientation Program, students meet with members of the James Madison College staff and student body. We will talk with students about their academic interests and work closely with them to help them select their classes for the coming year. When students finish the Academic Orientation Program (AOP), they will have a completed schedule. They will know exactly what courses they will be taking and where and when those classes will be meeting. The personal attention that students receive is important, because first-year students at MSU have considerable choices.

First Year

In their first year, students will take two Madison courses per semester: MC111-112, “Identity and Community: An Approach to Writing,” and MC201-202, “Introduction to the Study of Public Affairs.” The other classes students take during the first year are drawn from outside Madison. Some possibilities students might consider include foreign languages, economics, mathematics, history, literature, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and computer science.

We recommend that students begin their foreign language during their first year. MSU has a wide array of language offerings ‑‑ Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili, among others. It also has excellent language laboratory facilities. If students place into the third year level of a foreign language, they should consider continuing with it or beginning a second foreign language.

Students may want to make additional progress towards meeting the University Integrative Studies requirements. Because the required Madison courses meet the University requirements in two of the four areas, Tier I Writing and Social Science, students may postpone completing the remaining two areas (General Science and Arts and Humanities) until their sophomore year. Students should remember that we will help them choose classes by explaining the various options. Students should think of their first year as an opportunity to be introduced to Madison as well as to sample courses in the wider University.

Toward the end of their first year in Madison, students are asked to indicate the major they plan to pursue. These are the four majors:

· INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

· COMPARATIVE CULTURES AND POLITICS

· POLITICAL THEORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY

· SOCIAL RELATIONS AND POLICY

Before deciding, students will have the opportunity to attend "Meet Your Major" meetings, to learn about each major, its requirements, its faculty, and possible careers. After students make their decision, they will be assigned an academic advisor. If students request a particular advisor, we will do our best to accommodate them. At this point, students may also want to consider a "dual major," or studying across TWO majors.

Sophomore Year

During the sophomore year, Madison classes will build upon the analytical, writing, and verbal skills that students started to develop during their first year. These classes will also expose students to the major theoretical approaches and policy issues and concerns of their major, and teach them to think like problem solvers and make use of ideas from a variety of social science disciplines. Most students complete the college economics requirement as well as finish their University integrative studies in this year.

Junior and Senior Year

During the junior and senior years, students pursue advanced course work in their James Madison College major and fulfill the related area or disciplinary course requirements of their major. Students also complete the FIELD EXPERIENCE requirement. Finally, they can also look forward to taking a SENIOR SEMINAR in their major. Our Senior Seminars are intended to be capstone experiences ‑‑ opportunities for students to pull together