In What Ways Can I Help?

          International Studies

The International Studies Program at West Virginia University is now experiencing a revival with increased numbers of majors over the past three years. The curriculum of this long established program has also been significantly restructured with the addition of several new global affairs" tracks. Along with the traditional "regional" areas of emphasis (Africa/Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and East Asia), the program is balanced now by four tracks in international business, international environment, international development, and diplomacy and national security. All these concentrations have been enhanced with recent additions to the faculty in such areas as national security policy, U.S. diplomatic history, and Middle East geography. A national search is currently underway for a new Curtis Barnett Professor of Political Science with a specialization in international trade and finance. Recent development in the program, then, point to a vital program which is capturing the interest of many students.

Students, indeed, are the center of the International Studies Program. The Eberly College currently supports an expanding array of student experiences in international studies-all of which will ultimately be tailored to the university's new "capstone experience." The capstone experience will provide senior majors an opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills as a way of finishing off their undergraduate education. For example, each year the program prepares and sends "national delegations" to the National Model United Nations in New York City and the Model Organization of American States in Washington, DC, and plans are evolving for WVU to participate in the major, multi-university simulation in international diplomacy and crisis management. Also, increasing numbers of students now participate annually in study abroad, including specially structured WVU programs in Cuba, China, Italy, France, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Brazil. In the area of professional experience, the IS program is working with the intelligence community to institute regular internships in the government and private sector, while a recent agreement with the West Virginia European Trade Office (Munich) has established an internship for outstanding students with German and/or international business specialization.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PRIORITIES
The International Studies Program strives to enhance the opportunity for all of its students to have special experiences relevant to their area of emphasis in either a geographic region or a dimension of international affairs. As such, the program seeks:

• Funds to support the costs (mainly for travel) for study abroad experiences through WVU and other university programs
• Funds to support living expenses associated with internships in the policy community (typically in Washington, DC) in either the national government or private sector
• Funds to support student participation in special national and international conferences and simulations as well as the annual meetings of the Model United Nations and Model Organization of American States
• Funds to support students who wish to study independently beyond the set time frame of an internship or study abroad program