Major in Comparative Cultures and Politics

Comparative Cultures and Politics (CCP) is a major that studies how culture and politics intersect in global public affairs. CCP’s innovative interdisciplinary approach in the humanities and social sciences gives students the skills and competencies they need to address complex and critical global

issues across academic and professional fields. The CCP major provides students with tools to better understand diverse cultural perspectives around the world, explore how culture shapes power relations, and how political and economic dynamics impact culture. The comparative and transnational focus encourages students to learn about other cultures and political systems, to reflect back on their own societies, and to discover how they want to position themselves as globally engaged citizens.

CCP’s courses are anchored in contemporary issues relevant to global public affairs. Our courses examine such issues as racial and gender politics; media, power, and politics; nationalism, ethnicity, and ethnic conflict; literature, film, performance, and politics; globalization, international development, and community mobilization; human trafficking; global public health; and diaspora, migration, and displacement. The major’s related area requirement gives students the opportunity to gain expertise in areas or peoples outside of the United States and allows them to develop comparative and international perspectives valued by public and private employers. Knowledge gained in CCP is critical for understanding the impact of politics and policies on people’s lives, for envisioning new possibilities for global interactions, and for developing practical responses to social injustice, inequality, and conflict.

CCP graduates have acquired a wide variety of jobs, ranging from U.S. government positions to social and popular media, to private business ventures, cultural organizations, and non-profit organizations. They also pursue a wide range of graduate and professional degrees, including law, education, non-profit administration, public policy, public health, communication, cultural studies, environmental studies, media studies, anthropology, social work, and business.

James Madison College, a residential college at Michigan State University, offers world-class public affairs and public policy programs

James Madison College provides a liberal education in public affairs for undergraduates. Our curriculum cultivates in our students skills of rigorous thought, lucid prose writing, and articulate speech. Our courses draw insight from various social sciences and related fields, including political science, economics, literature, sociology, philosophy, and history. The multi-disciplinary perspective and focus on applied social science prepares students to face real world challenges with maturity, creativity, and responsibility.