University of Virginia Library

PLAN
of the
SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
of the
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

I. Purpose

Events of the recent past seem to point inevitably to increasing participation of the United States
in world affairs. It is therefore obvious that we have and shall continue to have, for reasons of national
self-interest among others, a vital role to play in world reconstruction and rehabilitation, the establishment
and maintenance of world peace, world trade and finance; in fact, in all aspects of the mutual exchange
on an international basis of ideas, goods, and services. New opportunities and needs, in addition to those
of the past, are constantly arising. Consider, for example, the possibilities in the new fields of international
journalism and transportation, or the interchange of the progress and results of scientific research
and inventions.

The field is vast, varied and vital. The best interest of our nation demands specially trained men,
in its manifold departments of international relations; and the young man who seeks a career in non-governmental
service that involves contacts with foreign countries must possess that general background and specialized
equipment which will be conducive to his success.

Of equal importance is the education of at least a segment of the American public in the meaning
and responsibilities of its participation in world organization for peace. To participate intelligently
and effectively we must have at least a nucleus of public opinion that is conversant with the historical
background of world affairs, a grasp of the world's economic problems, a sympathetic and tolerant understanding
of the view-points of other nations, and a knowledge of civilizations and cultures other than one's own. All
of this represents a liberal education in itself.

II. Nature of the Course of Study

With the objectives then of preparing young men for careers in the foreign services of the government,
or in non-governmental foreign service, and also of offering a well-balanced educational program in international
affairs for its own sake, the University of Virginia is establishing a SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE AND
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. To meet these objectives it is believed that two conditions are essential:

• 1st. The student must first be broadly educated in the basic liberal arts subjects.

• 2nd. The specialized curriculum should be inclusive enough and flexible enough to
  permit him to frame a program to suit his individual tastes and needs.

For the purpose of fulfilling these conditions all students in the School, during their first two
years, will be required to take the basic liberal arts courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
These are English, Mathematics, Science, and Foreign Languages. In addition, they will be required to take
certain general college courses whose presentation will be oriented to the special needs of their advanced
program. These are History, Economics, American Government and Human Geography.

The advanced program of the last two years, constituting the field of concentration, will be articulated
from the courses listed in the following section. There will be a large measure of selection and
flexibility in framing the program of concentration, but the whole must represent a comprehensive unit
meeting the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. This program, of course, will be formulated
under the advice and guidance of advisers in the School.

The normal time for the completion of the program for the Bachelor's degree is four years. It may
happen, however, that a student will wish to prepare himself further by taking more courses than could be
fitted into his degree program. In this case he may stay on for a fifth year and do one of two things: frame
a program from the remaining courses that will meet the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts, or take
a number of the courses that will be useful for his future career but which do not meet the degree requirements.

III. The curriculum.

As stated above, the required subjects in liberal arts of the first two years will be presented in
the traditional manner, but others in this group, such as History, Economics, Human Geography and American

Government, will be oriented in the direction of the special needs of the School. The History course
outlines the rise of the democratic ideal, its growth, development and struggles, and its outstanding
personalities and documents, with particular emphasis on the roots and traditions of American democracy.
The course in geography will describe the main geographical areas of the world, their resources, needs,
and mutual economic relations, with special reference to the place of the United States in the world
picture. The course in Economics will be the Principles of Economics, with an orientation towards
international economic problems and American Economics projected against the world scene. The course in
American government is just what the name implies. All these courses are designed to aid in the formation
of a loyal citizen of his own country and an enlightened citizen of the world.

Every student will study for four years one of the major modern foreign languages. He will also
be required to devote one summer, here or elsewhere, to intensive study of the language exclusively, in
order to obtain a highly efficient practical command of it. The fourth year of language is devoted to a
study of the civilization and culture of the area of which it is representative.

The program of concentration for the last two years, and the fifth year, when desired, will be
formulated from among the following:

• American History

• European History

• Latin-American History

• The British Empire

• Russia, Political, Social and Economic

• Canada, Economic and Social History

• Far Eastern History and Government

• International Relations

• American Foreign Policy

• Inter-American Relations

• Comparative Government

• International Organization

• International and Maritime Law

• Constitutional Law of the United States

• Diplomatic History of the United States

• Diplomatic Practice

• International Economics

• Money and Banking

• Commercial Law

• Accounting

• Statistics

IV. Organization and Plan of Instruction

The organization of the School falls into two categories: The policy-making body and the
instructional staff. The policy-making body is to be composed of a group of twelve outstanding men in
the fields of international affairs, such as diplomacy, finance, commerce, transportation, communications,
journalism, education, etc. It is to be headed by a Chairman who shall be at the same time the Director
of the School, in general charge of its functioning and responsible for putting into practice the
policies formulated by the Board.

The instructional staff of the School will be chosen from among the members of the University
faculty, with such additions as are essential, organized into a closely integrated and independent teaching
unit for the purposes of the School, under the leadership of a faculty chairman who shall also serve as
Assistant to the Director. In this way the School, while still a corporate part of the University body,
and enjoying all the facilities offered by the University, will in a large measure constitute an independent,
closely knit entity with certain characteristic features all its own. The regular classroom instruction
will be supplemented with frequent lectures by experts and distinguished figures in the several fields of
international affairs.

The courses of the first two years will be taught by the traditional classroom methods. In the
last two years, however, classes will be divided into small groups for the purpose of individualizing
instruction and promoting individual initiative and discussion, and the tutorial method will be followed
wherever practicable. One feature of the final year will be the preparation of a paper on some subject
within the student's field of interest, designed to aid the student in synthesizing his knowledge of it,
and to demonstrate his grasp of it, as well as to train him in the methods of gathering materials and the
effective presentation of them.

V. Conclusion.

The University of Virginia presents certain characteristics which render it the ideal location
for such a School. It is situated close to Washington, the center of the political and diplomatic life
of the Nation, with its rich libraries and archives offering easy access for trips of observation, investigation
and research, and at the same time making readily available experts and distinguished
diplomatic and political personalities for lectures here. The interest in international affairs of its
great founder, Thomas Jefferson, who in his plan for the University contemplated a School of Diplomacy,
is still a strong tradition here. In the course of its existence many former students and others closely
connected with its early life have been prominent figures in the field of International Affairs. Among
them might be mentioned James Madison, James Monroe (for whom the James Monroe School of International Law
at the University is named) Thomas Nelson Page, W. W. Yen of China, John Bassett Moore, Woodrow Wilson,
and Edward R. Stettinius.

The University of Virginia offers the student of this School all the resources and facilities
of a great University with a rich heritage of tradition and a wide and honorable prestige. His degree
will be a recognized one from a recognized institution of learning.

There is already on hand an adequate faculty and a majority of the essential courses. Plans are
already under way to supplement the staff so that the few courses not now being given may be offered in
the near future. The University possesses a fine Library, containing a large collection of books on
International Affairs, and funds are being raised to enrich it still further. The University is likewise
the fortunate possessor of the John Bassett Moore Library of International Law and Diplomacy, a priceless
collection gathered together by that distinguished figure in diplomacy and presented by him to his Alma Mater.

Following a general discussion of the matter, the following motion by Mr. Garnett was adopted:

On motion the meeting then adjourned.