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JMU Minor Programs


The university offers a wide array of minor programs that allow you to augment your academic major with another area of focused study. Students complete minors for a variety of reasons: strong interest in the subject, enjoyment of the discipline, and/or to develop specific skills and knowledge. Most minor programs require 18 to 24 credit hours of coursework. See the table below for a comprehensive listing of all undergraduate minors and program coordinators. For a full description of minors, please refer to the JMU Undergraduate Catalog.



Declaring a Minor

You must declare the minor by completing a "Change or Declaration of Major/Minor" form available from the Office of the Registrar, Warren Hall, fifth floor. The form must be signed by the minor coordinator or department head designated in the table below. Signed forms must be returned to the Office of the Registrar in order for your official academic record to reflect the minor program of study.




Minor Program
 

Department Head or
Program Coordinator
Signature Needed for
Declaration of Minor Form

Notes

Africana Studies

Dr. Lamont King
History
Cleveland, Room 303
568-4168
kingld@jmu.edu
 

 

American Studies

Dr. Laura Henigman
English
Keezell, Room 206
568-3752
henigmlx@jmu.edu

 
 

Anthropology

Dr. Clarence Geier
Anthropology
Sheldon, Room 205
568-6973
geiercr@jmu.edu

 
 

Arabic

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Keezell, Room 301
568-6068
fazziogx@jmu.edu

 
 

Art

Ms. Leslie Bellavance
Art & Art History
Duke, Room 215
568-6216
bellavlm@jmu.edu

 
 

Art History

Dr. John Ott
Art History
Duke, Room 218
568 6319
ottjw@jmu.edu  

 
 

Asian Studies

 

Dr. Johnathan Walker
Integrated Science & Technology
HHS, Room 3218
568-1742
walkerjx@jmu.edu 

 
 

Astronomy

 

Dr. Steven Whisnant
Physics
Physics/Chemistry, Room 2186
568-6338
whisnacs@jmu.edu

 

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

 

Dr. Jonathan Monroe
Biology
Burruss, Room 304
568-6649
monroejd@jmu.edu
or
Dr. Gina MacDonald
Chemistry
Miller, Room G47
568-6852
macdongx@jmu.edu 

 
 

Biology

Dr. Dean Cocking
Biology
Burruss, Room 302
568-6566
cockinwd@jmu.edu 

 
 

British Communication and Media (London)

Dr. Rustin Greene
School of Media Arts and Design
Harrison Hall, Room 247
568-7806
greenerp@jmu.edu

 

Chemistry

Dr. Richard Foust
Chemistry
Physics/Chemistry, Room 1186A
568-6246
foustrd@jmu.edu

 
 

Chinese Business Studies

Dr. Ping Wang
Program Coordinator
Showker, Room 222
568-3055
wangpx@jmu.edu

Declaration of minor forms are completed through the COB Academic Services Center 2nd floor of Showker Hall

 

Designed for any student; the minor is earned exclusively through participation in the JMU Study in China Program

Classical Studies

Dr. Stephen Chappell
History
Memorial Hall, Room 7305D
568-4708
chappesx@jmu.edu

 
 

Coaching Education

 

Dr. Michael Goldberger
Kinesiology
Godwin, Room 213
568-6145
goldbems@jmu.edu 

 
 

Communication Sciences & Disorders

 

Dr. Dan Halling
Communication Sciences & Disorders
Health and Human Services, Room 1129
568-6440
hallindc@jmu.edu 

 

The minor requires any 18 credit hours with a CSD prefix.  Some courses carry pre-requisites; please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog.

Communication Studies

Dr. Sharon Mazzarella
Communication Studies
Harrison, Room 1283
568-5633
mazzarsr@jmu.edu 

 

Apply to the Communication Studies department; admission to the minor requires a 2.7 GPA in SCOM 240 & 245 and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Students are admitted on space available basis.

Computer Information Systems

Dr. Richard Mathieu
Computer Information Systems 
Showker, Room 234
568-3064
mathierg@jmu.edu

 

Designed for Non-CIS majors

Computer Science

 

Dr. H. Taz Daughtrey
Computer Science
ISAT/CS, Room 212
568-2778
daughtht@jmu.edu 

 
 

Conflict Analysis & Intervention

Dr. Sharon Mazzaarella
Communication Studies
Harrison, Room 1283
568-5633
mazzarsr@jmu.edu 

 

Apply to the Communication Studies department; admission to the minor requires a 2.7 GPA in SCOM 240 & 245 and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Students are admitted on a space available basis.

Creative Writing

Ms. Erica Bleeg
English
Keezell, Room 224
568-6860
bleegek@jmu.edu

 
 

Criminal Justice

Dr. Peggy Plass
Justice Studies
Moody, Room 118
568-7151
plassms@jmu.edu 

Interested students should contact Dr. Plass. 

Cultural Communication

Dr. Sharon Mazzarella
Communication Studies
Harrison, Room 1283
568-5633
mazzarsr@jmu.edu 

Apply to the Communication Studies department; admission to the minor requires a 2.7 GPA in SCOM 240 & 245 and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Students are admitted on a space available basis.

Dance

Mr. Bill Buck
Theatre and Dance
TH II, Room 14
568-6342
buckwj@jmu.edu

 
 

Economics

Dr. Ehsan Ahmed
Economics
Showker, Room 434
568-3215
ahmedex@jmu.edu 

 

An 18-credit hour minor open to any student.

Educational Media

Dr. Diane Foucar-Szocki
Education Programs
Memorial Hall, Room 3310
568-6794
foucardl@jmu.edu 

 

Open to all students, including non-teaching fields

English

Dr. Robert Hoskins
English
Keezell, Room 217
568-6170
hoskinrv@jmu.edu

 
 

Environmental Information Systems

Dr. Steve Frysinger
Integrated Science & Technology
ISAT, Room 309
568-2710
frysinsp@jmu.edu 

 
 

Environmental Management

Dr. Steve Frysinger
Integrated Science & Technology
ISAT, Room 309
568-2710
frysinsp@jmu.edu 

 
 

Environmental Science

Dr. Bruce Wiggins
Biology
Burruss, Room 207
568-6196
wigginba@jmu.edu

 

Environmental Studies

Dr. Pete Bsumek
Communication Studies
Harrison, Room 1270
568-3386
bsumekpk@jmu.edu 

 
 

European Marketing

Ms. Joyce Guthrie
COB Academic Services Center
2nd floor of Showker Hall
568-3255
guthrijw@jmu.edu 

Designed for non-business majors; the minor is earned exclusively through participation in the summer session in Antwerp, Belgium.

Family Studies

Ms. Ann Myers
Social Work
Health and Human Services, Room 2128
568-6980
myersra@jmu.edu 

 
 

Film Studies

Dr. Charles Turner
Media Arts & Design
Harrison, Room 254
568-6494
turnercc@jmu.edu 

 
 

French

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Language
Keezell, Room 301
568-6128
fazziogx@jmu.edu 

 

Students who have had 2 or more years of French in high school or at their previous institution if they are a transfer student, and did not take the SAT II language exam should take the JMU foreign language placement exam.  Students may contact Dr. Stephany Plecker, Language Center Director, Keezell B13, 568-3578 for more information or go to http://www.jmu.edu/forlang/flpe.htm
 

Geography

Dr. Helmut Kraenzle
Geographic Science 
Health and Human Services, Room 3228
568-6849
kraenzhx@jmu.edu 

 
 

Geology

Dr. Stephen Leslie
Geology & Environmental Science
Memorial Hall, Room 7125
568-6130
lesliesa@jmu.edu 

 
 

German

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Language
Keezell, Room 301
568-6128
fazziogx@jmu.edu 

 

Students who have had 2 or more years of German in high school or at their previous institution if they are a transfer student, and did not take the SAT II language exam should take the JMU foreign language placement exam.  Students may contact Dr. Stephany Plecker, Language Center Director, Keezell B13, 568-3578 for more information or go to http://www.jmu.edu/forlang/flpe.htm.

Gerontology

Ms. Ann Myers
Social Work
Health and Human Services, Room 2128
568-6980
myersra@jmu.edu 

 
 

Health Communication

Dr. Sharon Mazzarella
Communication Studies
Harrison, Room 1283
568-5633
mazzarsr@jmu.edu 

 

Apply to the Communication Studies department; admission to the minor requires a 2.7 GPA in SCOM 240 & 245 and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Students are admitted on a space available basis.

 

Historical Archeology

Dr. Clarence Geier
Anthropology
Sheldon, Room 205
568-6973
geiercr@jmu.edu 
or
Dr. Gabrielle Lanier
History
Jackson, Room 226
568-3615
laniergm@jmu.edu 

 
 

History

Dr. Michael Galgano
History
Jackson, Room 202
568-6132
galganmj@jmu.edu 

 
 

Human Resource Development

Dr. Diane Foucar-Szocki
Education Programs
Memorial Hall, Room 3310
568-6794
foucardl@jmu.edu 

 

Open to all students; including non-teaching fields.

Human Science

Dr. Steven Keffer
Biology
Burruss, Room 152
568-5659
keffersl@jmu.edu 

 
 

Humanitarian Affairs

Dr. Mary Tacy
Integrated Science and Technology
Health and Human Services Building, Room 3229
568-6722
tacymb@jmu.edu

 

Integrated Science & Technology

Dr. Polly Cushman
Integrated Science & Technology
ISAT, Room 322
568-2740
cushmapk@jmu.edu

 
 

Italian

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Language
Keezell, Room 301
568-6128
fazziogx@jmu.edu

 

JMU does not have a placement exam in Italian. If students have taken Italian, in high school (or anywhere else before JMU), and are interested in taking the language here, they will need to talk to Dr. Giuliana Fazzion, Keezell 301.

Jazz Studies

Dr. Charles Dotas
Music
Music, Room 310
568-6180
dotascj@jmu.edu

 

In addition to music courses, requires 15 credit hours in jazz ensembles

Latin American Studies

Dr. Laura Lewis
Sociology & Anthropology
Sheldon, Room 120
568-7856
lewis2la@jmu.edu

 
 

Legal Spanish

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Keezell, Room 301
568-6068
fazziogx@jmu.edu

 

Management Science

Dr. Scott P. Stevens
College of Business
Showker, Room 229
568-3060
stevensp@jmu.edu

 

A general quantitative method in business minor.

Materials Science

Dr. Ron Kander
School of Engineering
ISAT, Room 157
568-8110
kanderrg@jmu.edu
or
Dr. Christopher Hughes
Physics
Physics/Chemistry, Room 2124
568-8069
hugheswc@jmu.edu

 
 

Math

Dr. David Carothers
Math
Burruss, Room 305
568-6184
carothdc@jmu.edu

 
 

Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Dr. Mark Rankin
English 
Keezell, Room 222
568-3755
rankinmc@jmu.edu

 
 

Middle Eastern Communities and Migrations

Dr. Shah Mahmoud Hanifi
History
Cleveland, Room 306
568-1743
hanifism@jmu.edu

 
 

Military Science

LTC Rodney Lusher
Memorial Hall, Room 1123
568-6264
lusherrl@jmu.edu

 

Designed for students who want to earn a commission as an army officer

Modern European Studies

Dr. John Scherpereel
Political Science
Miller, Room 2155
568-3933
scherpja@jmu.edu

 

Music

Dr. Pedro Aponte
Music
Cleveland 101
568-5367
apontepr@jmu.edu

 

General music minor open to all students

Music Industry

Mr. David Cottrell
Music
Music, Room 329
568-6303
cottredx@jmu.edu

 

18 credit hour minor; MUI 221, 231 and 250 are required courses

Non-Profit Studies

Ms. Ann Myers
Social Work
Health and Human Services, Room 2128
568-6980
myersra@jmu.edu 

 
 

Philosophy

Dr. Jeffrey Goodman
Philosophy
Cleveland, Room 110
568-6321
goodmajx@jmu.edu

 
 

Physics

Dr. Steven Whisnant
Physics
Physics/Chemistry, Room 2186
568-6338
whisnacs@jmu.edu

 
 

Political Communication

Dr. Valerie Sulfaro
Political Science
Maury, Room 208
568-3997
sulfarva@jmu.edu

 
 

Political Science

Dr. Jessica Adolino
Political Science
Miller, Room 2120
568-6149
adolinjr@jmu.edu

 
 

Public Policy and Administration

Dr. Jessica Adolino
Political Science
Miller, Room 2120
568-6149
adolinjr@jmu.edu

 
 

Religion

Dr. David Hollenberg
Philosophy & Religion
Cleveland, Room 308
568-6394
hollendb@jmu.edu

 
 

Russian Studies

Dr. Mary Louise Loe
History
Jackson, Room 224
568-6168
loeml@jmu.edu

 
 

Science, Technology and Society

Dr. Jeffrey Tang
Integrated Science & Technology
ISAT, Room 313
568-2758
tangjd@jmu.edu

Sociology

Dr. Tim Carter
Sociology
Sheldon, Room 118
568-6962
cartertj@jmu.edu

 
 

Spanish

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Language
Keezell, Room 301
568-6128
fazziogx@jmu.edu

 

Students who have had 2 or more years of Spanish in high school or at their previous institution if they are a transfer student, and did not take the SAT II language exam should take the JMU foreign language placement exam.  Students may contact Dr. Stephany Plecker, Language Center Director, Keezell B13, 568-3578 for more information or go to http://www.jmu.edu/forlang/flpe.htm

Spanish/English Translation and Interpretation

Dr. Giuliana Fazzion
Foreign Language
Keezell, Room 301
568-6128
fazziogx@jmu.edu

 
 

Special Education Non-Teaching

Dr. Cheryl Beverly
Education Programs
Memorial Hall, Room 3225D
568-6262
beverlcl@jmu.edu 

 

Designed for students in non-teaching fields who wish to acquire knowledge related to assisting individuals with disabilities.

Sport Communication

Dr. Michael Goldberger
Kinesiology
Godwin, Room 213
568-6145
goldbems@jmu.edu

 
 

Statistics

Dr. David Carothers
Math
Burruss, Room 104
568-6184
carothdc@jmu.edu

 
 

Substance Abuse Intervention

Katherine Ott Walter
Health Science
Health and Human Services, Room 3114
568-8972
ottwalmk@jmu.edu

 
 

Technical & Scientific Communication

Dr. Alice Philbin
Writing, Rhetoric & Technical
   Communication
Harrison, Room 2260
568-8018
philbiai@jmu.edu

 
 

Telecommunications

Dr. Malcolm Lane
Computer Science
ISAT/CS, Room 221
568-2772
lanemg@jmu.edu

 

Interdisciplinary minor to augment major programs; prepares students to become network and telecommunications professionals

Theatre

Mr. Bill Buck
Theatre and Dance
TH II, Room 14
568-6342
buckwj@jmu.edu

 
 

Urban and Regional Studies

Dr. Henry Way
Integrated Science & Technology
Health and Human Services, Room 3225
568-8186
wayha@jmu.edu

 
 

Women's Studies

Dr. Jessica Davidson
History
Jackson, Room 223
568-2697
davidsjb@jmu.edu
or
Dr. Mary Thompson
English
Keezell, Room 413
568-3758
thompsmx@jmu.edu

 
 

World Literature

Dr. Ramenga Mtaali Osotsi
English
Keezle, Room 218
568-6560
osotsirm@jmu.edu

 
 

Writing & Rhetoric 

Dr. Shelley Aley
Writing, Rhetoric & Technical
   Communication
Harrison, Room 2283
568-2334
aleysb@jmu.edu

 
 
   

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