James Madison University

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. Liam Buckley Anthropology Sheldon, Room 117 568-5361 bucklelm@jmu.edu After January 1, 2013: Dr. Amy Paugh Anthropology Sheldon, Room 203 568-5462 paughal@jmu.edu
Arabic	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures Keezell, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Art	Dr. William Wightman School of Art, Design & Art History Montpelier Hall, Room 375 568-6661 wightmwh@jmu.edu
Art History	Dr. William Wightman School of Art, Design & Art History Montpelier Hall, Room 375 568-6661 wightmwh@jmu.edu
Asian Studies	Dr. Johnathan Walker Integrated Science & Technology Maury Hall, Room 208 568-1742 walkerjx@jmu.edu
Astronomy	Dr. Steven Whisnant Physics Physics/Chemistry, Room 2186 568-6109 physics@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	William Flint Biology Burruss, Room 112 568-4012 flintwd@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
Business French	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Business German	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Business Italian	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Business Spanish	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Chemistry	Dr. Richard Foust Chemistry Physics/Chemistry, Room 1186A 568-6246 foustrd@jmu.edu
Chinese Business Studies	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Chronic Illness	Dr. Monty Gross Nursing Health and Human Services, Room 2151 568-8914 grossmd@jmu.edu
Classical Studies	Dr. Stephen Chappell History Memorial Hall, Room 7305D 568-4708 chappesx@jmu.edu
Coaching Education	Dr. Sarah Carson Kinesiology Godwin Hall, Room 326 568-6514 carsonsa@jmu.edu
Communication Sciences & Disorders	Dr. Charles Runyan Communication Sciences & Disorders Health and Human Services, Room 1129 568-6440 runyancm@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. Michel Mitri Computer Information Systems Showker, Room 309 568-3019 mitrimx@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. Laurie Kutchins English Keezell, Room 409 568-3756 kutchil1@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	Suzanne Miller-Corso Theatre and Dance Estes Center for Theatre & Dance Room 2229 568-3924 mille2sm@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 3110 568-8012 foucardl@jmu.edu	Open to all students, including non-teaching fields
English	Dr. Mark Parker English Keezell, Room 215 568-6170 parke3ml@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 Bioscience, Room 1028G 568-6196 wigginba@jmu.edu
Environmental Studies	Dr. Pete Bsumek Communication Studies Harrison, Room 1270 568-3386 bsumekpk@jmu.edu
Family Studies	Professor R. Ann Myers Social Work Health and Human Services, Room 2128 568-6980 myersra@jmu.edu
Film Studies	Dr. Kevin Reynolds Media Arts & Design Harrison, Room 0270 568-8183 reynolkj@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.
Geographic Science	Dr. Amy Goodall Geographic Science ISAT, Room 120 568-2688 goodalal@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	Dr. B. J. Bryson Social Work Health and Human Services, Room 2128 568-2924 byrsonbj@jmu.edu
Global Religion & Global Issues	Dr. Alan Kirk Philosophy & Religion Cleveland Hall, Room 112 568-6394 kirkak@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 Archaeology	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 history@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. Steve Keffer Biology Burruss, Room 152 568-5659 keffersl@jmu.edu
Humanitarian Affairs	Dr. Sarah O'Connor Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication Harrison 2272 568-6242 oconnosh@jmu.edu or Dr. Mary Tacy Integrated Science and Technology Health and Human Services Room 3208 568-6722 tacymb@jmu.edu
Integrated Science & Technology	Dr. Eric Maslen Integrated Science & Technology ISAT, Room 322 568-2740 maslenh@jmu.edu
Interdisciplinary Social Science	Dr. David Dillard History Department Jackson, Room 219 568-3757 dillarpd@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 5 credit hours in jazz ensembles
Latin American and Caribbean Studies	Dr. Kristen McCleary Sociology & Anthropology Sheldon, Room 120 568-6142 mccleakl@jmu.edu
Law Enforcement Spanish	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@jmu.edu
Legal Spanish	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 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. Christopher Hughes Physics Physics/Chemistry, Room 1154 568-8069 hugheswc@jmu.edu
Mathematics	Dr. David Carothers Mathematics & Statistics Burruss, Room 305 568-6184 carothdc@jmu.edu
Medical Spanish	Dr. Giuliana Fazzion Foreign Language Keezell Hall, Room 301 568-6128 fazziogx@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 Robert E. Pettit III Memorial Hall, Room 1123J 568-6264 pettitre@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 Music. Room 306 568-5367 apontepr@jmu.edu	General music minor open to all students
Music Industry	Mr. David Cottrell Music Music, Room 329 568-6303 cottredx@jmu.edu	Students who wish to declare the music industry minor must first register for MUI 221, Survey of the Music Industry, preferably in the sophomore year. The class is open to all majors. As part of MUI 221 students will learn about the music industry minor and will be instructed to register for MUI 250, Portfolio Review. In MUI 250 students will be asked to submit a resume, statement of professional goals, an academic plan and a signed declaration of minor form. Once the requirements from MUI 250 Portfolio Review are met, the Music Industry Coordinator will submit the signed MUI minor declaration form to the Registrar. This is always by the end of the semester in which the student has taken MUI 221.
Non-Profit Studies	Karen Ford 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 568-6109 physics@jmu.edu
Political Communication	Dr. Valerie Sulfaro Political Science Maury, Room 208 568-3997 sulfarva@jmu.edu
Political Science	Dr. Charles Blake Political Science Miller, Room 2120 568-6149 blakech@jmu.edu
Public Policy and Administration	Dr. Charles Blake Political Science Miller, Room 2120 568-6149 blakech@jmu.edu
Religion	Dr. Alan Krik Philosophy & Religion Cleveland, Room 112 568-6394 kirkak@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. Beth A Eck Sociology Sheldon, Room 207 568-6981 eckba@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. Laura Desportes Education Programs Memorial Hall, Room 3126A 568-4527 desporlx@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 Hall, Room 213 568-6145 womackcx@jmu.edu
Statistics	Dr. David Carothers Mathematics & Statistics Room Hall, Room 305 568-6184 carothdc@jmu.edu
Substance Abuse Prevention	Katherine Ott Walter Health Science Health and Human Services, Room 3114 568-8972 ottwalmk@jmu.edu
Technical & Scientific Communication	Dr. Larry Burton Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication Harrison, Room 2276 568-6004 burtonlw@jmu.edu
Telecommunications	Dr. Mohamed Aboutabl Computer Science ISAT/CS, Room 207 568-7589 aboutams@jmu.edu	Interdisciplinary minor to augment major programs; prepares students to become network and telecommunications professionals
Theatre	Dr. Bill Buck Theatre & Dance Estes Center for Theatre & Dance Room 2216 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 and Gender 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. Larry Burton Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication Harrison, Room 2276 568-6004 burtonlw@jmu.edu
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JMU - Minor Programs

JMU Minor Programs

Declaring a Minor