Academic Programs

• Ronald Kander, Program Director
• Phone: (540) 568-2740
• E-mail: kanderrg@jmu.edu
• Web site: www.gs.jmu.edu
• For information about specific concentrations, contact the concentration coordinators.

The program graduates majors who are confident in their abilities as geographers, prepared for a lifetime of learning in geography, who have the skills to make a professional contribution to the field, to compete successfully in the job market, to successfully pursue graduate degrees and who are highly qualified for careers in research and development – equipped for long term success as professionals in the field of geography.

• understand the theories, models and analytical methods that help explain spatial patterns.
• understand the power and use of geographic tools such as maps, quantitative methods, aerial imagery, geographic information systems and global positioning systems in geographic analysis.
• develop the ability to use maps and other geographic representations and technologies to acquire, process and report geographic information.
• understand the relationship between cultural and physical processes within the spatial framework.
• understand the major problems facing humankind through examination of the interactions and relationships among humans, and between humans and the physical environment.
• develop an awareness of how cultural similarities and differences are manifested in both the human and physical environment.
• understand how the physical environment affects human systems and how the physical environment is modified by human activities.
• understand the value of the inter- and multi- disciplinary nature of geographical study and analysis.
• understand the value of the geographer’s perspective in explaining global diversity.
• understand the historical and philosophical development of geography and its sub-disciplines.
• understand how to detect and analyze the spatial structure of phenomena using spatial models.

JMU AGIS graduates have also found opportunities in industry with companies such as Earth Satellite Corporation, Space Imaging, Lockheed, SPOT Image, Logicom, SAIC, Pacific Meridian, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and many others.

Private environmental organizations and consulting firms, as well as local, state and federal government agencies have all hired students completing the Environmental Studies Concentration. Principal employers include the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.

• Geography Club
• Gamma Theta Upsilon (International Geographical Honor Society)

• Daniel Shaffer, Coordinator
• Phone: (540) 568-6199
• E-mail: shaffeds@jmu.edu

• Dr. Jack Gentile, Coordinator
• Phone: (540) 568-6173
• E-mail: gentiljr@jmu.edu

In addition to the above course work, students will complete a cognate (six credits) that demonstrates advanced competency in an approved area of study (e.g., foreign language, regional focus, ecology, AGIS).

• Dr. Mary Tacy, Coordinator
• Phone: (540) 568-6722
• E-mail: kimseymb@jmu.edu

• Possible Global Issues Specialization Courses:
• ANTH 300. Anthropology of Diet and Nutrition
• ANTH 355. Culture and Ecology
• ANTH/SOCI 352. Birth, Death, Sex: Exploring Demography
• ECON 312. Comparative Economic Systems
• ECON 365. Economic Development
• ECON 405. Political Economy
• ECON 270. International Economics
• GEOG 250. Agricultural Systems and Global Food Production
• GEOG 335. Geography of Africa
• GEOG 337. Geography of Latin America
• GEOG 346. Geography of Europe
• GEOG 348. Russia and the Former U.S.S.R.
• GEOG 349. Geography of East Asia
• GEOL 340. Soils and Land Use
• HTH 367. Comparative International Health
• HTH 368. International Health and Nutrition Studies
• ISAT 311. Role of Energy in Modern Society
• NUTR 380. Global Nutrition
• POSC 339. Politics of Communist and Post-communist Systems
• POSC 350. Latin American Politics
• POSC 355. East Asian Politics
• REL 312. Religions of East Asia
• SOCI 339. Sociology of Women
• SOCI/SOWK 348. Third World Societies

• Dr. Ronald G. Kander, Head

• Breadth of knowledge and skills across a variety of scientific and technological disciplines.
• Formal training in collaborative and leadership methods, problem-solving techniques from many disciplines, and use of the computer as a problem-solving tool.
• The ability to integrate scientific and technological factors with political, social, economic and ethical considerations in problem solving.
• Breadth provided through study in strategic sectors that reflect national critical technologies, including biotechnology, energy, engineering and manufacturing, environment, information and knowledge management, telecommunications, and health systems.
• Depth is provided through studies in an area of concentration and through a capstone thesis project.

• Grounded in Basic Science
• Technical Generalists
• Problem Solvers
• Technically Literate
• Computer Literate
• Technical Communicators
• Philosophically Grounded
• Methodologically Sound
• Aware of the Non-technical Contextual Issues
• Aware of Current Issues
• Marketable in Today’s Workplace

• Broad-based in understanding science, technology and business principles.
• Comfortable in a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Sensitive to political, social and ethical issues.
• Highly skilled in the use of the computer as a problem-solving tool.
• Skilled in solving problems.

• ISAT Honor Society
• ISAT LINKS
• JMU Student Chapter, Air and Waste Management Association
• JMU Student Chapter, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• JMU Student Chapter, Association for Facilities Engineering
• JMU Student Chapter, Association of Energy Engineers
• JMU Student Chapter, Virginia Biotechnology Association
• JMU Student Chapter, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering
• JMU Student Chapter, Society of Manufacturing Engineering
• JMU Student Chapter, IEEE Computer Society

In addition, a grade equal to or higher than “C-” is required for all ISAT Foundation courses that are prerequisites to other required ISAT courses before an ISAT major can take that ISAT course.

This sequence of four courses engages students in the practice of science, both to motivate and to provide understanding of science and technology in the context of important current social issues. Current areas from which issues are selected are living systems, the environment, modern production and energy.

This two-course sequence introduces the student to the non-technological issues encountered in science and technology problem-solving, particularly social, ethical, economic and legal issues.

This sequence of five courses provides students with basic methods and tools for understanding and analyzing problems in science and technology. Subjects are taught in an integrated manner with applications as the unifying factor. Topics include calculus, elements of the physical sciences, statistics, project management, the computer, knowledge-based systems and instrumentation and measurement.

Students complete 19-21 credit hours of instruction in strategic sectors during their junior year. The strategic sectors, developed from national critical technologies lists, represent areas of current strategic importance in the world economy. The sectors are biotechnology, energy, environment, engineering/manufacturing, information/knowledge management, telecommunications and health systems.

Students are provided the opportunity to focus their program of study by taking four additional courses in a particular area of concentration. The current areas for a concentration are:

• Biotechnology
• Energy
• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Environment
• Information and Knowledge Management
• Telecommunications
• Health Systems

This is the capstone experience of the senior year. Working as part of a team of students and interdisciplinary faculty, seniors will propose, develop, manage, analyze and report on a project that addresses some issue of interest within their concentration.

Students should note that many courses have ISAT prerequisites outside the minor (although equivalents to ISAT prerequisite courses will be accepted). In planning a sequence of courses for the minor, students are encouraged to meet with an ISAT adviser to ensure that all needed prerequisites will be taken in due course. In addition, before a student pursuing an ISAT minor can take any ISAT course, a grade equal to or higher than “C-” is required for all ISAT foundation courses that are prerequisites for another required course. The minimum requirements for the minor in ISAT follow.

Refer to the Interdisciplinary section of the catalog on Page 118 for the curriculum and requirements of the materials science minor.

Additional information about the materials science minor may be obtained from the Center for Materials Science in Room 3206 in the HHS Building, or by calling the director at 540-568-2723 or 540-568-8776.

Biotechnology majors must complete 47-53 credit hours of science foundation courses, 17 credit hours of biotechnology transition and core courses, and 15 credit hours of concentration courses including a capstone experience. With the advice and approval of a concentration adviser, each student selects the courses for his or her concentration area. Three broad areas of concentrations are suggested to serve a spectrum of student needs and desires. A research concentration would prepare students for graduate school or entry into a research laboratory. An industry concentration would prepare students for entry into the biotechnology industry. A custom concentration can be assembled for a specialized area of study such as bioinformatics, genomics, or agricultural biotechnology.

For more information, see Biotechnology in "Interdisciplinary Programs," or contact Dr. Robert McKown (mckownrl@jmu.edu) or Dr. Louise Temple (templelm@jmu.edu).

For more information, see Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies in "Interdisciplinary Programs."