English
          The minimum requirement for a minor in English is 18 credit hours. At least nine hours must be taken in courses at the 300 level or above. A General Education required course cannot double count towards the English minor. A minor in English does not meet requirements for Secondary Teaching Licensure. Interested students may submit the declaration of minor form to the English department.

The following popular minors may usefully inform a student's program of study in English:

American Studies 
          The minor in American Studies is designed to foster an understanding of the whole of American culture through study in a variety of fields and topics. Students will select courses in three groups—Multicultural, Ideas and the Arts, and History and Politics—and from fields including literature, history, the fine arts, philosophy, and the social sciences. The American Studies program is a flexible one that students can adapt according to their own individual interests and needs while exploring the interrelationships among diverse aspects of American culture and its changing ideas and values. For more information, contact Dr. Laura Henigman, who coordinates the American Studies minor.         

Creative Writing
          The interdisciplinary minor in creative writing is designed to give students an opportunity to develop their writing talents across a number of literary forms and communication contexts. This checklist specifies requirements in the Creative Writing Minor. For more information, contact Laurie Kutchins, who coordinates the creative writing minor.

Film Studies
          The interdisciplinary minor in film studies is designed for students who wish to extend their critical understanding of visual communication and narrative form by studying how movies tell stories, convey information and influence audiences.
For more information, contact Dr. Kevin Reynolds, who coordinates the film studies minor.

Medieval and Renaissance Studies
          The Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor focuses on the period from the fall of Rome (5th century C.E.) to 1700. The minor allows students to take courses in art history, English, history, music, philosophy, political science, religion, and a range of languages (Arabic, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Latin as well as medieval languages such as Old English and Middle English) in the original or in translation. Students may focus on either the Medieval or the Renaissance periods or combine coursework in both periods. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Rankin, who coordinates the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor.

Secondary Education
          The undergraduate program in Secondary Education provides students with the courses and experiences that afford the required foundation for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT Program). Completion of the MAT program is required for licensure in secondary education at JMU. The Secondary Education MAT program prepares individuals for initial licensure to teach students in grades 6-12. Undergraduate students who are planning to pursue licensure to teach at the secondary level should complete the 22 credit pre-professional program in education. Students should also complete a major or the equivalent in one of the arts and sciences disciplines closely associated with the desired teaching area.
For more information, contact Dr. Steve Purcell, Department Head, Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education.

Women’s and Gender Studies
          The women's and gender studies minor is an 18-credit-hour interdisciplinary program that explores the scholarship related to gender and equity issues as they affect women. Program objectives include:
                    Helping students develop an interdisciplinary perspective on women and on society's construction of
                             gender roles
                    Exploring the extent to which gender affects access to opportunity, power, and resources
                    Enhancing community awareness and sensitivity within the university to the experiences and contributions
                             of women
                    Fostering and facilitating research and scholarship on women and gender issues 
For more information, contact Dr. Mary Thompson (English) or Dr. Jessica Davidson (History), co-coordinators of the women's studies minor.

World Literature
          The undergraduate minor in World Literature gives students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of and experiences in different cultures of the world by examining the literatures of these cultures. By exploring various literary traditions, students will better understand how literature reflects culture and deepen their appreciation for the diversity of global cultures. Additional information is available via the Undergraduate Catalogue or via the minor's website. The minor coordinator is Dr. Ramenga Osotsi.

         

          For additional details on other minor programs at JMU, consult the list of minors in the Undergraduate catalogue or contact Cross disciplinary studies.