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About The Graduate School

It is the mission of The Graduate School to support, facilitate, and promote excellence in lifelong education through graduate programs of distinction, innovative outreach programs, and a diverse student body.

A Brief History

Founded in 1908 and located in the center of Virginia’s famous Shenandoah Valley, James Madison University is a public comprehensive university. The university offers programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral levels. The total enrollment for the fall 2010 session was 19,396. This total included 17,633 undergraduate students and 1,763 graduate students (including degree and non degree-seeking students).

The 712 acre campus features 114 major buildings. In the more than 100 years since its founding, JMU has grown from a state normal and industrial school for women to today’s coeducational comprehensive university. In 1914, the name of the university was changed to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg. The university became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924 and continued under that name until 1938, when it was named Madison College in honor of the fourth president of the United States. In 1977, the name was changed to James Madison University. The JMU Graduate School was established in 1954, when the State Board of Education authorized the university to offer programs leading to the Master of Science in Education degree.

The Graduate School is authorized to offer graduate programs leading to master’s, Educational Specialist, Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Psychology degrees.

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