Graduate Programs

Students may select from a range of graduate programs in the College of Arts and Letters. The departments and schools fully describe their programs in the Academic Units section. In addition to departmental programs, the college offers a wide array of annual events and supporting services, some of which reach out to the regional community.

Communication and Advocacy (M.A.)
English (M.A.)
History (M.A.)
Political Science (M.A.)
Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Public Administration – Fifth Year Format (M.P.A.)
Public Administration – Roanoke (M.P.A.)
Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication (M.A., M.S.)

Mission Statement

The College of Arts and Letters serves multiple vital needs of JMU students. First, it offers high-quality programs of specialized study in the social sciences, humanities, and communication, and in several pre-professional and cross disciplinary areas. Second, the college provides a challenging array of courses designed to promote lifelong learning by sharpening analytical abilities; improving computational and communications skills; cultivating a facility with written expression; enhancing cultural awareness, intensifying moral and aesthetic sensitivity and fostering awareness of the contingent nature of knowledge. Linking these two missions is a college-wide commitment tofree but rigorous and controlled inquiry into human nature.

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Annual Events

Visiting Scholars Program

The Visiting Scholars Committee organizes campus visits during the year by 12-15 people who have made significant contributions in their fields. The scholars, who represent a wide variety of disciplines, expose students and faculty members to different perspectives and encourage intellectual exploration. During a visit, a scholar meets with at least one group of students in a class or informal setting and gives a public presentation and discussion of his/her work.

For further information, contact Prof. Dietrich Maune at (540) 568-6472.

Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication Graduate Student Symposium

Each April, Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication sponsors a Graduate Student Symposium focused on the broad theme of communication. Graduate students from a variety of disciplines travel to JMU to share their work during this one-day event.

The symposium:

provides a forum for WRTC graduate students to showcase their research
fosters a supportive environment for graduate students to present research
allows graduate students to interact with peers from a variety of disciplines and schools

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