The teachings of Plato and Aristotle. How our nation's world view affects our consequent actions and how international politics ripple through our daily lives. Which factors affect life choices.

Our humanities and social sciences programs launch students on a constant search for knowledge and the keys to understanding the human condition.

Along the way, our students develop critical thinking, communication, research and interpersonal skills that make JMU graduates highly prized in the job market.

The combination of skills and knowledge our students acquire leads to jobs and post-graduate educational choices.

Highlights

• Madison Awards for Academic Excellence provide tuition scholarships for selected top-level students.
• The Washington Semester program, open to all JMU students, allows students to explore the wealth of political and cultural opportunities available in the Washington, D.C., area.
• JMU hosts chapters of two highly prestigious honor societies, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, along with national honorary and professional societies for economics, history, philosophy, psychology and more.
• The inaugural College of Arts and Letters Career Conference put students in touch with successful alumni for networking, career and job hunting advice specific to liberal arts majors.

‘JMU gives you the opportunity to completely spike in your academic area, and it is also well-rounded as a school — great academics, great people, about 350 clubs to join, great ways to help out the community and learn leadership skills. Overall, JMU just gives you a great way to explore yourself.’

— Sergio Mendoza ('12), political science major