Getting Started

Welcome to graduate studies at JMU!

On behalf of the graduate faculty and administration at James Madison University, we welcome you to The Graduate School at JMU! Graduate studies have become increasingly more important to professional development and career advancement. You will find that JMU’s Graduate School is invested in your success.  Our outstanding faculty are excited about mentoring your graduate study, learning experiences, internships, research and other scholarly or creative endeavors.

View the Policy and Procedure Orientation Video

New Graduate Student Checklist

Download a Printable PDF of the Checklist

As a new graduate student at JMU, you will need to:

• View the above linked Policy and Procedure Orienation video. 
• Set up your "Dukes" email account and check it regularly.
  • Make sure you are able to log in to your JMU student email account. Offical JMU correspondance regarding your student record will be sent to your Dukes account, not to your personal email or to a staff account.
  • You should plan to check your email regularly or set your Dukes account to forward to an account you check regularly.
  • Visit the computing email page for more information on how to access your account. 
• Complete the Honor Code Test
  • The test is required of all students, even if you’ve completed it for a previous degree you earned at JMU.
  • For due dates and more information on how to complete this requirement, visit the JMU Honor Code Tutorial and Test Information
• Everfi Programs for Graduate Students
  • You will receive an email with an invitation to the training. More information, including due dates and how to access the trainings, can be found on the Required Programs Website.
• Attend Orientation
  • You will be emailed an invitation to registrer for Orientation. For dates and more information, visit our Orientation webpage.
• Familiarize yourself with the Graduate Catalog
  • You are responsible for abiding by The Graduate School policies as listed in the graduate catalog.
  • You are responsible for following the degree requirements outlined in the graduate catalog in effect when you begin your program.
• Work with your Advisor to Plan your Program of Study
  • Communicate with your advisor to make sure you understand your program of study (i.e. what courses/requirements you need to complete to earn your degree and when you will be expected to complete them) before or during your first semester.
  • If your program of study will deviate from your catalog requirements, talk to your advisor about what paperwork you all will need to submit.
• Check-In and Enroll through MyMadison
  • Enroll in courses by the appropriate deadlines. If your program handles enrollment on your behalf, it is still your responsibility to verify your enrollment is correct and adhere to enrollment related deadlines.
• Transfer Credits Taken Prior to Admission (if applicable)
  • This includes coursework taken at another institution or coursework taken prior to your admission into your current program at JMU (as an undergraduate or a non-degree seeking student).
  • The Approval of Transfer Credit Form must be approved by your graduate program and submitted to The Graduate School by the end of your first semester.
• Complete Any Conditions of Your Admission
  • Submit official transcripts from other institutions by the end of your first semester. We do not require submission of transcripts from JMU.
  • If your graduate program assigned additional conditions in your admission letter, complete those conditions as soon as possible.

If you are in a program that is offered fully or partly on campus, you will also need to:

• Submit your immunization and health history to the University Health Center
• Review information on the University’s COVID requirements.
• Obtain your JACard at Card Services (2nd floor, Student Success Center) - JACard gives you access to classrooms, computer labs, services, events, purchased meal plans, and declining balance accounts you may choose to use (Dining Dollars, Dining Dollars Gold, and FLEX).

If you are an international student, visit the New International Graduate Students webpage for more information on additional checklist items you will need to complete.

Have a great first semester!

Still have questions? Contact the Graduate School or other JMU offices at one of the numbers or email addresses listed below.

• The Graduate School - 540-568-6131; grad@jmu.edu
• Financial Aid - 540-568-7820; finaid@jmu.edu
• Student Affairs - 540-568-3685; beamla@jmu.edu
• International Students - 540-568-5681; isss@jmu.edu