Check out our three Spring '26 courses below and, if they align with your interests and qualifications, take the next steps to enroll! NOTE: Each JMU X-Labs course is uniquely formed. Please read instructions in MyMadison carefully to register.
View all past JMU X-Labs courses
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Upcoming Spring 2026 Courses
- Course Name: New Models for Project Management in Live Entertainment / Systems Thinking, Design Thinking, and Agile Dev[elopment] / Reimagining the Production of Live Entertainment
- Course #s: IART 451E, CIS 498, SRM 498
- Day & Time: M, 3:25-4:15PM and W, 3:25-5:05PM
- Course Challenge Statement: Students will explore novel approaches, mindsets, and skills for problem-solving and project management for live entertainment events by working hands-on in multidisciplinary teams in JMU X-Labs. In this course, students will dive into systems thinking, design thinking, and agile development to tackle real-life challenges with innovative solutions. This course equips students with the skills to excel in creative, collaborative, and fast-paced environments. Join us to bring ideas to life and make a tangible impact in the world of live entertainment.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is well suited for students interested in project management, sport management, production leadership, and arts education and administration. CIS and SRM courses are open to their respective majors and CIS minors only.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions. CIS 498 is open to its respective majors and minors with permission of the instructor. SRM 498 is open to its respective majors. IART 451E is open to enroll.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Business
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
Teaching Team Members:
- Dmytro Babik, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics – Instructor
- Angela Hayslett, Lecturer, Sport, and Recreation Management – Instructor & Design Thinking Facilitator
- Simon Marland, Assistant Professor of Sound Design – Instructor
- Brian Smallwood, Production Manager, Associate Professor of Theatre: Production Management, Technical Direction – Instructor
- Melissa Švigelj, Assistant Professor, Justice Studies – Design Thinking Facilitator
- Course Name: Using Rituals to Change our Relationship with Technology
- Course #: PSYC 400, REL 300, SMAD 332
- Day & Time: M and W, 10:20-11:35AM
- Course Challenge Statement: JMU X-Labs courses are cross-disciplinary, team-taught, and challenge-driven, using design thinking to tackle real-world problems. Students will develop solutions to the problem of technological distraction by designing rituals that draw on insights from visual communication and the science of health behavior change.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is well suited for students interested in philosophy, religion, psychology, media, and technology. PSYC and SMAD courses are open to their respective majors only.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions. PSYC 400 is open to its respective majors with permission of the instructor. SMAD 332 is open to its respective majors. REL 300 is open to enroll.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Health and Behavioral Studies
- College of Integrated Science & Engineering
Teaching Team Members:
- Modjadji Choshi, Associate Professor, Nursing - Design Thinking Facilitator
- Adrienne Hooker, Associate Professor, School of Media Arts and Design - Instructor
- Jessica Irons, Professor, Psychology - Instructor
- Shraddha Joshi, Assistant Department Head and Associate Professor, Engineering - Design Thinking Facilitator
- Alan Levinovitz, Professor, Philosophy and Religion - Instructor
- Course Name: Workshop in Environmental Problem Solving
- Course #: ENVT 400
- Day & Time: Th, 2:40-5:10PM
- Course Challenge Statement: Students will solve environmental and natural resource conservation challenges experienced by organizations and agencies.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: Students with an interest in environmental conservation and those with competencies in environmental management or science are encouraged to participate.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Health and Behavioral Studies
- Division of Access and Enrollment
Teaching Team Members:
- Raihan Khan, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences - Instructor & Design Thinking Facilitator
- Joshua Montanez, Director, Valley Scholars - Design Thinking Facilitator
- Hui Zhao, Assistant Professor, Nursing - Instructor
Current Fall 2025 Courses
- Course Name: Reimagining Virginia’s Fight Against Organized Retail Crime
- Course #s: CISE 480-0001, MKTG 498-0001, CIS 498-0003
- Day & Time: M, 3:25-5:55PM
- Course Challenge Statement: Students will develop solutions that help the Virginia Office of the Attorney General tackle organized retail crime across Virginia.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is open to all JMU students within the prerequisites of each course number. Students with an interest in the intersection of criminal justice, political science, and technology and have competencies in data analytics, business intelligence, and networking and security are especially encouraged to enroll.
- How to Register: This course has three course numbers (CISE 480-0001, MKTG 498-0001, CIS 498-0003). Register in MyMadison using the course number closest to your area of study and follow enrollment instructions.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Business
- College of Integrated Science and Engineering
Instructors:
- Adrienne Hooker, Associate Professor, Media Arts and Design
- Fadi Majdoub, Lecturer, Marketing
- John Robinson, Assistant Professor, Intelligence Analysis
- Course Name: How Does 3D Printing Help Us Tell the Story of Montpelier?
- Course #: UNST 300
- Day & Time: W, 5:00-7:30PM
- Course Challenge Statement: Students will develop solutions to real issues faced by the now physically isolated Archaeology Department Lab at James Madison’s Montpelier and its intersection with constituents and the Montpelier property.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is open to all eligible UNST 300 students (45+ credits in 4-5 areas) and will satisfy the Madison Foundations Critical Thinking requirement. Students with an interest in archaeology, history, 3D printing, and early elementary social studies are encouraged to enroll.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions.
Teaching Team from:
- JMU Libraries
- College of Education
- College of Integrated Science and Engineering
Instructors:
- Aaron Bodle, Associate Professor, Early, Elementary and Reading Education
- Jamie Calcagno-Roach, Director of Educational Technology Services, Libraries
- Carole Nash, Professor, Geography
- Course Name: Hacking Well-Being at JMU
- Course #: HTH 391
- Day & Time: T, 12:45–3:15PM
- Course Challenge Statement: Students will reimagine the future of Health and Well-Being at JMU.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is available to all JMU students. Those with an interest in JMU community well-being and have competencies in health sciences, nursing, kinesiology, psychology, social work, health communication and advocacy, and biology are encouraged to enroll.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Health and Behavioral Studies
- Division of Student Affairs
Instructors:
- Stephanie Baller, Professor, Health Sciences
- Kristina Blyer, Associate Vice President for Health and Well-Being
- Jonathan Stewart, Director for Finance, IT and Assessment, Student Affairs
- Course Name: AI for Global Impact: Tackling Grand Challenges with Generative AI
- Course #: UNST 300
- Days & Time: M & W, 1:50-3:05PM
- Course Challenge Statement: DARPA’s mission is “to create technological surprise for U.S. national security.” Students will develop ambitious DARPA-style proposals using GenAI as a transformative tool to imagine radically different futures for humanity.
- Students Eligible to Enroll: This course is open to all eligible UNST 300 students (45+ credits in 4-5 areas) and will satisfy the Madison Foundations Critical Thinking requirement. Students with an interest in generative artificial intelligence, humanities, ethics, political science, entrepreneurship, and technology are encouraged to apply.
- How to Register: Register in MyMadison and follow enrollment instructions.
Teaching Team from:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Integrated Science and Engineering
- Ethical Reasoning in Action
Instructors:
- Christian Early, Professor, Philosophy and Religion
- Venkat Kolluri, CEO: Cidewalk company
- Raafat Zaini, Assistant Professor, Integrated Science and Technology
Listen to this audio file to learn more about the course.
JMU X-Labs
