Mar 18, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The Graduate School


 

  Madison Hall, Room 4050
  Phone: (540) 568-6131
  100 E. Grace Street http://www.jmu.edu/grad
  MSC 6702  
  Harrisonburg, VA 22807  
Dean  
  Dr. Jie Chen  
Associate Dean  
  Dr. Michael Stoloff  
Interim Associate Dean    
  Dr. John Burgess

Overview

The Graduate School coordinates graduate and post-graduate education throughout the university. There have been over 17,000 graduate degrees awarded through 2016, and enrollment growth and ongoing development of nationally and internationally recognized graduate programs are key strategic initiatives of the university.

Mission

Graduate Education at James Madison University serves the public good by providing graduate students with high-quality academic experiences and professional development through its diverse, collaborative, and engaged community.

History

Founded in 1908 and located in the center of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, James Madison University is a public comprehensive university. The university offers degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral levels. The total enrollment exceeds 20,000 with over 1,800 graduate students. JMU annually receives more than 2,600 graduate applications.

The campus consists of more than 720 acres and features nearly 150 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 comprehensive university. In 1938 the institution was named Madison College in honor of the fourth president of the United States and 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.

Currently, seven academic colleges offer nearly 60 graduate programs. For the last two decades, U.S. News and World Report has ranked JMU either first or second among the top public master’s-level schools in the south; eleven graduate programs are nationally ranked. JMU is continually cited in Kiplinger’s top 100 “Best Values in Public Colleges.”

Authorization

James Madison University is authorized to offer graduate programs leading to master’s, Educational Specialist, Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Psychology, Doctor of Musical Arts and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

Many graduate programs also offer concentration areas.