University Studies (UNST)

A course designed to prepare students for career and academic planning. Specific content includes accessing career and academic resources, career decision-making skills, and self awareness.

New Dukes 101 is a one-credit class designed for incoming students to prepare for success at JMU, in their community and throughout their life. Core features of this seminar will help students: understand their reasons for being in college; develop relationships with peers, faculty and staff; build skills for navigating the transition to college, learning strategies, time management and overcoming challenges; and develop plans for succeeding in college and in their career.

This course is designed for students wanting to better accomplish their goals at JMU. Core features of this seminar will help students: understand their reasons for being in college; develop relationships with peers, faculty and staff; explore strategies for learning, time management and overcoming challenges; and build plans for succeeding in college and in their career.

This course provides an opportunity for a diverse cohort of international and U.S. students to learn from and about each other through stimulating discussions, intercultural residence hall programs and the opportunity to participate in service learning. Repeatable up to a maximum of six credit hours.

This course explores the origin and nature of beliefs and values and how they are linked to actions, policies and practices around the world. These processes are examined through a range of big picture issues (e.g., religious, political, environmental, gender-based, cultural) that are relevant to all global citizens. Through dynamic speakers, discussions, readings, activities and lectures, this course helps students develop a deeper understanding of self, others and the larger world. Repeatable up to a maximum of six credit hours.

Special topics course with topics approached from a variety of academic perspectives. Designed for lower-level elective credit.

A leadership training curriculum that covers a broad range of topics essential to leading an alternative break trip. This course incorporates service learning pedagogy. This will be accomplished through the use of affective and cognitive approaches. Personal growth as it relates to core concepts of leadership will be prominent. Emphasis is also placed on peer interaction, active participation, extensive reading, case work, and a range of guest speakers. Attendance is required.

Hands-on practicum of leadership strategies and techniques. Collaborative learning is enhanced when students apply what they learn in class by describing relevant lessons learned through experiences outside the classroom. The focus of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to lead in an observed setting and receive constant feedback and mentoring on their demonstrated leadership skills, critical reflection, inquiry, dialogue, and group interaction.

This innovative topics course is designed to meet the General Education program's learning outcomes for critical and integrative thinking by providing opportunities for students to synthesize prior learning and apply it to solve contemporary real-world problems. Students complete a portion of the class assignments in teams to develop essential real-world skills in collaboration and communication. Topics vary by instructor. May be repeated when course content changes.

This is a two-credit course designed to provide students with skills and knowledge to be effective peer educators. Students will receive health and identity content knowledge while increasing their group facilitation, presentation and processing skills.

This course provides students an opportunity to learn about, create and communicate messages about health and wellness topics. Students develop the content produced in the campus publication Potty Mouth. Students develop skills in media literacy, self-directed learning and systems thinking, and they create media products. Through group discussion and interviews, students learn how to effectively communicate health behaviors to their peers.

Designed to give students an opportunity to complete independent study and/or research under faculty supervision in university studies.

Selected practicum experiences, which provide students with supervised practicum experiences.

This practical course will review the affect a personal philosophy on money, and management of personal finances, has on all aspects of life when it comes to securing the American Dream. Students will learn real life skills in the areas of eliminating debt, creating a budget, understanding investments and insurance, saving money, planning for retirement, shopping for a house and other topics dealing with financial issues faced in daily life.

This course provides preparation and support during and reflection after internship experiences in a variety of disciplines. It will cover the internship experience, professionalism, networking and reflection. Open to all majors for elective credit.

Exploration of a significant topic in depth.

The course allows students to receive academic credit for work experienced in an agency or organization related to university studies.