Humanitarian Affairs Minor

Dr. Mary B. Kimsey, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-6722
Email: kimseymb@jmu.edu

Prof. Sarah H. O’Connor, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-6242
Email: oconnosh@jmu.edu

Website: http://www.jmu.edu/humanitarian

The cross disciplinary humanitarian affairs minor provides students with a global perspective on the major humanitarian crises facing the human community today. Students will investigate the impacts of natural disasters, disease, hunger and famine, poverty, conflict, and national and international policies on the welfare of human communities around the world. They will also explore solutions to various humanitarian crises and evaluate the problems of practicing humanitarianism in the world today. Students will become acquainted with the organizations that address these crises and the challenges they face. Finally, students will acquire knowledge and skills that prepare them for careers in governmental and non-governmental organizations that address humanitarian issues. The minor in humanitarian studies is open to all undergraduate students at JMU.

Core Requirements

HUMN 201. Introduction to Humanitarian Affairs 3.00

Choose five of the following

With no more than two from any single discipline:

HUMN 301. Introduction to Natural Disasters Response 3.00
or
GEOG 301. Introduction to Natural Disasters Response 3.00
HUMN 350. Special Topics in Humanitarian Affairs 1.00 - 3.00
HUMN 360. Gis for Humanitarian Assistance 3.00
or
GEOG 360. Gis for Humanitarian Assistance 3.00
HUMN 490. Humanitarian Affairs Field Experience 3.00 ¹
ANTH 313. Processes of Social and Cultural Change 3.00
or
SOCI 313. Processes of Social and Cultural Change 3.00
ANTH 366. Anthropology of War 3.00
ANTH 373. Anthropological Perspectives On Environment and Development 3.00
BIO 354. Global Climate Change and Life: Ecological and Biological Impacts of Climate Variability 3.00
BIO 420. Medical Parasitology 3.00
ECON 270. International Economics 3.00
ENGR 360. Water in Africa, Technology, Education and Reciprocity (Water) 4.00
GEOG 215. Cartography and Gis 3.00
GEOG 280. Human Geography: the Cultural Landscape 3.00
GEOG 300. Population Geography 3.00
GEOG 322. Agricultural Systems 3.00
GEOG 323. The Geography of Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases and Diet 3.00
GEOG 335. Geography of Africa 3.00
GEOG 339. Geography of the Caribbean 3.00
GEOG 345. Geography of Poverty 3.00
GEOG 375. Political Geography 3.00
ISAT 459. Awareness and Understanding of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction 3.00
JUST 235. Justice in the Global Community 3.00
JUST 341. Gender and Justice 3.00
JUST 345. Restorative Justice 3.00
JUST 357. Environmental Justice 3.00
JUST 375. Genocide in the 20th Century 3.00
JUST 377. Global Futures 3.00
JUST 392. Peace Studies 3.00
or
POSC 392. Peace Studies 3.00
NPS 300. Introduction to Nonprofits 3.00
NUTR 380. Global Nutrition 3.00
POSC 200. Global Politics [C4GE] 3.00
POSC 331. Human Rights in Theory and Practice 3.00
or
JUST 331. Human Rights in Theory and Practice 3.00
POSC 340. Pol Dev in Third World 3.00
POSC 347. Comparative Public Policy 3.00
POSC 348. The Politics of Cultural Pluralism 3.00
POSC 395. International Law 3.00
POSC 396. Intl Organizations 3.00
POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations 3.00
PSYC 460. Community Psychology Within Developing Societies 3.00
SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict 3.00
SCOM 332. Mediation 3.00
SCOM 333. Negotiations 3.00
or
JUST 333. Negotiations 3.00
SCOM 334. Alternative Dispute Resolution 3.00
SCOM 371. Talking Through Tough Cases: Ethical Principles and Practices in Communication Studies 3.00
SOWK 288. Social Welfare 3.00
SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies 3.00
or
SOCI 348. Introduction to Developing Societies 3.00
SOWK 375. Grant Writing for Agencies 3.00
WRTC 314. Writing in the Public Sphere 3.00
WRTC 484. Writing for Nonprofits 3.00
WRTC 486. Writing in the Community 3.00

Footnote

¹ When used for credit in the humanitarian affairs minor, the international experience must be approved and supervised by the minor coordinator or designated faculty member.

Humanitarian Affairs Minor

Core Requirements

Choose five of the following

Footnote

Total: 18 Credit Hours