Environmental Programs

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

At JMU, environmental study is embedded in a variety of disciplines. Students from throughout the university have the opportunity to study environmental issues by majoring in an environmental program or choosing a minor that complements any major.

Majors and Concentrations

Students wishing to major in a field that addresses the environment can choose from the following:

Biology, B.S.
The biology major offers a concentration in ecology and environmental biology.
Earth Science, B.A.
The B.A. in Earth science degree is designed to integrate all the Earth sciences in a systems approach to understanding the Earth.
Economics (B.A. , B.S. and B.B.A. )
Students can pursue a concentration in environmental and natural resource economics within the economics major.
Engineering, B.S.
The JMU engineering program empowers and motivates students to engineer systems for sustainable societies.
Geographic Science, B.S.
The geographic science major, housed in the Integrated Sciences, School of , offers a concentration in environmental conservation, sustainability and development.
Geology, B.S.
Within the geology major, students can select a concentration in environmental and engineering geology.
Integrated Science and Technology, B.S.
The ISAT major offers a concentration in environment.

Minors

Any of the environment minors may be taken in conjunction with any STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) area major. They also may be taken in conjunction with a major from any other JMU academic area in order to explore environmental issues from differing perspectives. The minor coordinators can assist a student in selecting a combination of major and minor study that best responds to a student’s particular environmental interests and career goals.

Students should be aware that most minors have prerequisites, meaning that certain courses must be completed before a student can enroll in other courses. Consult with the minor adviser for additional information and recommendations for scheduling.

Environmental Humanities
This cross disciplinary minor allows students to articulate broad historical and cultural views of the complex interactions among humans and the natural and material environment. Students will analyze and produce expressive, creative work that illustrates the complexity of human interaction with the environment.
Environmental Information Systems
The cross disciplinary minor in environmental information systems is designed for undergraduates interested in using computer and information management technology to solve environmental problems and improve environmental stewardship.
Environmental Management
The cross disciplinary environmental management minor prepares students to apply the principles of environmental science and engineering to contemporary environmental problems in natural resource, industrial and public policy contexts. The minor is particularly suitable for students interested in professional careers in business, natural resources management, and environmental policy and planning.
Environmental Science
The cross disciplinary environmental science minor draws from courses that focus on the application of scientific concepts and principles to the understanding of environmental problems and their solutions. This is a multidisciplinary program that can be elected by any student. For example, students pursuing programs ranging from the physical, natural or social sciences, to education, journalism or business, all benefit from this broadly based environmental curriculum.
Environmental Studies
The cross disciplinary environmental studies minor provides a cross disciplinary education engaging socio-cultural, scientific and technical issues raised by the oft-conflicting needs and desires of globally interacting societies.

Centers

Center for Materials Science

Director: Dr. Samuel A Morton III, PE
Phone: (540) 568-77623
Email: mortonsa@jmu.edu
Location: 1109 EnGEO, 801 Carrier Drive, MSC 4113

The Center for Materials Science at James Madison University was established in 1996 as a resource to integrate undergraduate education with basic and applied research in materials science. The center is a cross disciplinary initiative of the College of Integrated Science and Engineering , the College of Science and Mathematics , and the Engineering, Department of . Faculty in five different departments participate in the center. The center provides students the opportunity to develop broad cross disciplinary skills and knowledge in the science of materials.

Center for Health and Environmental Communication

Dr. Peter Bsumek
Email: bsumekpk@jmu.edu
Dr. Sharlene Thompson
Email: thompssr@jmu.edu
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/chec/

The Center for Health and Environmental Communication (CHEC) is housed in the Communication Studies, School of . The CHEC utilizes the expertise of the school’s faculty and students to facilitate original academic research, coordinate community outreach and advocacy projects, and serve as a community resource on matters related to understanding and improving public and private communication in the health and environmental contexts.

The CHEC recognizes that how we communicate is as important as what we communicate. Central to its mission is facilitating constructive and productive communication between experts and non-experts, between clients and providers, between communities, and between community members and decision makers.

JMU Farm

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Carole Nash
Phone: (540) 568-6805
Email: nashcl@jmu.edu

The JMU farm, located in Port Republic, consists of 12 hectares (30 acres) of second growth forest, 300 meters (1000 feet) of frontage on the North River (just upstream of the formation of the Shenandoah River) and an historic brick house. This facility is intended to:

provide an ideal space in which to disseminate environmental information to school students and community groups.
support on-going JMU student projects involving air quality, surface and ground water quality, and alternative energy systems.
provide an inviting off-campus venue for workshops, meetings and symposia.

The facility can be reserved for JMU-related events by contacting the Office of Academic Resources at (540) 568-3744.