James Madison University Top Questions

Learning at JMU is very individualized per students. Professors are always ready to meet students and get to know them outside of class, but that always requires a first step from the student. The library is always full of students studying, especially during Finals Week when it's open 24/7. Professors generally encourage class participation but are not always successful. That generally depends on both class size and student's interest in the subject. Students tend to not be compeitive with each other but rather themselves instead. They are more than willing to help a classmate who missed a class or two, provide notes or help study for a test. JMU's academic requirements are slightly confusing at first. Students are required to take several General Education course throughout their years at JMU and these are simply aimed at making students well-rounded. These Gen Eds are similar to the core classes from grade school. Science, English, Arts, History, Math, and other general topics. There are many different courses offered by JMU that fulfill Gen Ed requirements and they can be taken in any order at any point during a student's education. Majors are geared with different goals in mind. The more liberal arts majors (such as English and History) are geared toward learning for the sake of learning but do try to give students skills useful in the working world. Most of the other majors are very much geared towards helping students turn themselves into highly competitive job applicants. Services are provided to help students prepare resumes, to improve important writing skills.

Professors absolutely know your name. My favorite class is Legal Communication (SCOM 431). My least favorite is Interpersonal Comm (SCOM 320). Students study for about an hour a day. Class participation is very common and students often have intellectual discussions outside of class. Students are somewhat competitive grade wise with one another. The most unique class I've taken has been Religion. My major is one of the fastest growing majors on campus and has been incredibly interesting to study. I do not spend time with professors out of class. JMU's academic requirements are fair compared to other schools. Education is geared towards getting a job after graduation.

Most of my professors know my name. They all try hard to get to know us and I think in your bigger classes you have to set yourself apart for them to recognize you. I've enjoyed all of my classes. The general education ones pretty much suck. They don't prepare you for anything and they are usually a waste of time. Most students don't get A's in those either. Once you get past the gen eds then you start to do better and enjoy all the other ones. Teachers make you want to learn about that topic (most do that is). Some of my professors are awful. One actually retired right after I had him (just my luck). Once you get into your senior year, teachers are really pushing for you to get that job that you want. They excuse you from class to go interview and give you help to get the interview right. I've also been given a lot of recommendations and job listings from past professors.

Academic requirements are accurate. I feel that a lot of people get a job right out of JMU. I am happy with my choice for academics.

My professors do know my name. One reason I love my major so much is because my class at the maximum has 10 kids in it. It really allows the professor to get to know you and have one on one time helping you with your work. I study whenever there is a test at least 2 days in advance. Class participation at least in my classes for my major is very important since the classes are so small. JMU conversations aside from class definatly are intelligent, just walking around campus and hearing people talk you can tell. The most unique class I have taken was probaly Africana Studies, it really introduced me to a subject I knew nothing about. My major is called Technical and Scientific Communications, it is new at JMU and it is about technical writing, and more computer oriented. I do not spend time aside from class with my professors unless we schedule a meeting or I go to their office hours. Academics here is definatley geared towards getting jobs in the future. My classes for my major have so far taught me how to write proposals and create a resume.

The academics at JMU definitely are one of the universities biggest assets. No matter how hard the parties go on the weekends, students are focused and ready to work during the week because the work is intense. While many people may not perceive that as a positive thing, every student works hard. During any time of any day, the library is usually occupied with many students. Students at JMU strive to do well. However, because JMU is a liberal arts school, they expect students to be very well rounded. That means every student is required to take a certain number of courses outside of their major in every cluster (this includes math, sciences, writing, psychology, philosophy, religions, arts, personal wellness, social dimensions, etc). These are really the only classes students don't seem to always like or take as seriously. I major in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and I am in love with it. To be accepted into the major, there are two required courses that have to be taken. A GPA of 2.7 in those two classes is required and a cumulative GPA of 2.7 is required to be even considered for the program. Every professor I have taken in the Communications department stands out as the best teachers and professors I have ever worked at. They all truly love their jobs, their students, and JMU. They go out of their way to make sure everyone excels, has the help they need, and really learns the material. While they are also the toughest and most challenging classes I have ever taken, they are truly the best.

my professors know my name because i make it a point to get to know them. Most favorite wasnt until my junior year when i really got into major classes, least favorite was organic chemistry lab. the teacher was awful and out to get us, this is the only bad teacher i have had in three years. my major is a very close group of students and professors. i often meet with professors outside of class and they are always willing to make time for me. the program is geared for preparing you for future jobs in the field.

I know professors by name. I really have enjoyed certain classes like consumer behavior while COB 300 was a great experience.

My favorite classes at JMU are the ones that pertain to my major. The education program at JMU is amazing, like a family. All of the students in the classes know each other and are friends. The professors know each of us by name which makes the entire atmosphere more comfortable to express opinions. Everyone in my classes is constantly helping each other out, giving each other advice, and listening to each others stories. One of my education professors gave the class a pizza party outside of class because he wanted to get to know us better and let us get to know him better. It was a good idea because it helped us to feel more comfortable with him.

In Large lectures unless you make an effort to seek out the professor time and time again via office hours or emails, professors will not know your name. However, as the years pass and you begin to take classes more specific to your major, the classes get smaller and more intimate. Many of my media arts professors know my name and my capabilities. This makes them ideal for recommendations further down the road. My favorite class right now is Shooting and Editing in the Field. Being a SMAD major with a digital video concentration I thrive on course opportunities that allow you to become hands on with amazing equipment and also to let my creative juices flow. During this class (which I took over maymester) each student was given a state of the art High Definition Video Camera and tripod. We were able to practice the technical as well as aesthetic principles in shooting video. Then we were given the opportunity to go back to the editing lab and create film shots and shorts. The editing lab that the JMU SMAD department has is the most advanced lab in the country. Each student was given his or her own system of two monitors. The computers are fully equipped with every program a video editor could want to work with. Studying is all relative to your major I think. In terms of my major the tests are not really what takes the most time. The most time is taken to learn the programs and equipment. Creating projects and films take a lot more time for me than reading chapters in a book. I take this creative portion of my major very seriously and thus take the time to make it great. I enjoy it. I would say I study for about 3 hours a night. Class participation is very common and matters a lot. JMU students often have intellectual conversations outside of class. Many times it’s the discussions in the classroom that lead to further contemplation outside the classroom with friends. With the presidential race coming up students are eager to share opinions with each other. Current events are a lot of times viewed while watching the news on one of the dining hall television sets. This curbs conversation and discussion during lunch hand dinner. The SMAD department at JMU is extraordinary and is always advancing. Since it is a mostly technical field it forces the department to always be evolving to the latest ideas. The school of media arts and design offer several concentration areas: Cinema Studies, Corporate Communication, Digital Video, Interactive Media and Print Journalism. In order to get into the major every student must receive a C in the SMAD 101 course. You also must submit an application and complete a test, which tests your knowledge in the area. You choose which concentration you want when you apply. The introductory courses into the SMAD programs are ones, which every concentration has to take. Therefore, those course touch on every concentration in the major to appeal to all its students. As the courses go on, they break off into concentrations. Each course goes deeper in depth of the concentrations and skills you are to acquire in the major. The courses in my major are definitely geared to give you the skills to get a job after college. However, since all SMAD students are required to take the core classes they learn other aspects to the general field of Media Arts that may not specifically have to do with getting a job but are beneficial to know as a student of media arts. Also the subject of media arts has a lot to do with the world around us today. We are growing up in a world of technology, television computers; so it is essential as a person today to realize and become aware of our surroundings so that we may better understand their meaning (what service they serve, why the maker chose to make it in that way, etc)