Chart your own path by designing a personalized major!

Would you like to design your own major at JMU? The Independent Scholars program provides motivated students with the flexibility to pursue academic pathways tailored to their interests. Each student in the Independent Scholars program identifies an area of inquiry, and creates a plan for coursework, independent research, and experiential learning.
In Independent Scholars, you can:

• Enjoy the freedom to explore ideas across disciplinary boundaries and fields of study.
• Cultivate creativity, independence, communication, and problem-solving skills in high demand by employers and graduate programs.
• Complete Honors seminar, elective, and capstone requirements in the major.
• Build an individualized major around a stand-alone minor, such as JMU's African and African-American Diaspora Studies (AAAD) minor. 

Students interested in the major should meet with Independent Scholars faculty to discuss their academic goals and enroll in the introductory course (IND 200), in which they will develop an area of inquiry and design their curriculum. 

For more information contact Matt Chamberlin (chambema@jmu.edu), or visit Gabbin Hall 207.

Current requirements for the BA degree and BS degree in Independent Scholars.