Pathway Themes

Create Your Path

Getting Started

All JSU students who started at JSU in Fall 2022 are required to select a Pathway theme. Pathway selection must take place before the Freshman Year Spring Semester. Transfer students should select their Pathway during their first semester at JSU. Selecting a Pathway at your Spring Semester advising session is ideal.

To select a pathway, you will need to:

  • Explore the 8 Pathway themes options
  • Review your major's degree map
  • Have a conversation with your academic advisor or faculty member in your major
  • Identify the skills you want to gain to enhance your major courses
  • Select a Pathway theme based upon your skills and interests

Pathway Themes

General Education Pathway (PATH) courses are courses that are connected through interdisciplinary themes and are selected at the student’s discretion to fulfill the general education curriculum. Through experiential learning and reflective writing, students will have the opportunity to integrate knowledge across courses, develop their skills and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. Students select nine (9) hours from the pathway of choice.  Each pathway concludes with a related one (1) credit hour a University Required (UR) course. ​

11

Data & Information Literacy

The Data and Information Literacy Pathway introduces undergraduate students to data in numerical and written forms. 

This pathway provides students with:

  • abilities in finding, reading, understanding, analyzing, and communicating with data.
  • skills to interact with data and find meaning in information, interpret information, evaluate data and information for credibility and accuracy,  use data to guide decisions, and communicate data and information in oral and written modalities.
  • an introduction to ethical principles associated with data and information literacy.
Data & Information Literacy Pathway Course Options
11

Discourse

The Discourse Pathway introduces undergraduate students to oral, written, nonverbal, and verbal discourse and how they function in various contexts.

This pathway provides students with:

  • an exploration of how communication and language functions in life,  society, and the professional world. 
  • opportunities to reflect on communication and critically examine their own experiences with speech, language, and communication. 
  • an awareness of how their culture, ethnicity, social and educational backgrounds, as well as their values and beliefs, shape the way they use verbal and non-verbal language and respond to other’s language use.
Discourse Pathway Course Options
11

Environment, Conservation & Sustainability

The Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability Pathway introduces undergraduate students to the intersection between environmental systems, conservation, and sustainability.

This pathway provides students with:

  • foundational environmental and sustainability concepts 
  • insight on conserving and sustaining the environment
  • an exploration into the role that technology and innovations play in environmental protection, conservation of resources, development of communities, and climate control. 
  • connections between environmental protection, sustainability, community development and climate control.
Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability Pathway Course Options
11

Financial Literacy

The Financial Literacy Pathway introduces undergraduate students to aspects of financial education that leads to financial well-being. 

This pathway provides students with:

  • financial concepts such as saving, investing, and debt. 
  • opportunities to learn foundational principles of finance, economics, accounting, and stock market investing. 
  • An exploration of topics related to poverty, inequality, and other social issues related to finances.
  • an understanding of the importance of financial well-being and factors that lead to financial well-being.
Financial Literacy Pathway Course Options
11

Global

The Global Pathway introduces undergraduate students to the cultures, geographies, language, histories, arts, and current issues of the world.

This pathway provides students with:

  • global considerations to enhance personal, academic, and professional development.
  • an appreciation of cultural diversity, differences, and human rights needed for the development of a global mindset.
  • a guide to develop awareness and respect for different cultures and beliefs. 
Global Pathway Course Options
11

Justice

The Justice Pathway introduces undergraduate students to justice as a thread that ties together components of equity, advocacy, distribution of resources and opportunities.

This pathway provides students with:

  • a guide to view justice as a bridge to educational and health equity, social justice advocacy, small business resources, scientific and technological innovation, and critical engagement with policy and the creative arts.
  • opportunities to promote justice, explore multiple perspectives, and use collaborative approaches to engage students to think critically, communicate effectively, utilize diplomacy, and consider impact across race, gender, ability, faith, and socio-economic class. 
Justice Pathway Course Options
11

Leadership

The Leadership Pathway introduces undergraduate students to concepts of communication, organization, operations and power dynamics to enhance interpersonal skills.

This pathway provides students with:

  • transferable skills between academic, social, and civic responsibility
  • confidence when working with others, engaging in experiential learning opportunities and navigating moments of influence, negotiation, and management
  • the abilities to create meaningful relationships, strategize, and adapt to changes..
Leadership Pathway Course Options
11

Physical, Mental & Public Health

The Physical, Mental, and Public Health Pathway introduces undergraduate students to physical, mental, and public health. 

This pathway provides students with

  • a foundation of the basics of these three health domains.
  • an introduction introduced to various areas of health and topics that relate to the health of individuals, communities, and populations.
  • opportunities to gain insight into factors that contribute to health disparities in the region, the nation, and the world. 
Physical, Mental, and Public Health Pathway Course Options