Pathway Themes
Explore the eight interdisciplinary Pathway themes — nine hours of connected general education courses selected around your skills and interests.
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 theme options.
- Review your major’s degree map.
- Have a conversation with your academic advisor or a 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 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 integrate knowledge across courses and develop their skills and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. Students select nine (9) hours from the pathway of their choice, and each pathway concludes with a related one (1) credit-hour University Required (UR) course.
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.
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 others’ language use.
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.
Financial Literacy
The Financial Literacy Pathway introduces undergraduate students to aspects of financial education that lead 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 the factors that lead to financial well-being.
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.
Justice
The Justice Pathway introduces undergraduate students to justice as a thread that ties together components of equity, advocacy, and the 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.
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.
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 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.
Thee Pathway
Jackson, MS 39217-0280