Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program at Hiram College has a long tradition of fostering imaginative and critically reflective approaches to complex, expansive problems within an interdisciplinary learning and research community. The program has as its primary goal the need to equip students with knowledge, critical skills, and sensibilities crucial for addressing complex and multi-faceted questions in life and work. At the curricular center of this program is Leadership in the Liberal Arts, coursework that builds on the strengths of the interdisciplinary structure and flexibility of the program while giving a clear focus and direction to students.
For their capstone project, students choose a research question and integrate the approaches and insights of scholars from two chosen disciplines to answer the research question. The final product is a professional capstone paper in which students answer their chosen question through research in the two disciplines and the integration of scholarship from the two disciplines. Students are guided through the capstone proposal and capstone writing process by two advisors, the capstone proposal development and capstone course instructor, and a disciplinary advisor.
Degree Requirements
To complete the Master of Arts degree, students are required to complete a total of 30 graduate credit hours and to fulfill the specific course and writing requirements for the program. Required courses include an introductory sequence of two 3-credit courses that address interdisciplinary theory and practice and research methods. In addition to these courses, students must complete no fewer than 15 credits in graduate elective coursework. Elective coursework can consist of courses on leadership such as MAIS 52030: Leadership and Motivation, or students may take graduate-level disciplinary coursework such as EDUC 62400: Exceptionality or SPMT 62200: Advanced Coaching and Leadership. Finally, students complete the three courses of the capstone sequence. In the capstone proposal development course, students write the proposal for the capstone project under the guidance of a faculty advisor and the course instructor. Students are admitted to the capstone course only after the capstone proposal has been approved by the faculty advisor. In the capstone course, students research and write the final capstone under the guidance of their advisor and the course instructor. The final capstone is evaluated by the advisor and by the course instructor. Once the capstone is approved, the student is required to give a public oral presentation of the capstone to the Hiram College community.
A student may replace a disciplinary course with an independent study with the approval of the associate dean or program director. Students may do a maximum of two independent studies.
Undergraduate Credit Allowed
Undergraduates with senior standing and a grade point average of at least 3.0 may ask for program and/or associate dean permission to take graduate courses at the 50000 level. Any graduate coursework pursued beyond six hours requires that students apply for the MAIS program. Up to six credits of coursework may apply toward both the undergraduate and the graduate degree.
Required MAIS Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Coursework (6 Credits) | ||
| MAIS 57000 | INTD INQUIRY/THEORY/PRACTICE (Replaces MAIS 57100 and MAIS 57200) | 3 |
| MAIS 57300 | METHODS+APPROACHES DISCIPLINES | 3 |
| Electives (15 Credits) | ||
| Elective coursework can be earned in MAIS electives or in coursework chosen from disciplinary coursework. | 15 | |
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| ||
| Proposal/Capstone Coursework (9 Credits) | ||
| MAIS 55790 | PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| MAIS 55800 | CAPSTONE | 3 |
| MAIS 55820 | CAPSTONE II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
MAIS with Biology Concentration
Designed to serve high-school teachers who wish to teach College Credit Plus coursework in biology, the MAIS with Biology Concentration allows biology teachers to earn a master’s degree through the MAIS program by doing all elective coursework in graduate-level biology.
Students will take two of the introductory MAIS sequence courses (excluding MAIS 57400), 15 of the 18 credit hours in graduate biology coursework required for CCP credentialing in the State of Ohio, and the capstone proposal development and capstone course sequence. Students pursuing the MAIS degree must write an MAIS capstone. The total credit hours for the program with a biology concentration will remain at 30 credit hours. Teachers seeking the 18 hours required by the state may take those over and above the MAIS program as non-degree seeking students once they have finished the MAIS program or as additional hours not counted for MAIS program completion.
The Graduate Studies Program remains responsible for these teachers and their progress towards the 18 credit hours. They also remain responsible for determining if these candidates enter the program with the appropriate prerequisite biology knowledge to take the graduate level courses. It may be possible for a non-CAP student to take a biology course as long as they can demonstrate appropriate prerequisite knowledge using previous transcripts.
MAIS courses are eight weeks in length for three credits each. Courses are offered sequentially, with two 8-week courses offered each semester. The capstone course sequence is worth six credits and spans two 8-week terms. A student can complete the MAIS program in two years or five semesters by starting the program in the fall and taking two courses per semester, including the summer.
A course sequence for a student in the MAIS program may look like this:
Pathway
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| MAIS 57000 | INTD INQUIRY/THEORY/PRACTICE | 3 |
| MAIS 5XXXXX | Disciplinary Course | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAIS 57300 | METHODS+APPROACHES DISCIPLINES | 3 |
| MAIS 5XXXXX | Disciplinary Course | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MAIS 5XXXX | Disciplinary Course | 3 |
| MAIS 5XXXX | Disciplinary Course | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MAIS 55790 | PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| MAIS 5XXXX | Disciplinary Course | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAIS 55800 | CAPSTONE | 3 |
| MAIS 55820 | CAPSTONE II | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Students should be aware that the capstone proposal development course is offered in the fall semester only, and the capstone course sequence is offered in the spring only.
Students who do not have an approved capstone proposal at the end of the capstone proposal development course may continue in the next semester to work on the capstone proposal. Students have a maximum of five years total in which to complete the MAIS program from the time of enrollment in the program until completion of the capstone. Students who do not finish within the 5-year limit may apply for an extension. No extensions will be given beyond seven years. Students who continue to work on capstone proposals or on capstone projects must register for one credit hour of continuing research in each semester in which they use college resources and advising. Students may stop out of the program by informing the program directors before the start of a semester, and they will not be charged for the semester. Students may not use advising or other college resources during the period when they are not enrolled. Students may not graduate in a semester in which they are not enrolled.
Assignment of Capstone Advisors
At the beginning of the capstone proposal course, students will work with the graduate program director and the associate dean of academic affairs to choose an appropriate capstone advisor for their project. Every effort is made to match the student with a faculty member whose expertise and research interests are the best fit for the proposed capstone project.
Students who have a capstone topic and have been assigned a capstone advisor may choose to change the topic and/or capstone advisor during the capstone process. They must consult with the associate dean in order to do so. The requirements for changing topics and advisors depend on how far the student has gotten in the capstone process.
A student who is currently enrolled in the capstone proposal development course may change the capstone topic and capstone advisors without paying an extra fee. A student who has completed the capstone proposal development course or has had a capstone proposal approved may change the capstone topic and advisors by paying a fee equivalent to one credit hour of graduate tuition to cover the cost of new advising. In addition, the student must register for the 1-credit continuing research course needed for the next semester of work on the new capstone proposal. A student whose advisor or advisors become unavailable through no fault of the student is not required to pay an extra fee for a new advisor or advisors.
A student who changes capstone topics and advisors after having received approval for the original capstone proposal must write and receive approval from the advisor for a new capstone proposal. A student who changes topics and advisors may retake the capstone proposal development course or the capstone course for no credit, if they have previously taken it at no charge to the student.
Admission to the Program
During the admission process the Office of Admission will explore the potential student’s professional and personal objectives and desire for personal growth. Writing samples, letters of recommendation, and undergraduate transcripts will ensure that admitted MAIS students will benefit from the program and be likely to succeed. Application and credential review is holistic and there is no single set of fixed criteria that solely determines admissibility to the MAIS program. Hiram College reserves the right to make the final determination of a student’s admissibility to the College.
Applicants for admission are required to submit the following to via the Hiram College Admission web page for consideration:
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from all schools attended previously (undergraduate and graduate)
- Two letters of recommendation describing the student's motivation, intellectual ability, and accomplishments
- Personal essay in which the student discusses their personal and professional goals and the objectives for wanting to enroll in the MAIS program. This essay is used to assess the student’s writing ability and education objectives, and to determine whether those objectives can be achieved through the MAIS program. Essays vary, but they might address the following questions:
- Why did you choose the MAIS program at Hiram College?
- What are your personal motivations, interests, and goals for study?
- How has your background prepared you for this program?
- What skills do you bring to the MAIS program?
- How will this program enable you to fulfill your life goals?
Acceptance to Hiram College is conditional upon receipt of all final official transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate degree. The Office of Admission reserves the right to withdraw or amend its offer of admission based on a review of any and all additional or updated documents until the start of matriculation.