Interdisciplinary Studies M.A.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major
The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) is a 30-hour master's degree program that allows students to choose between two to three concentration or subject areas, enabling them to meet their personal, academic and professional goals by drawing from interdisciplinary fields to create a unique, individualized course of study that can be tailored to their specific needs. Students can develop the competency needed for a variety of professional opportunities or to continue furthering graduate studies. The minimum number of units per concentration or subject area is six hours. This program is offered primarily as a non-thesis degree, although a thesis option is allowed.
Students can choose courses from a wide variety of concentration areas and can also select a unique concentration area with assistance from the Division of Graduate Studies. MAIS students are allowed to transfer UNI graduate certificates into the Master's program as concentration areas.
Professional Skills
- Written communication
- Research abilities, analysis and interpretation
- Integration of diverse fields
- Build evidence-based arguments and insights
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students should be able to integrate the knowledge of two or more academic disciplines into interdisciplinary scholarship.
- Students should be able to analyze and interpret data from scholarly literature of the discipline.
- Students should be able to elaborate evidence-based arguments through the understanding of the fields of inquiry.
Admissions
- Statement. A 500-word narrative indicating the personal and professional objectives sought to be accomplished with this program. Indicate how the experiences encountered in your life and/or career align with the fields of inquiry selected as part of your program.
- Transcripts
- GPA of 2.75 or above
- Two professional or academic references
- Admission will be in consultation with the Division of Graduate Studies coordinator and faculty advisors from areas of interest and a plan of study will be devised accordingly.
Culminating Experience
The final assignment should be aligned with the professional goals of the student and it is determined by the faculty advisors from the concentration or subject areas. Non-thesis options may include: a Portfolio Project; a Clinical Immersion Project; an Internship Project; or a Specialization Research Paper. Thesis projects should be completed in accordance with the Division of Graduate Studies policies. Non-thesis projects must be supervised by at least one regular member of the graduate faculty from at least one of the student's specialist areas and approved by the Division of Graduate Studies.
Process
A program coordinator will draft a plan of study which will be approved by the Division of Graduate Studies. Students can transfer UNI certificates to create an interdisciplinary degree. Certificates are stackable. Certificates from accredited universities are accepted and follow UNI transfer rules.
Students interested in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study, which includes transcripts of undergraduate and graduate credits, and send the names of two professional or academic references to Graduate Studies. Interested students should refer to their MyUNIverse Student Center To-Do list or contact the program director for any other application requirements. It is expected that students will have experience in the field prior to admission. Graduate information and application for graduate admission can be found at https://admissions.uni.edu/application.
The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.
Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.
This major is available on the non-thesis and thesis options. A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work is required for both options. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 6000-level coursework is required for the non-thesis option; a minimum of 15 semester hours of 6000-level coursework is required for the thesis option. The 30 hours are prescribed below.
| Option 1 with 3 Areas of Concentration | ||
| Required: | ||
| A minimum of 6 semester hours from three focus areas | 24 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Research Class or Equivalent * | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Option 2 with 2 Areas of Concentration | ||
| A minimum of 9 semester hours from two focus areas | 24 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Research Class or Equivalent * | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
See "Culminating Experience" information above
Learning Outcomes
Interdisciplinary Studies, M.A.
- Students should be able to integrate the knowledge of two or more academic disciplines into interdisciplinary scholarship.
- Students should be able to analyze and interpret data from scholarly literature of the discipline.
- Students should be able to elaborate evidence-based arguments through the understanding of the fields of inquiry