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220 Research and Technology Center

Joseph Shields, Ph.D.
Dean

David Koonce, Ph.D.
Associate Dean

www.ohio.edu/graduate/

Individual Interdisciplinary Programs

The Individual Interdisciplinary Program (IIP) is intended as a home for those masters and doctoral students who might be best served by an interdisciplinary graduate degree. The ideal prospective student is an individual with demonstrated ability and intellectual maturity. Admission to the Graduate College as an IIP student demands, in part, that the applicant identify a minimum of two (2) emphasis areas, each in a different department, school, or program. At least one of the departments, schools, or programs must offer a graduate degree at the degree level sought (i.e., master’s level for a master’s student, doctoral level for a doctoral student).

 Applicants for the master’s degree must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and have achieved at least a 3.0 undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) or its equivalent. Applicants for the doctoral degree must have earned an advanced or professional degree from an accredited institution of higher education and achieved at least a 3.25 graduate GPA or its equivalent.

Applicants wishing to begin studies during the Spring 2014 academic term must submit their application materials by October 15, 2013; applicants wishing to begin studies during the Fall 2014 academic term must submit their application materials by March 15, 2014. (Deadlines to be established for admission to future academic terms.)

Questions should be addressed to the IIP Graduate Director:
Dr. Claudia L. Hale
(740) 593 4825
 

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students must complete at least 90 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, including at least four (4) courses (12 credit hours) in each emphasis area. At least 2 of these courses (6 credits) must provide depth of knowledge in the field and at least two of these courses (6 credit hours) must provide breadth of knowledge. In addition, the student must complete a final project (dissertation, performance, etc.) acceptable to the Guidance Committee. The student’s Guidance Committee, in consultation with the graduate chairs in the respective emphasis areas/disciplines, will determine which courses provide depth of knowledge and which provide breadth of knowledge. Doctoral students must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA to continue in the program. Doctoral students should complete their coursework by the end of their third year of full-time study in the program or by the end of their fifth year of part-time study in the program, and their comprehensive examinations, if required by their participating programs, by the end of the semester following completion of coursework. Full-time doctoral students must present the results of their research or creative activities at an academic or professional conference by the end of their third year in the program, and should submit the results of their research or creative activities for peer review and publication to an appropriate journal or publishing house by the end of their fourth year in the program. For part-time doctoral students, these dates will be adjusted to align with their progress on course completion. The Guidance Committee will determine credit hours required for the dissertation in conjunction with the requirements of the primary academic support units.

Guidance Committee

Each student will have a Guidance Committee composed of members of his/her participating departments, schools, or programs. This committee must be constituted by the end of the student’s first term in the program. The committee must have at least three faculty members from at least two different emphasis areas/disciplines, and will be responsible for preparing the program requirements, regularly reviewing the student’s progress, administering comprehensive examinations (if relevant), and directing the final project or doctoral dissertation.

Any faculty member at Ohio University with a doctorate or comparable terminal degree (e.g., MFA) may participate on and/or chair an IIP Guidance Committee. The procedural rules for degree completion from the primary academic support unit will apply to the IIP student, e.g., number of outside representatives, etc. The unit’s requirements for content (e.g., required courses) do not apply as these are determined by the IIP course of study.

Master’s Degree Program

Master’s students must complete at least 36 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, including four (4) courses (12 credit hours) in each emphasis area. At least two of these courses (6 credit hours) must provide depth of knowledge in the field and at least two of these courses (6 credit hours) must provide breadth of knowledge. In addition, the student must complete a final project (thesis, performance, etc.) acceptable to the student’s Guidance Committee. The procedural rules for degree completion from the student’s primary academic support unit will determine whether there is a non-thesis option (e.g., comprehensive examination option) for completing the master’s degree. The student’s Guidance Committee, in consultation with the graduate chairs in the respective emphasis areas/disciplines, will determine which courses provide depth of knowledge and which provide breadth of knowledge.

Masters students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to continue in the program. Masters students should complete their coursework by the end of their second year of full-time study or by the end of their third year of part-time study. Masters students must present the results of a research project and/or creative activity at an academic or professional conference prior to the end of their third year, if a full-time student, or fourth year, if a part-time student. If completing the degree by taking a comprehensive examination, the examination must be completed by the end of the semester following the completion of coursework. The student’s Guidance Committee will determine credit hours required for the thesis or final project in conjunction with the requirements of the primary academic support unit.

Guidance Committee

Each student will have a Guidance Committee composed of members of his/her participating departments, schools, or programs. This committee must be constituted by the end of the student’s first term in the program. The committee must have at least three faculty members from at least two different emphasis areas/disciplines, and will be responsible for preparing the program requirements, regularly reviewing the student’s progress, and administering comprehensive examinations and/or directing the Master’s thesis or final project.

Any faculty member at Ohio University with a doctorate or comparable terminal degree (e.g., MFA) may participate on and/or chair an IIP Guidance Committee. The procedural rules for degree completion from the primary academic support unit will apply to the IIP student, e.g., number of outside representatives, the existence of a non-thesis option at the Masters level, etc. The unit’s requirements for content (e.g., required courses) do not apply as these are determined by the IIP course of study.

Application Materials

Prospective students must provide:

1. Transcripts of all previous academic work
2. At least three (3) letters of recommendation
3. A three to five page project proposal that includes
   1. Tentative fields of study/areas of emphasis
   2. Prospective guidance committee members
   3. A statement of goals and
   4. An explanation as to why none of the related existing degrees meet the student’s educational and professional objectives, and
4. Official test scores, such as GRE, GMAT, or MAT, and
5. Two letters of support provided by the Graduate Directors of the cooperating programs/departments/schools that will constitute the primary fields of study (i.e., one letter from a faculty member in each program/department/ school). These letters commit the faculty members to be the initial advisors of record for the applicant.

Additionally, prospective students should consult the website of the departments, schools, or programs that will serve as their emphasis areas and provide any additional materials (e.g., writing sample, additional letters of recommendation) required by those departments, schools, or programs.

International students whose native language or academic language of instruction is not English must meet the University English language proficiency requirements as stated in the Graduate Catalog.

Individuals wishing to apply for admission effective Spring 2014 must have ALL materials submitted by October 15, 2013. Individuals wishing to apply for admission effective Fall 2014 must have ALL materials submitted by March 15, 2014.With respect to the March 15th deadline, if an applicant also intends to seek possible financial support from one or more of his/her cooperating academic disciplines, then we strongly encourage that materials be submitted much earlier. The applicant should consult the webpages of his/her cooperating academic disciplines for possible relevant deadlines. (Deadlines to be established for admission to future academic terms.)

Questions should be addressed to the IIP Graduate Director:
Dr. Claudia L. Hale
(740) 593 4825
 

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