Degree Title and Name:  Master of Social Science

Program Name and Number:  Social Science – MS2202

Department/Unit:  College of Arts and Sciences

Delivery Mode:  Online

Term(s) of Entry:  Fall, Spring, Summer

Program Overview:  The Master of Social Science (M.S.S.) is ideal for teachers who want to study content in the social sciences and is beneficial for public administrators and other professionals, too. While many master’s degree programs in social sciences include study of teaching methods, Ohio University’s interdisciplinary program focuses on social sciences content in six areas: history, geography, political science, sociology, anthropology, and women’s, gender & sexuality studies. Our program’s online format allows for optimal accessibility and flexibility, while bringing together students from diverse backgrounds. Students who take 2, four-hour courses per term can complete the program in 16 months. 

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Updating and expanding knowledge of different social science disciplines.
• Ability to analyze primary and secondary sources.
• Expand and improve the ability to communicate ideas in written and oral form.
• Development of critical and analytical thinking in competency areas in the social science disciplines.
• Enhanced understanding of societies (past and present) and of disciplinary approaches to studying them.

Link to Program: www.ohio.edu/cas/mss

Graduation Requirements:

1. 8 four hour courses (total of 32 hours)
   1. Four of the courses need to be in History
   2. Four of the courses need to be in other social science disciplines
   3. One of the History courses must be a colloquium
2. Passage of an exit examination based on one History and one other social science course

Expected time to degree if studying fulltime is 4 semesters (2 courses per semester).

Culminating Experience:  In their final semester, students take an exit exam consisting of questions from one History and one other social science course taken in the program.

Admission Requirements: An applicant for admission to this program must have:

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.00. Prospective students with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.00 are encouraged to apply for conditional admission. Conditionally admitted students are expected to get at least a 3.0 GPA and maintain it throughout the program.
• All non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS academic). To be considered official, test scores must be reported directly from the testing agency to Ohio University. Minimum TOEFL-iBT 104. IELTS 7.5 minimum across all bands. In addition, the individual section scores on the TOEFL should be at least 26.

International Students:  This program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.