Degree Title and Name:  Master of Arts in War and Peace Studies

Program Name and Number:  War and Peace Studies – MA4217

Department/Unit:  Center for International Studies

Delivery Mode:  Athens Campus

Term(s) of Entry:  Fall

Program Overview:  The MA in War and Peace Studies is an innovative, interdisciplinary program intended to prepare graduates for work in the growing fields of national/international security and peacebuilding. Combining fields (“War Studies” and “Peace Science”) that are often kept separate, this program prepares students to understand both the drivers of global conflict and the sources of community resilience and peace in a holistic, systematic way.

This is a full-time program. Students taking a full load of 15 credits will complete the program in two consecutive terms (fall and spring).

Program Learning Outcomes:

The CIS M.A. programs provide students with a strong grounding in core disciplines while giving them the opportunity to form their course of study around their professional and academic goals. Students can enroll in courses offered by a range of schools and departments across the university in disciplines of their interest. This flexible design of graduate curricula supports individualized learning experiences across disciplinary boundaries and allows student to take courses and capstone options that help them achieve and demonstrate the CIS M.A. learning outcomes below:

• Students will be able to synthesize core area or international studies concepts and theories within multiple disciplinary subfields and will acquire the skills to apply and evaluate these concepts to global opportunities and challenges.
• Students will be able to develop effective written and oral communication skills, characterized by the ability to write and present in the styles and forms that are acceptable in the professional world and/or for research in international studies.
• Students will be able to develop an effective research skill and demonstrate it in their capstone experience.

Opportunities for Graduates:  Graduates of War and Peace Studies programs can expect to find opportunities in national and international security fields, diplomacy and foreign affairs analysis, in the non-profit sector and international organizations, and consulting.

Link to Program:  https://www.ohio.edu/global/cis/war-and-peace.cfm

Graduation Requirements:  The following requirements must be satisfied to graduate.

• A minimum of 30 credit hours, a comprehensive exit exam completed in the final term, and a research paper approved by the program director.
• An overall minimum 3.0 GPA or better, with no grade below a “C.”

To satisfy the 30 hours requirement, all students must complete:

• INST 6500: Research in War and Peace Studies (4 cr)
• One approved Area Studies course (3-4 cr)
• One approved methodology course (3-4 cr)
• Two 1 credit professional development courses (INST 5701 and INST 5702)
• At least 16 credits of approved electives

Culminating Experience:  The culminating experience for this program consists of two components:

• A written comprehensive exit exam prepared and evaluated by the director of the War and Peace Studies program and two faculty members chosen by the student in consultation with the director.
• A “significant” research paper written during the program, to be evaluated and approved by the Director of War and Peace Studies and the members of the exam committee.

Admission Requirements:  Admission requirements, beyond the university minimum of a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and a TOEFL of 80 or above (6.5 across all bands on IELTS) for non-native English speakers, are 2 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose which addresses the student’s motivations and background in relationship to this program, and a resume/CV. We do not require the GRE exam for admission.

International Students:  This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.