Master of Applied Arts in Health - MAAH

Arts in Health – MA5098

School of Interdisciplinary Arts 
31 S. Court St., Rm 068
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701
740.593.9413
boyles2@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Online

Term of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer

Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None 

Program Overview

The Master of Applied Arts in Health provides opportunities for fine artists (visual artists, musicians, dancers, performers, filmmakers, writers, etc) to expand their practice by learning advanced knowledge and practical skills necessary to safely and effectively apply their arts practice within healthcare and public health settings. Designed for students with an undergraduate degree in fine arts, students in the program will learn a breadth of foundational concepts related to Arts in Health theory, practice, and research. Students will also take electives chosen from across disciplines where the arts and health intersect. Program synthesis experiences include facilitating arts-based practices during a supervised community volunteer experience, and a culminating summer internship at a site where arts in health programming is well-established and an on-site supervisor is available.

The MAAH is not a clinical degree. Artists and managers who work in arts in health cooperate with music and arts therapists understanding the care in maintaining boundaries between scope of practices. The intent for practitioners in arts in health is to create art, recognizing that engaging in various art forms promotes health and wellbeing outcomes.

All required classes are offered online either through Athens Online or eCampus. Some elective courses are in-person. Students are expected to complete in-person volunteer and internship hours in-person at a site local to the student. Students enrolled full-time can expect to complete the degree in 12 months.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon degree completion, students will be able to

• Articulate various ways that the fine arts can impact the health and wellness of  communities.
• Demonstrate arts-based experiences with communities served where arts in health practices exist.
• Advocate for arts in health experiences when speaking to health practitioners, families served, and other arts in health stakeholders.
• Safely and effectively apply their arts practice within healthcare and public health settings.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/arts-health

Program Director Email: boyles2@ohio.edu

Admission Requirements

Standard application to the OHIO Graduate College includes:

• Completed application form,
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• At least 2 letters of recommendation,
• Resumé or Curriculum Vitae.

Program admission requires:

• An undergraduate degree in fine arts or an undergraduate degree in another field with equivalent lived or academic fine arts experience.
• 3.0 GPA in an undergraduate degree 
• Additionally, the MAAH program requests a letter of interest from the applicant and a fine arts portfolio. We will assess “equivalent” arts experience based on the required letter of interest and the required portfolio submission that demonstrates the applicant’s art practice. For example, a student may have received an BA in political science but has early training (or is self-taught) as a musician and continues to play and write songs. The depth of their practice as an artist would be evidenced through their portfolio of audio submissions.
• The CV, letter of interest, and letters of recommendations should demonstrate their ability to succeed in an academic program. We intend for these qualitative measures of aptitude to support the admission and success of a diverse student population. The admission process will also include a conversation about the geographic situation of the student and what possibilities exist for identifying and establishing a connection with a professional Arts in Health internship site regionally available to that student.
• Transfer credit may be considered.

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.

Graduation Requirements

Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours as follows with a 3.0 GPA and a grade of C or better in all courses: