Master of Arts

The Center's goal is to maintain and strengthen national benchmarks of excellence in area studies and studies of development policy and practice, while promoting the synergy resulting from our unique combination of the two. Programs are centered on interdisciplinary curricula that combine the traditional foundations in the social sciences and humanities, components within the natural sciences, and the professions. In support of the curriculum, programs emphasize utilization of new information technologies, the acquisition of professional skills, the development of language competency, and the cultivation of abilities that lead to good professional practice. Upon graduation students receive a Master of Arts awarded by the Center for International Studies.

General Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 70 credit hours. At least 40 credit hours must be devoted to core courses. The remainder is used to build an individualized, professional skills minor. Individual programs have additional specific requirements.

Depending on the program, one of the following is required to complete the degree: a comprehensive written exam, a comprehensive oral exam, a thesis, professional project, or a research/grant proposal. This ordinarily takes place in the last quarter of study excluding summer.

All students in the MA program must maintain a minimum grade-point average (g.p.a.) of 3.0. If the g.p.a. falls below this level, students will be placed on academic probation. If the g.p.a. is not raised by the end of the following term, the student will not be permitted to continue in the program. University policy prohibits awarding any type of financial assistance to students on academic probation. Should a student receive more than two grades below a "B," the program director may drop him or her from the program. A course in which a grade below "C" is earned cannot be counted toward any degree requirement.

Language Proficiency

Each student is required to demonstrate an acceptable level of achievement in a foreign language appropriate to the area of concentration. For non-European languages, this may be accomplished either by fulfilling one of the following:

• satisfactorily completing a minimum of one academic year in one of the following languages: Arabic, Akan, Amharic, Gikuyu, Indonesian, Pulaar, Somali, Swahili, Thai, Tigrinya, Twi, Vietnamese, or Wolof
  
• taking an examination in a language not taught at Ohio University or demonstrating an acceptable level of achievement on an examination administered by other recognized testing agencies
  
• participating in an approved intensive summer language program
  
  

For students in concentrations offering a European language, an intermediate level of proficiency is required.

Note: Latin American Studies offers Portuguese through the enhanced language skills option. Southeast Asian Studies requires two years of coursework or its equivalent in a Southeast Asian language. The two thematic programs do not count language hours toward the required degree hours. Students enrolled in an African language may apply for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships.