Program Overview

Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Major (MAIS)

The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) degree program is designed to permit students to formulate programs that integrate work from three separate disciplines. Breadth of study is important in designing the program. A research paper or thesis offers the opportunity to integrate the three disciplines.

Program Overview

Many programs at Oregon State University participate in the MAIS program. The program is available at the Corvallis location. Graduate programs that are participating in this degree are listed on the Office of Graduate Education website.

Admission

The applicant must satisfy university admission requirements at the graduate level and must gain acceptance at the point of admission by the departments offering the fields that will make up the program.

Administration

The Office of Graduate Education will handle general administration and recordkeeping. Students with general questions about the MAIS degree are encouraged to confer with the director of the MAIS graduate program.

Program Requirements

• The student should select a committee in consultation with the department/school chair of the emphasized field or with their designated representative.
  • With the advice of the committee chair, the student will select a committee member from each of the remaining two fields.
  • The student will select the fourth committee member, a Graduate Council representative, from a list of names to be obtained in the Office of Graduate Education.
• All members of the committee must be on the graduate faculty.
• Before the completion of 18 credits of graduate course work, the student must file the official program form, approved by the committee.
• Program planning meetings are required, and the student has the responsibility for arranging the committee meetings necessary in the planning of the program.
• In the event that the student subsequently desires to change one or more disciplines on their program, the student must file a change in degree program with the Office of Graduate Education and schedule another program meeting in order to gain committee approval.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work.
• Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
• Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner.
• Integrate knowledge from three fields.
• Utilize critical thinking and awareness skills.
• Communicate effectively in written and oral formats.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) degree is granted for attainment of broad, advanced knowledge and achievement integrated from three fields of study. Any graduate major or minor may serve as a field for this degree. Two of the three fields may be from one department if the areas of concentration within these two fields are different. A minimum of 9 credits in each of the three fields of study is required. The degree requires a minimum of 49 credits, including 4 credits of course work on interdisciplinary research methods.

Program Options

There are two options under the program:

• Option A: Thesis option. The thesis must coordinate work in the three fields. The requirement is 6 to 9 credits of Thesis 503. The thesis advisor must be a member of the graduate faculty authorized to direct theses.
• Option B: Research paper option. The research paper must integrate work from at least two of the three fields. The requirement is 4 to 7 credits, registered as Research 501, Reading and Conference 505, or Projects 506.

Additional Requirements

• No more than 21 credits (excluding thesis or research paper credit) may be taken in any field unless the total program exceeds 49 credits.
• There is no foreign language requirement.
• No more than 3 credits of blanket-numbered courses in each field of study may be used in the program; thesis credits (Option A) or research paper credits (Option B) are exempt from this limitation.
• The student's committee consists of four members of the graduate faculty—one from each of the three fields—and a Graduate Council representative.
• A formal program meeting must be held prior to the completion of 18 graduate credits.
• A final oral examination is required.