The Master of Arts (MA) degree with a major in Integrated Studies is an interdisciplinary degree known for its flexibility. After being admitted to the Graduate School, students will work with a faculty advisor to create a personalized plan of study. Courses must be chosen from at least two or more fields of study, and ISG 5980 Capstone for Integrated Studies (3) should be completed in the final semester.
This degree is also available for students with completed microcredentials or graduate certificates from other accredited programs and institutions. Students may transfer up to 18 credit hours that have not been previously applied towards a graduate degree and complete the remaining 12 hours, including ISG 5980 Capstone for Integrated Studies (3), at JSU for the MA in Integrated Studies.
Application Deadlines
Applications for this program are accepted throughout the year in fall, spring, and summer.
Application Materials Required for the MA with a Major in Integrated Studies
Applicants for the MA with a major in Integrated Studies must submit all of the following documentation to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate degree awarding institution and all transcripts from institutions where post-baccalaureate work has been completed. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a degree from an institutionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements for the MA with a Major in Integrated Studies
Applicants who meet general admission requirements to the Graduate School are eligible for admission to this program. A particular undergraduate major is not specified for admission to this program.
Unconditional Admission
- Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework may be unconditionally admitted.
- Students who hold a master's degree from an accredited institution may be unconditionally admitted.
Conditional Admission
- Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 for their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework may be conditionally admitted.
Applicants who are granted conditional admission must achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from graduate studies.
Minimum Requirements for the MA with a Major in Integrated Studies
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for the master’s degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to raise the GPA to the required 3.00.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours in approved courses. These courses should span at least two or more fields of study and include one graduate-level, research-focused course. ISG 5980 Capstone for Integrated Studies (3) serves as the final, culminating course for the program but does not fulfill the requirement for the graduate-level, research-focused course.
At least half of the graduate courses for this MA must be at the 5100-level or above. Students enrolled in this program may receive advisor approval to take graduate Art courses, which are numbered at the 6000-level. However, no other 6000-level courses are open to students in this program.
For students transferring microcredentials, Alabama ASSETS, or graduate certificates, at least 12 graduate hours must be completed at JSU, including ISG 5980 Capstone for Integrated Studies (3).
Integrated Studies Courses
ISG 5980 Capstone for Integrated Studies (3) should be completed in the student's final semester. In this course, students integrate their diverse coursework into a cohesive, culminating project. The project must be submitted for approval and completed at the University.
Prior Work Experience Credit
Students enrolled in the MA in Integrated Studies program may be granted up to six hours of graduate elective credit for post-baccalaureate professional work experience. Students must petition for professional work experience credit during their first semester in which they are enrolled in the program. Students interested in seeking credit should contact the Program Coordinator for additional information.
Graduation
All students must apply for graduation by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.