Integrated Studies (Masters of Arts)

The Master of Arts (MA) degree with a major in Integrated Studies is an interdisciplinary degree characterized by its flexibility. After being admitted to Graduate Studies, the student, with the faculty advisor, will plan a program of study designed to meet the student's specific needs. Courses must be selected from two or more fields of study, and INS 599 Capstone should be completed in the final semester. This degree is also available for students with completed micro-credentials or graduate certificates awarded by other accredited programs and institutions. Students may transfer in to the INS MA program up to 18 credit hours and complete the remaining 12 hours, including INS 599, at JSU for the MA in Integrated Studies.

Application Deadlines

Deadline dates for applications and receipt of all required application materials are:

Date Event
July 1 Fall Admission
November 1 Spring Admission
April 1 Summer Admission

Any exceptions to these deadlines must be granted by the graduate program chair.

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

  1. Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
  2. Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
  3. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities with degrees posted. 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.)
  4. Three Graduate Reference Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application. *Submission of reference forms may be waived if the student meets the unconditional admission requirements.
  5. 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 Graduate Studies 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.

Conditional Admission                                           

  • Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 for their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework may be conditionally admitted.
  • Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 for their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework will be required to submit three (3) Graduate Reference Forms as listed in the application materials.

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.

The student must complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours in approved courses, which must be from at least two or more fields of study. INS 599 Capstone is a required course.

At least one-half of the graduate courses for the MA with a major in Integrated Studies must be at the 500-level or above. Students enrolled in this program may receive advisor approval to take graduate Art courses, which are numbered at the 600-level. No other 600-level courses are open to students in this program.

Students transferring micro-credentials, Alabama ASSETS, or graduate certificates must complete at least 12 graduate hours at JSU, including INS 599 Capstone.

Integrated Studies Courses

INS 599 Capstone should be completed in the student's final semester. In INS 599, students bring together their diverse coursework into a cohesive, culminating project. The project must be submitted for approval and be achieved at the University.

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.