Admission

You must apply to the MAIS program through the graduate admissions process. The Graduate Education office will open an application file for you and notify you when something is received or missing. Submit all your materials to Graduate Education. You should contact the MAIS program director if you have questions about the program or want advice writing your statement of purpose.

• • Complete the online application (International students should apply through NKU's International Students and Scholars Services)

  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

  • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale)

  • Up-to-date resume

  • Two letters of recommendation, preferably from academic sources

  • Written statement of purpose (see below)

We try to review application files once they are complete, but to ensure a timely decision process you should meet the following deadlines

• • August 1 for the fall semester

  • December 1 for the spring semester

  • May 1 for the summer sessions.

We will consider applications after the deadlines in some cases. Contact the program director for more information. Acceptance into the program is based on an evaluation of submitted material and clear evidence that the applicant can succeed at graduate level work, that the applicant has a clear idea of the interdisciplinary project they want to pursue with an appropriate set of academic goals, and that NKU can properly serve the students interests and goals with course work and resources.

This is a vital element in the admissions process. It provides evidence of your preparedness and sincerity for pursing goal directed interdisciplinary research. It must include the following:

• • A brief summary of your background leading you to seek admission to the MAIS program;

  • The personal and/ or professional goals you hope to achieve with a MAIS degree (be specific);

  • A brief discussion of the interdisciplinary topic, question or problem you intend to focus on (be specific); and

  • A brief discussion of the disciplines or courses you need to study in order to adequately cover your academic focus.

Your statement of purpose will be reviewed by faculty for content, appropriateness for NKU and the program, and the quality of writing.

We only need a couple of pages. The statement will give us a sense of your writing abilities and help us determine whether the MAIS program is a good fit for you.

Completing a Masters program will mean you have become an expert at something and you are joining the ranks of professionals in some specialized area. In the statement of purpose, you can write about what it would mean to be a consultant in your area of interest. Who would be the clients reaching out to you as a consultant and what kinds of problems would they bring to be addressed? You are not committed to the specifics of this description, but it helps to understand whether interdisciplinary research is appropriate and whether we can design a program of study that is feasible.

We need to create a program for you that will allow you to achieve your goals through an interdisciplinary research agenda. Your choices of coursework should be guided a question or issue or topic that meets your interests and contributes to your developing expertise as something specific. Only graduate level course work (500, 600, 700) can be applied. We also need to see that the right coursework is available, either through NKU's graduate programs or through our local consortium of institutions (GCCCU). When writing your statement of purpose, you can review the kinds of courses available and suggest program of courses that you think you best prepare you for the expertise you want to develop and the research plan you hope to pursue.

Applicants are encouraged to meet with the program director as they draft their statement of purpose to better understand what the program has to offer and better define their personal and professional goals. Appointments can be make at rudygarns.youcanbook.me.

• • Full admission: meets all admission requirements and has submitted all required documents prior to beginning graduate study

  • Provisional admission: unable to provide one of the required admissions documents prior to the start of classes can request that the graduate program director grant provisional admission. Provisional admission is valid for one semester only during which time the missing documents must be submitted or specified conditions must be met.