Josep Rota,
Director
The Center for International Studies is the nexus for global and area studies and activities at Ohio University. The center's interdisciplinary teaching, research, publications, service, and outreach programs bring together faculty and students from all parts of the university--the social sciences, humanities, sciences and professional schools--in Athens and on the regional campuses. Ohio University established the Center for International Studies in 1964; it was founded on the broad belief that an appreciation of others' values and institutions increases mutual understanding, enriches individual lives, and prepares citizens and students for work in the global environment.
The Center for International Studies embodies Ohio University's commitment to international understanding and solidarity and to the development of knowledge and skills necessary for competition in a global marketplace of ideas and jobs. The Center seeks to advance its mission through interdisciplinary academic programs and activities; faculty development; the encouragement and promotion of research; the development of library resources; outreach to the community; the cultivation of solidarity with other peoples and cultures, particularly with the developing regions of the world; and the maintaining and strengthening of faculty area and international expertise in collaboration with other academic units. Through the Office of the Associate Provost for International Programs, the Center for International Studies coordinates Ohio University's international programs and activities.
The Center's African Studies Program has been designated a U.S. Department of Education National Resource Center since 1994. Both Africa and Southeast Asia Studies Program are the recipients of other federal and foundation grants that support program activities. The Center's nationally known Monograph in International Studies series makes available more than 100 scholarly titles relating to Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
General Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 70 credit hours (70 credit hours in Latin American Studies). At least 40 credit hours must be devoted to core courses. The remainder is used to build an individualized, professional skills minor. A mandatory two-hour course requirement for all programs, International Studies (INST) 500: Introduction to Graduate Study, is offered in the fall quarter.
Depending on the program, one of the following is required to complete the degree: a comprehensive written exam, a comprehensive oral exam, or a project/research/grant proposal. This ordinarily takes place in the last quarter of study excluding summer. Guidelines are available from individual programs.
A thesis option also is available. The number of credits granted for the thesis (up to a maximum of 10) is determined by the student's advisory committee. Theses Guidelines are available on the Center's Web site.
All students in the M.A. 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 director reserves the right to drop him or her from the program. A grade below "C" will not count toward the degree requirement.
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.
Things to keep in mind:
The African Studies Program at Ohio University is a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center for Africa. The African Studies Program provides students, scholars, and members of the broader community with opportunities to develop their understanding of this important world region. Facilities for research and language instruction, as well as formal degree studies, are available through the program. Students may earn a Master of Arts in International Affairs degree with a major in African Studies awarded through the Center for International Studies.
The African Studies Program grew out of the excitement emanating from the decolonization of the continent in the mid-1960s and the awareness of the important role Africa could play in U.S. and world affairs. Today the multi-disciplinary nature of the program allows students to build a course of study reflecting Africa's contemporary reality. Themes include the socioeconomic development of the continent in the context of Africa's grand cultural and historical traditions, ecological sustainability, and the African family. Students may also view the study of Africa as an excellent case-study of the process of social change in the modern world.
The Institute for the African Childpromotes and coordinates research and advocacy for the world's most marginalized of population groups--the children and youth of the African continent.
The Ohio University Board of Trustees established the Institute for the African Child in 1998. This new initiative is designed to expand the conversation among African Studies scholars, to include those in the professional fields of communication, education, health and human services, and medicine, to work together on issues that affect Africa's children. Clearly there are no one-dimensional problems in the field of children and youth issues in Africa. Our intent is to provide a new cross-disciplinary venue for conferences, fellowships, and collaborative research that will lead to improvement in the living conditions of this important population. The establishment of the Institute for the African Child is also a new opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of the health-education-information nexus on minority children in Africa's Diasporas.
Proficiency in an African language is an important element of the African Studies degree and is seen as an essential tool for understanding the culture and working on the continent. The requirement can be fulfilled through a satisfactory FSI score, completion of the proper course work, or evidence of fluency in an African language.
African languages offered at Ohio University include Kikuyu, Siswati, Somali, Swahili and Twi. A wide variety of languages also are available through Ohio University's participation in the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute (SCALI), a seven-week intensive summer language program.
Core Courses
ANTH 550 Economic Anthropology ANTH 551 Political Anthropology ANTH 557 Anthropology of Religion ANTH 581 Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa CLWR 511 Islam ECON 551 Agricultural Development ECON 555 African Economic Development EDAD 703 Administration of Education in Other Countries EDCI 505 Comparative Cultures and Education EDCI 506A Education and Development in Africa EDCI 508 Poverty, Education, and International Development EDLE 710 Cultural and Contextual Foundations of Leadership EDLE 793 Field Research in Africa GEOG 531 African Thematic Geography GEOG 532 Africa: Regional Approaches GEOG 684C Seminar in Regional Geography: Africa HIST 532 History of Women in the Middle East HIST 535A Middle East to 1800 HIST 535B Middle East Since 1800 HIST 536B North Africa Since 1914 HIST 538 History of West Africa HIST 541 Colloquium: African History HIST 541A Early Africa HIST 541B Traditional Africa HIST 541C Modern Africa: 1890 to Present HIST 542A South Africa to 1899 HIST 542B South Africa Since 1899 HIST 640 Seminar in African History HCFN 525 Readings in Food and Nutrition HCFN 526 World View of Nutrition INST 610A Pan Africanism PHIL 578 African Philosophy POLS 541 African Politics POLS 563 The United States and Africa SISW 571 Elementary-Intermediate Siswati SWAH 571 Elementary-Intermediate Swahali Check with departments for more offerings.
Students have the option of choosing one of two coursework tracks, Language Track (LT) including foreign language study or Non Language Track (NLT) if the student comes into the program with demonstrble proficiency in a language applicable to his or her geographical area of specialization. Tracks do not differ significantly, but rather take into consideration the added coursework for those following the langage track.
In the second year, students work in teams to design and execute a formal communication campaign. Each student must also complete a field study or internship. All demonstrate proficiency in a language applicable to the geographic area of study. Normally, two years are required to complete the 70 credit-hour minimum required for both coursework tracks.
Course Concentration
TCOM 582 Communication and National Development TCOM 601 Introduction to Mass Communication Research TCOM 602 Quantitative ResearchMethods orTCOM 603 Quantitative Research Methods TCOM 770 Mass Communication Theory
Development Theory ComponentIn addition to attending colloquium, students select courses that directly or indirectly focus on development and social change. Courses must be approved by the director before enrollment. You may refer to the Development Studies core course list for possible options.
Area StudiesRegional area studies courses concentrating in Africa, Southeast Asis, or Latin American can be chosen from course lists available from each area studies program. Programs may also be developed in other geographical areas such as South Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, etc. in consultation with the director.
Develpment SpecializationThe development specialization is conceived as a professional skills component. Selection of courses depends upon each person's goals and objectives. These goals are to be formulated during the first quarter of study. Examples of possible specialization areas include: Tropical Public Health, Communication and Campaigns, Development Planning, Urban Development, International Development Administration, International Journalism, Film Production, Multimedia Production, and Economic Development. Please bear in mind that these are only a few examples. Students are encouraged to work with the director in planning their specializtion.
Proficiency in a Second LanguagePlease see Center for International Studies criteria to meet this requirement.
Admission is in the fall quarter only (September).
Through the Center for International Studies, Ohio University offers a program leading to the Master of Arts degree awarded by the Center for International Studies. The program is designed for those who have background and interest in the Natural Sciences (including Biological, Health, and Environmental) or Social Sciences, and who wish to incorporate one of these disciplines into the field of international development.
The program provides a broad perspective examination of issues related to growth, change, and globalization in developing countries. A multi-disciplinary approach focuses on combining theory, practical application, research, and implementation skills to produce graduates who are catalysts for international development.
International Development Studies emphasizes flexibility with opportunities to build a progrm tailored to individual needs and interests. Students build upon a core curriculum by specializing in one of three disciplinary concentrations.
International Development and Social Sciences
There are numerous economic, environmental, social, and political challenges facing developing countries today. International development becomes a vast multidisciplinary area of concern and action and embraces a multitude of approaches. The International Development and Social Sciences concentration prepares students to study and analyze a broad scope of issues facing developing nations and poor communities today within the conceptual framework of economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, and geography. Particular attention is paid to courses and development approaches that are designed to serve and enhance the capability of communities to further their own social, political, and economic goals.
International Development and Health
As expressed in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, health is a basic human right that resides within the context of human and social development. Because it reflects wider social, economic, and political influences, health should be approached in an integrated manner. The concentration in International Development and Health explores global health problems that affect developing nations. It provides students with an understanding of the field of health and international development while considering the important contribution that a healthy population makes to its own social and economic development process.
International Development and the Environment
Environmental problems and degradation pose a growing threat to the well being of people throughout the world. Workable solutions must focus on how humans and their social and economic interests interact with the resources of the natural environment. The concentration in International Development and the Environment is designed to provide students with an understanding of how people perceive and utilize the environment and how various processes involving the relationship between human beings and their surroundings either damage or protect the environment. This program challenges and prepares professionals to take action in response to environmental issues facing developing countries.
Degree Requirements
20 hours core courses 10 hours methods 15 hours development electives 25 hours disciplinary concentration
Core Courses
The program core is structured around a progressive series of pro-seminars, colloquia, and courses in development for 20 credit hours. These courses deal with concepts, issues, and methods of development and draw on the worldwide interests and experiences of students, expert faculty, and visiting scholars and specialists. The courses listed under "methods" and "development" reflect the spirit of the requirements; other courses may apply as well.
INST 500 Introduction to Graduate Study GEOG 529 World Economic Geography orGEOG 539 Geographic Patterns of Developing Nations INST 610 Pro Seminars and Colloquia in Development Methods Courses (minimum 10 credit hours or 2 courses)CS 590 Computer Science for Non-Majors EDRE 501 Introduction to Research Method ECON 501 Statistical Foundations ECON 502 Microeconomics ECON 503 Macroeconomics GEOG 570 GIS Applications GEOG 571 Quantitative Methods GEOG 578 Principles of GIS INCO 701 Research Designs in Communication POLS 582 Quantitative Political Analysis PSY 520 Elementary Statistics SOC 654 Social Research Methods TCOM 602 Quantitative Research TCOM 603 Qualitative Research Development Courses (minimum 15 credit hours)AAS 530 Social Theories of Underdevelopment ANTH 571 Ethnology ECON 550 Economics of Development EDCI 508 Poverty, Education, and International Development GEOG 680 Third World Development and the Environment POLS 540 Politics of Developing Areas SOC 518 Third World Development SOC 565 Social Change SOC 600 Work and Gender in Global Perspectives Disciplinary Concentrations (minimum of 25 credit hours) HealthHCFN 525 Readings in Food and Nutrition HCFN 526 World View of Nutrition HCFN 529 Community Nutrition HCFN 533 Food Sanitation and Safety HCFN 590 Human Nutrition HCFN 610 Maternal and Child Nutrition HLTH 512 International Health Programs HLTH 527 Health of Women HLTH 620 Bioethics in Health Care HLTH 630 Epidemiology in Health Planning MICR 511 General Microbiology MICR 518 Epidemiology MICR 544 Tropical Disease Biology MICR 682 Medical Entomology MICR 541A Parasitology PSY 715 Psychology of Human Differences SOC 525 Sociology of Food Production EnvironmentANTH 579 Human Ecology BIOS 581 Conservation Biology BUSL 570 Environmental Law ECON 513 Economics of the Environment ECON 514 Natural Resource Economics GEOG 517 Landscape Ecology GEOG 521 Population Geography GEOG 538 Geography of Southeast Asia GEOG 540 Environmental Impact Analysis GEOG 544 Agricultural Ecosystems GEOG 547 Resource Management GEOG 550 Land Use Planning GEOG 553 Environmental Planning GEOG 555 Geography of Latin America GEOG 680 Third World Development and the Environment PBIO 521 Agricultural Ecology PBIO 522 Tropical Ecology PBIO 525 Plant Ecology POLS 555 Environment and Natural Resource Policy POLS 556 International Organizations SOC 525 Sociology of Food Production
Social Sciences
A very large number of courses in diverse areas fall within this disciplinary concentration. Many thematic groups of courses are possible: Business, Culture, Communication, Economic Policy, Education, Gender, Politics/Public Policy, as well as area studies in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Certificate Programs
While pursuing the MA degree in International Studies, it may be possible to fulfill the requirements of one or more of the available certificate programs which include Conservation Biology, Contemporary History, Gerontology, Health Policy, and Women's Studies.
Internships
Internships are strongly encouraged. Such an experience with a domestic or international development organization allows the student to put into practice what has been learned from the program. Modest funds are available, on a competitive basis, to support local internships and research travel.
Entry is only available in the FALL Quarter (September).
The interdisciplinary program allows the student to explore the cultural, institutional and structural realities of Latin America in depth and is designed for individuals who wish to expand their expertise regarding this important world region.
The program maintains solid teaching and library strength concerning both South and Central America. In regard to South America, it has strong institutional relations with--and faculty interest in--Brazil and Ecuador, and excellent library holdings for the whole region. It is especially known, however, for its strength in the area of Central America, where strong faculty interests and numerous publications are informed and enriched by an outstanding library collection. Among other things, the library features a large and varied microfilm/fiche collection of U.S. diplomatic records.
The Latin American Studies Program is actively career oriented. Over four-fifths of its graduates find careers in or related to Latin America in areas such as teaching, non-governmental organizations, government service, business, and communication. The special, second Iberian language option, as well as the skills minor, greatly enhances graduate's employment options. In addition, the program works to find its candidates Latin America-related internships in Washington, other cities in the United States, and in Latin America. Participation in internships is encouraged and earns academic credit towards the 73-hour graduation requirement.
Degree Requirements
The program is designed to allow students to acquire or expand multidisciplinary knowledge, expertise and language skills concerning Latin America. Students must complete seventy-three credit hours of course work including forty in explicitly Latin American-focussed material, twenty-five in a "skills minor" (a non-Latin American theme or discipline), two three-hour seminars, and one two-hour introduction to graduate studies. In addition, students must be competent in at least one of the region's Iberian languages.
Enhanced Language Skills Option: To compliment the program's stress on both Spanish and Portuguese Latin America--and since over eighty percent of our students enter with competency in one of the two Iberian languages--students are urged to acquire competency in the other language by taking either second year Spanish or accelerated Portuguese. No credit towards degree requirements is given for coursework taken in the first liberian language (Spanish or Portugese). Credit is given for course work in acquiring a second liberian language provided the student has reached certified competency.
Core Courses
AH 531 Pre-Columbian Art ANTH 545 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective ANTH 566 Cultures of the Amazon (The Amazon) ANTH 567 South American Prehistory ANTH 570 Mexican/Central American Prehistory ECON 554 Latin American Economic History ECON 574 Economics of Latin America GEOG 535 Geography of Latin America GEOG 684A Seminar in Regional Geography: Latin America HIST 523A Latin America: The Colonial Era HIST 523B Latin America: The 19th Century HIST 523C Latin America: The 20th Century HIST 524 Seminar U.S./Latin America Relations HIST 525 Lecture U.S./Latin America Relations HIST 526 Dictatorship in Latin America INST 525 Seminar on Modern Brazil INST 601 Seminar in Development INST 610B Seminar on Latin America INST 695 Thesis POLS 534 Government & Politics of Latin America POLS 535 Revolution in Latin America POLS The Politics of Brazil POLS 579 Latin American Political Thought POLS 590 Studies in Government: U.S. Policy in Latin America SOC 508 Latin American Society SOC 518 Third-World Development SPAN 539 Modern Spanish Usage SPAN 543 Survey of Spanish American Colonial Literature SPAN 544 Survey of Spanish American 20th Century Literature SPAN 547 Themes from Spanish American Prose SPAN 548 Contemporary Spanish American Literature SPAN 560 Spanish American Civilization and Culture SPAN 601 Seminar on Spanish American Literature TCOM 765 Communication and National Development
Established in 1967, the Southeast Asian Studies Program at Ohio University has been recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the U.S. The rich cultures, traditions and opportunities of Southeast Asia are the focus of an interdisciplinary program that offers a master's degree and supports doctoral studies in disciplinesthat include an emphasis on Southeast Asia. Courses in professional fields such as development studies, communication, education, international business and management enrich the options. Dual degrees are available in some areas, including the MBA.
The graduate program benefits from a dedicated faculty with expertise in anthropology, communications, economics, geography, history, linguistics, management, political science, sociology, music, and world religions. The Southeast Asian collection offers extensive library holdings and houses the Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center. The library has special strengths in the insular nations of Southeast Asis.
Students entering the program often seek careers in Foreign Service, government, non-governmental organizations, business, and international development agencies, as well as scholarly careers in teaching and research.
Degree Requirements
The Southeast Asia Studies Program has a flexible curriculum which allows students to enroll in courses offered by various schools and departments across the University. The curriculum is divided into concentrations such as anthropology, business, geography, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science and telecommunications.
The Master's Program consists of a minimum of seventy credit hours in at least three disciplines. Forty-five credit hours come from core Southeast Asia courses, the remainder from such disciplines as education, journalism, plant biology, and TOEFL.
An important element within the Southeast Asia program is proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian languages. Two years of course work or its equivalent in a vernacular language is required. Presently, Ohio University offers classroom instruction in Khmer, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese. A number of additional languages courses are available through Ohio University's participation in the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI), a nine-week intensive summer language program.
The course work may be completed in fifteen months. The course of study concludes with a comprehensive written examination given during the last term of the student's program. Thesis and project option is available in lieu of the comprehensive examination.
Core Courses
ANTH 585 Cultures of SEA ANTH 586 Problems in SEA Anthropology CLWR 511 Islam in SEA CLWR 521 Hinduism in SEA CLWR 531 Seminar on Buddhism in SEA ECON 573 Economics of SEA GEOG 529 World Economic Geography GEOG 538 Geography of SEA GEOG 539 Geographic Patterns in Developing Countries HIST 544A History of the Malay World HIST 544B History of Burma and Thailand HIST 544C History of Vietnam HIST 545A History of SEA to 1750: The Creative Synthesis HIST 545B SEA 1750-1942: Change and Conflict HIST 545C SEA 1942-present HIST 645 Colloquium in History of SEA ILL 540 Traditional Literature of SEA INDO 540 Traditional Literature of SEA INDO 545 Modern Literature of SEA INST 550 Focus on Malaysia INST 590 Tun Razak Seminar INST 610C Overseas Chinese in SEA MGT 584 International Management MGT 586 Business World of Asia MGT 691 Seminar in SEA Business PBIO 569E Tropical Plant Biology PBIO 569F Agricultural Plant Ecology POLS 547A/B Government and Politics of SEA POLS 648 Seminar on Politics in SEA TCOM 569P Media and Popular Culture of SEA
Additional courses are available in anthropology, business and management, education, gender studies, geography, interpersonal communication, journalism, music, sociology, telecommunications and world religions.
FLAS Fellowships
The Southeast Asian Studies Program is pleased to offer Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships. FLAS Fellowships are open to new and continuing graduate students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Fellows receive a stipend of $11,000 plus tuition and fees. FLAS Fellows are required to study a Southeast Asian language and carry a full-time academic load of 15-18 graduate credits per quarter. Competitive applicants demonstrate a strong Southeast Asian career and/or research interest. Applicants should indicate in their "statements of purpose" how Southeast Asian language study would enhance their research/career goals.
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