Individualized Master of Arts Program Union Institute & University

Graduate Programs at Union Institute & University

Union Institute & University offers low-residency and online graduate degree programs that are ideal for working adults. Established in 1964, the university is a private, not-for-profit institution that has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and membership in the North Central Association.

The university's headquarters and one of its academic centers are located in Cincinnati, Ohio in the Midwestern region of the United States. It also has academic centers in Brattleboro, Vermont; Montpelier, Vermont; North Miami Beach, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Sacramento, California.

Master of Arts Online Program at Union Institute & University

Students who enroll in the Master of Arts program at Union Institute & University can earn their degree online -- from practically any location -- on a full-time or part-time basis. They can pursue online master's degrees in concentrations which include history and culture, literature and writing, education, health and wellness, leadership, public policy and social issues, creativity studies, health and wellness, and psychology.

MA Curriculum

The MA curriculum, which consists of 36 hours of coursework including up to 6 hours of transfer credits, can be completed in as few as 18 months. It includes a comprehensive online orientation, core courses, and advanced courses.

Core Courses

Students take 3 core courses: elements of scholarship, research methods, and disciplinary foundations. The elements of scholarship course helps students develop critical thinking, academic writing, and academic reading skills.

In the research methods course, students learn about information literacy as well as fundamental research modes, designs, and methods. The disciplinary foundations course helps students acquire graduate-level knowledge in their areas of concentration.

Advanced Courses

Advanced courses are taken in a tutorial format that allows students to work with faculty members individually or in small group settings. Students take a 6-credit field study course that provides "graduate level depth of knowledge in a specific field of study." They also take application courses that involve examining the professional, academic, and social importance of their fields of study.

The MA curriculum also includes an advanced research methods course that is appropriate for students' fields of study. In addition, students complete a final document or thesis that provides an in-depth critical analysis of their coursework.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in History and Culture

The History & Culture concentration is a big tent holding many possibilities for fields of study, questions to ask, approaches to take. We find ourselves with interests from a wide range of disciplines: religious studies, anthropology, historical studies, area and cultural studies, archeology, women's studies, art history, peace and justice studies, and many more. Some of us are interested in postmodern theory, others in language, others in social history or feminist scholarship, and still others in ethnography, to name a few. The range of topics and approaches enhances our larger conversation and stimulates thoughts that we might not have otherwise had!

A hallmark of our program's philosophy is the value of the intersection of theory and practice, so experiential learning is embedded in our program design. For this component, you might travel or visit an archive, museum, education center, or site pertaining to your area of interest. You might have an informal conversation with a historian, an archeologist, a religious leader, or an activist. Our students have used this class to develop lesson plans for their students, to do internships in museums, to write a children's book, and to write college syllabi for classes that they will propose at their local community college after they complete their degree.

Students enroll in our program for a variety of reasons: for career change or advancement, as a foundation for doctoral research, or simply to fulfill a lifelong dream and engage in the joy of learning.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Literature and Writing

The Master of Arts with a concentration in Literature & Writing provides the opportunity for intensive study in a variety of literature in the English language. Students explore how literature intersects with contemporary historical and cultural forces and examine literary critical theory as it relates to their area of interest. Scholarly writing about literature leads to a thesis as the capstone of the degree. Students may also engage in studies about teaching writing and literature in their Applications courses.

The Literature & Writing area of concentration attracts learners who have academic or work experience in a related field, as well as to those who have an interest in pursuing the master's degree as a stage on their progress toward the Ph.D. Students also choose this concentration for career advancement or change, or for purely personal reasons.

Master of Arts degree students in the concentration of Literature & Writing are qualified to apply for positions as teachers of English composition and literature at many community colleges. Several current students teach at primary and secondary schools and are pursuing the M.A. either for advancement in their current jobs or to move to teaching at the college level.

Graduates of the M.A. program also seek employment in a wide variety of industries, including publishing, public relations, advertising, radio and television, and cultural institutions such as museums and libraries. Enrolled students have the opportunity to discuss their professional goals with a certified career counselor, free of charge.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Education

Within the Master of Arts with a concentration in Education, students explore the roots of modern approaches to education through classic and contemporary critical analysis. Real-world problems are considered through the lenses of historical and philosophical viewpoints.

Students contribute descriptions of their own experiences -- as students or as educators -- to online discussions about educational philosophies and ethics. Whether you are an aspiring community educator, a stay-at-home dad or mom, an international consultant, a non-traditional or a traditional classroom teacher, this concentration can be adapted to meet your needs. The only requirement is interest in delving deeply into questions about how and why we educate.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Leadership, Public Policy and Social Issues

The Leadership, Public Policy, and Social Issues area of concentration addresses pressing problems and issues facing our societal institutions--public, private, and nonprofit. Through a multidisciplinary perspective, students enhance their understanding of these related disciplines. Students develop a sound knowledge of foundational theory and appropriate research methods. Specific areas such as policy analysis, decision-making, and effective leadership are examined. In keeping with the university's mission, ethical leadership and social responsibility are stressed throughout the curriculum.

This concentration gives students considerable flexibility in choosing a focus for their study. Fields of study pursued by current students and recent graduates include:

* Educational reform and leadership

* Environmental policies

* Global leadership development

* Health Policy

* Law enforcement leadership

* Leadership development: leadership training and leadership skills

* Nonprofit organizations

* Organizational development and organizational leadership

* Policy review and evaluation

* Public policy: formulation and advocacy

* Public-private partnerships

* Servant leadership

* Situational leadership

* Strategic management

Students enrolled in the Master of Arts degree program with a concentration in Leadership, Public Policy, and Social Issues are qualified to apply for a wide variety of leadership positions in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Examples might include policy and advocacy positions, public policy analysts, middle and upper-level management positions in areas such as public administration, human resources, international management, as well as professional positions related to education, health, environment, and law enforcement. Our career counseling service can assist you in achieving your professional goals.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Psychology (non licensure)

The Psychology area of concentration focuses on the needs of adult learners and is oriented to provide a range of academic and professional distance-learning based experiences to enhance careers and professional development in understanding human behavior.

The Psychology area of concentration can provide preparation for students who anticipate advanced study in psychology related programs. It also provides students a foundation of skills for working in areas such as:

* Health care - mental health, smoking, alcohol, obesity

* Employee Assistance - helping workers deal with personal issues

* Geropsychology - helping people deal with mental and physical changes associated with aging

* Industrial-Organizational - working to boost worker productivity and retention

* Marketing - Assist in developing tools for evaluation and research

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Health and Wellness

All learners within the Health & Wellness concentration begin with a foundational course in Health & Wellness and then have the opportunity to focus their work on a field which meets their professional and personal goals. Fields chosen by recent graduates and current learners include:

* Lactation consulting (please see below)

* Complementary medicine

* Mental Health Nutrition

* Personal/community/global health issues

* Holistic Health

* Shamanism

* Health care administration

* Integrative health

* Stress management

Our learners come from various backgrounds-health care, complementary health or may be new to the field. Learners might use their study as preparation for doctoral study. Other learners might use the degree to assist in receiving some type of external certification, such as Lactation Consulting.

Master's Degree with a Concentration in Creativity Studies

The concentration in Creativity Studies accommodates a wide variety of interests and scholarly pursuits. After establishing a strong theoretical foundation, the concentration permits and encourages learners to search out new and different ways of approaching, exploring, and understanding creativity. Creativity Studies allows for the option of internships where ideas and theories about creativity can be studied in real world situations or put into practical application. The final document, required of all Master of Arts learners, may take the form of a creative work accompanied by a contextual essay that provides an account of the creative process, places that process in a theoretical framework, or addresses other issues related to creativity.

The concentration in Creativity Studies may serve as the foundation for doctoral work in a variety of areas depending on the focus of the particular student's course of study. It may provide a clearer understanding of the creative process in preparation for a career in the arts or as a complement to an MFA. The degree may provide career enhancement in jobs where a graduate degree is required or, equally important, it may simply be life-enhancing.

Experienced Faculty Members

The Master of Arts program at Union Institute & University has accomplished faculty members who are involved with a wide variety of research, public service, and teaching activities.

For example, history and culture faculty member Woden S. Teachout, PhD, focuses her research on 19th century American history and culture, historical memory, women's studies, and patriotic culture.

She has presented her research at a number of conferences, served on several advisory boards, and written a book: "Capture the Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism."

Tuition and Financial Assistance at UI&U

Expenses for the Master of Arts programs at Union Institute & University (UI&U) include various fees and tuition costs per credit hour. Applicants for the university's online grad school may be eligible for federal student loans and private loans. UI&U also maintains a database that contains information about scholarships, grants, and fellowships.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Health And Wellness Master of Arts (MA)
• Leadership, Public Policy, And Social Issues Master of Arts (MA)
• Literature And Writing Master of Arts (MA)
• History And Culture Master of Arts (MA)
• Creativity Studies Master of Arts (MA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 41
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Required
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• AppliedNot Reported
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• Enrolled30
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesTranscript, application essay, 3 letters of recommendation
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesNot Reported

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableTuition Waivers, Career or Field-Related Internships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students116
• Female Percentage75%
• Male Percentage25%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students116
• Part-time Percentage91%
• Full-time Percentage9%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino3%
• Black / African American25%
• White / Caucasian64%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native3%
• Asian0%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races1%
• Unknown4%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty13
• Full-time Percentage23%
• Part-time Percentage77%
• Female Percentage54%
• Male Percentage46%