Mar 29, 2024  
2009-2010 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2009-2010 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

New College for Interdisciplinary Studies


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Office: 211 Roosevelt Hall, Telephone: (516) 463-5824, Fax: (516) 463-4832, E-mail: newcollegemap@hofstra.edu

Barry Nass, Ph.D., Vice Dean, New College for Interdisciplinary Studies
Peter W. Sherwood, Ph.D., Associate Dean and Master of Arts Program Administrator
John Krapp, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Master of Arts Program Academic Coordinator

Admission Requirements
Criteria for admission established for the New College Master of Arts Program  (MAP) are consistent with its individualized and contractual course of study, interdisciplinary orientation, and the standards for graduate study at Hofstra University.

  1. Applicants should have
        a.     A bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts with a grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better, from an accredited institution.
        b.     A demonstrated interest in, and capacity for, pursuing an interdisciplinary, individualized, and contractual course of study.
        c.     An ability to conduct independent research and to present the results in acceptable written style and form.
  2. Application for Admission: Applicants must complete Hofstra University’s Graduate Application form. In addition, applicants will receive a Supplementary Application Form 
    for the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies Master of Arts Program. Completed forms should be returned to the Office of Graduate Admission.
  3. Application Deadlines
    The fall semester is normally the point of entry. With the permission of the academic coordinator, students are be permitted to enter for the spring semester. Students should submit applications no later than three months prior to the desired point of entry.
  4. Transcripts
        a.     Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts showing possession of a baccalaureate degree and any graduate work attempted must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission.
        b.     New College for Interdisciplinary Studies does not typically grant advanced standing unless the student has accumulated a minimum of 12 s.h. in the appropriate subject area. Advanced standing is not granted in excess of one learning            contract (8 s.h.). Students who are eligible to apply for advanced standing should indicate this interest at the time of application.
  5. Letters of Reference
    Applicants must provide three letters of reference. At least one of these should demonstrate a familiarity with the applicant’s academic performance. If relevant, at least one of the letters should speak to the applicant’s professional work and/or volunteer service.
  6. Registration Deadline
    Students must register for the Initial Study within one year of an offer of admission to the program.

Graduation Requirements

  1. A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) for all three learning contracts collectively.
  2. Successful completion of the master’s thesis.
  3. Completion of all program requirements.

Program Description and Degree Requirements

Introduction
The New College for Interdisciplinary Studies Master of Arts Program (MAP) affords students who are seeking an alternative to a regular university schedule the opportunity to earn a master’s degree by pursuing an individualized course of study in the liberal arts under the supervision of expert faculty.  The flexible curriculum is designed for students who wish to learn more about the options open to them through interdisciplinary study or who want to examine particular topics of personal or professional interest. The rigorous and challenging program diverges from the divisional and disciplinary structure of traditional master’s degree plans by guiding students through learning contracts that lead to the completion of a master’s thesis.

Individualized Degree Plans
Each individual degree plan originates with the student and is unique in focus and design. The plan must be interdisciplinary, and all components must come from a discipline within the liberal arts. Possible plans of study are as varied as the goals of the students in the master’s program and are limited only by available instructional resources.

Within this individualized framework, each student enters into a series of tutorials comprising the Initial Study, three learning contracts, and the master’s thesis.

Interdisciplinary Studies Within the Liberal Arts
Students may examine a subject or problem by using the concepts, methods, or techniques of at least two of the three broad areas of
study in the liberal arts: the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 34
MAP 200     Initial Study, 4 s.h.
MAP 201     Learning Contract One, 8 s.h.
MAP 202     Learning Contract Two, 8 s.h.
MAP 203     Learning Contract Three, 8 s.h.
MAP 301     Master’s Thesis Proposal, 3 s.h.
MAP 302    Master’s Thesis, 3 s.h.

MAP 200 - Initial Study
The Initial Study consists of a series of weekly meetings, which students are required to attend for one semester, with the program’s academic coordinator. The following are required for successful completion of the Initial Study:
1.     The student writes papers that demonstrate an ability to engage interdisciplinary texts in a thoughtful, sophisticated manner and present a cogent, focused argument.
2.     The student completes a library research paper on a topic that is chosen with the approval of the academic coordinator.
3.     The student designs a master’s degree plan. The plan is the centerpiece of the Initial Study and consists of comprehensive descriptions of the work the student intends to carry out for the three learning contracts and the master’s thesis (see MAP 201, 202, 203, 204 below). As the student progresses through the program, he or she develops these descriptions into detailed proposals that serve as guides in tutorial work with faculty.

Approval of the plan by the MAP Curriculum Committee is required for successful completion of the Initial Study.

MAP 201, 202, 203 - Learning Contracts
Learning contracts consist primarily of library and/or field research, internships, laboratory work or studio participation. A written report, chiefly analytical and substantive, must be submitted at the end of each learning contract. Collectively, the three learning contracts must cover at least two of the three areas in the liberal arts (humanities, natural sciences, or social sciences).

With the permission of the MAP academic coordinator, students may apply up to 8 s.h. of graduate course credit earned elsewhere or at Hofstra towards one Learning Contract. In such cases, students may be required to supplement the graduate course work with additional writing in order to satisfy the credit requirements for that contract.

Implementation and Evaluation of Learning Contract Proposals
On successful completion of the Initial Study (see MAP 200, above), the student, with the approval of the academic coordinator, chooses a faculty supervisor and begins work on the first of the learning contracts.

When a learning contract has been completed to the satisfaction of the student, faculty supervisor, and MAP Curriculum Committee, the supervisor awards a final grade.  The student must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) for all three learning contracts collectively in order to proceed to the master’s thesis.

MAP 301 and MAP 302: Master’s Thesis Proposal and Master’s Thesis

The final degree requirement of the program is the master’s thesis, an interdisciplinary study that the student writes in close consultation with a thesis adviser. When the student successfully defends the thesis and it is approved by the Thesis Committee, a recommendation is made to the Vice Dean of New College that the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies be awarded.

Master’s Thesis:
Completion of the master’s thesis requires two courses:

MAP 301  (3 s.h.)
Master’s Thesis Proposal: In consultation with the thesis adviser, students develop a detailed proposal for the thesis.

MAP 302  (3 s.h.)
Master’s Thesis: In close consultation with the thesis adviser, students use the thesis proposal to write the master’s thesis. This thesis must be defended before and approved by the thesis committee.

 

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