• Admissions
• Program Mission/Objectives
• Length of time to Finish Program 
• Grade Requirements 
• Policy Issue 
• Cost and Financial Aid
• Transferring Graduate Hours
• Special Assistance
• Confidentiality of Student Records
• Student Right and Responsibilities

Admissions

Applications are accepted year-round and students may apply to enroll for Summer, Fall or
Spring semesters. However, it is recommended that students submit all of their application
materials at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the semester. Applications must be complete,
including letters of recommendation, one week before courses begin for the application semester. 

Prerequisites

For regular admission, students must have completed a baccalaureate degree (BA or BS) from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale. For regular admission, no other prerequisites are required.

For students with a GPA less than 3.0, exceptions for admission can be made at the discretion of
the Master of Interdisciplinary (MIS) Director and the Admissions Committee.

If you have recently completed a bachelor’s degree, the transcript is an important part of the admissions decision. However, having a cumulative GPA that is under 3.0 is not automatic grounds for rejection. Life experience is also an important factor in the review of admissions materials.

Students with less than a 3.0 should explain relevant life and work experiences, extenuating circumstances, and academic strengths in their personal statement. The admissions committee also considers these factors:

• GPA in the major and/or last years of study
• Any graduate admission exam scores (GRE, LSAT, etc.), and courses taken within the last three years in preparation for graduate level work.

For students with less than a cumulative 3.0, and for those students in need of addition preparation for graduate level coursework, we suggest two or three upper level undergraduate courses (with a grade of B or above) chosen in consultation with the MIS Director covering: advanced analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills. Please contact the program director for guidance on suggested courses.

Application Requirements

Applications to the Interdisciplinary Studies programs (MIS or Graduate Certificates) are submitted electronically. All of the materials listed below, except the last,  should be submitted during the on-line process:

1. Completed MIS Online Application.
2. Three letters of recommendation.
   The on-line application requests mail and e-mail addresses of your references and automatically sends them an email requesting the recommendation. It is in your best interest to notify your references that the e-mail will be coming; and ask people to write letters who can speak to your ability to succeed in a graduate program. Former professors make better references than relatives or friends.
3. A personal statement of your educational objectives, covering:
   
   • Why do you wish to study in the MIS program?
   • What are your objectives in the MIS program?
   • You major and minor areas of interest for coursework
     What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to this kind of graduate study?
   • Students with less than a 3.0 should also explain relevant life and work experiences, extenuating circumstances, and academic strengths in this statement.
4. Your resume or CV; and any graduate admission exam scores you would like considered.
5. All undergraduate and graduate transcripts--complete and official.You will be asked to list all previous schools attended, but it is your responsibility to contact the schools for official transcripts. Note that you do not need to request any IU system transcripts; the MIS office can access IU transcripts. If you have international coursework, visit the International Applicants page to learn more.
6. Application fee: $40.
   Electronic payment of fee expected before application deemed complete and expected. 
7. Conversation with the MIS Director.
   Once we receive your complete application, the MIS director will contact you to schedule a conversation, either in-person or by telephone, at your convenience. You may also contact us at any time with questions or to schedule a meeting.

Program Mission/Objectives

Students who have completed the MIS program will demonstrate:

• differentiate the methods of intellectual inquiry in multiple disciplines
• demonstrate a broad scholarly knowledge base with sufficient depth
• critically analyze information
• synthesize knowledge to examine complex issues
• apply an interdisciplinary approach to make informed decisions
• communicate effectively in written papers and oral presentations

Typical of graduate liberal studies programs, MIS students at IU Southeast are diverse in their backgrounds and interests. Many are recent college graduates who miss the intellectual stimulation of a university environment. Some are teachers taking this program in addition to or in place of a Masters in Education Degree. The MIS program also attracts a significant number of professional people whose careers are very narrowly focused. They enjoy the opportunity to read, write, and think in areas outside their professional expertise, or to expand their areas of expertise.

Length of time to Finish Program 

Most MIS students progress through the program on a part-time basis, taking just one or two classes a semester. Although it is possible to finish the program in as little as two years, we anticipate most students will take from three to five years to earn their degrees.

The Indiana University graduate school policy in their bulletin stipulates that course work may not be counted if it has been completed more than five years prior to awarding the degree. In order to maintain active student status, if a student does not complete D602 Graduate Project within the semester after they have registered for a total of three (3) hours, they must continue to register for one (1) hour of D602 each semester until the project is completed.

Grade Requirements 

MIS students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.00 or better throughout their participation in the program. Credit toward the MIS degree is given only in courses for which you have earned a B or better. Should your GPA fall below 3.00 at any time, you will be asked to meet with the Director of the MIS Program and/or the MIS Program Advisory Council to discuss any problems you are having in the program. Students whose GPA falls below 3.00 may be placed on academic probation until they bring their GPA back to the 3.00 level.

Orientation
All students admitted to the MIS program are required to attend orientation at the beginning of their admission. Orientation is held in August of each year. Students will be introduced to the MIS program, the program staff, the program requirements, and the program faculty

Policy Issue

Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the University and throughout American society as a whole. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and provide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on arbitrary considerations of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Cost and Financial Aid 

Indiana Residents pay the standard graduate tuition for courses they take. IU Southeast and the University of Louisville signed a reciprocity agreement allowing students from Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties to enroll in the MIS program and pay in-state tuition rates. Students should check with the Student Financial Assistance Office, LB-100, or telephone 812-941-2246 for information on financial aid. A one-year scholarship of $1000 is available to first-year MIS students who demonstrate academic merit.

Transferring Graduate Hours 

A maximum of six graduate hours of course work, earned at an accredited institution may be applied to the MIS program at IU Southeast, subject to the approval of the director and the advisory council. Any transfer course credit cannot be over 5 years old when the MIS degree is completed. However, the MIS program cannot accept credit based on life experience, job skills, or other non-academic accomplishments.

Special Assistance 

For people who have disabilities and need special assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs.

Confidentiality of Student Records 

In accordance with federal statutes and regulations, student records are confidential and available for disclosure to persons other than the student only under stated conditions.

Student Right and Responsibilities

A statement of students’ rights and responsibilities is published in a handbook, Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, which contains a description of due process hearings in the event of disciplinary action. Students are responsible for understanding all requirements for graduation and for completing them by the time they expect to graduate. Information about a specific school or division can be found in the front section of the bulletin for that school.
(While every effort is made to provide accurate and current information, Indiana University reserves the right to change without notice statements in the bulletin series concerning rules, policies, fees, curricula, courses, or other matters.)