About MAIS

Environmental Arts and Humanities can serve as a field of study within the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) degree. The MAIS degree program provides an opportunity for motivated students to bring together three disciplines in a course of study that leads to an integration of all three fields. The purpose of integrating the three fields is to provide a new, more holistic insight into an issue, question, or problem in which the student has a passion or interest. The culminating experience for the MAIS is the thesis or research project in which the three fields are effectively integrated as a means of addressing the student's identified issue or problem. Please visit the MAIS page for more information about the program.

Admission Requirements

Visit the MAIS admission page for admission requirements.

Requirements for Environmental Arts and Humanities as MAIS field of study:

Students are required to take Environmental Arts and Humanities foundation courses in for a total of 9 credits, chosen from:

  • EAH 506: Environmental Arts and Humanities Field Course. The Environmental Arts and Humanities Field Course is an intensive week of study. Living and working together in a forest setting, students will explore the dynamic relationships between the arts, humanities, and sciences, the history and theory of environmental humanities, the role of environmental humanities in addressing environmental crises, and the moral urgency of action. Students will contextualize these with their primary thesis or project ideas, and the course will offer a chance for students to form a collaborative academic community. (3 credits; typically before Fall Term)
  • EAH 512: Environmental Science in Context. Students will gain a working understanding of the scientific method, theory, and analysis, including how to interpret and evaluate risk assessment, statistics-based arguments, and graphs. Students will also gain an understanding of the history and role of the sciences in environmental discourses. (4 credits)
  • EAH 511: Perspectives in Environmental Arts and Humanities. Through lectures and discussions, students will be introduced to various methods of inquiry in the arts and humanities. Students will become proficient in a method of inquiry that complements their research interests and/or career goals. (4 credits Term)
  • EAH 507: Seminar on Thesis or Project Proposal Writing. Students will receive guidance and feedback as they develop their thesis or project proposal including their topic, method of inquiry, plan for fieldwork or internship, timeline, and budget. They will then present their proposal to their colleagues and committee. Final year students will assist in feedback and present their work formally (3 credits)
  • EAH 508: Professional Development. Students will have the opportunity to network with professionals and will be introduced to possible research topics, projects, fieldwork or internships, and career paths. (1 credit)
Student Responsibilities

If you would like to declare Environmental Arts and Humanities as a field of study for your MAIS degree, please contact the program director, Dr. Jacob Hamblin, for more information (jacob.hamblin@oregonstate.edu).