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East Tennessee State University

Johnson City , Tennessee ,United States

Appalachian Studies, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Appalachian Studies is an interdisciplinary graduate degree designed to provide a comprehensive study of the Appalachian region, including its history, environment, culture, and current challenges. The program is designed to meet the needs of three types of students:

Students for whom a graduate degree in the discipline of Appalachian Studies would improve their qualifications for the job market;
Students who are already in the workforce but can profit from and perhaps advance in their careers with deeper knowledge of the region; and
Students who are interested in understanding the region from a variety of historical, cultural, and global perspectives; who will profit from concentrated study and research; and who may plan to enter doctoral programs upon the completion of the degree.
As a broad, interdisciplinary degree, the M.A. in Appalachian Studies is intended to be highly flexible and customizable to fit each student’s educational and career goals. As such, it is a general degree that can prepare students to pursue many paths, whether they lead to the workforce or to further graduate studies. Possible career areas that may be served by this degree include education, local and regional planning, economic development, service organizations, nonprofit organizations, cultural and arts organizations, museums, natural and cultural heritage sites, national and state parks, and health-related fields. 

The department offers financial support in the form of Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Scholarships. Decisions on offers of support are initiated at the end of March for the following academic year. In order to receive full consideration, applicants seeking funding from this department are encouraged to submit all materials by February 15th.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has numerous job opportunities, with faculty and administrative positions open for a minimum of 14 days and support staff positions for at least 5 days. The university actively seeks to increase educational attainment and emphasizes a commitment to its employees. ETSU is also recognized as a good workplace for women, according to Forbes. 

Job Search and Application:

  • The ETSU Employment website lists available positions.
  • Faculty and administrative positions remain open for a minimum of 14 days, while support staff positions are open for at least 5 days.
  • Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM on the stated deadline date, or until the position is filled.
  • Specific inquiries about advertised positions should be directed to the relevant department. 

ETSU's Commitment to Employees:

  • ETSU prioritizes education and aims to enhance educational attainment in the region. 
  • The university fosters a culture where people are treated with dignity and respect and encouraged to reach their full potential. 
  • Forbes recognized ETSU as one of America's Best Employers for Women, based on a survey of working women. 
  • The university offers various benefits to its employees, which can be found on the ETSU Human Resources Benefits page. 

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements for Admission:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Completion of a minimum of 27 credit-hours of study in history.
At least a 3.0 grade point average in upper-level history courses.

TOEFL = 79
IELTS = 6.5
PTE = 53