Frequently Asked Questions

A: Yes.  Ashland University is a private, non-profit, comprehensive university founded in 1878.  The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 

A: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.  While there is no particular deadline, it is suggested that applicants ensure that all required items are received at our office at least one month prior to the start of the semester of intended enrollment. 

A: Generally, an admission decision will be sent to applicants within two to three weeks after the receipt of a completed application file.  A completed application file includes the application form (completed online), official transcripts, and a $30 application fee.

A: Yes, it is possible to pursue two master's degrees simultaneously at Ashland University.  Policies and additional information about this option may be found on the Academic Policies page. 

A: No, you do not need to reapply to the program. You may simply register for courses as soon as you would like.

A: Effective with the start of the Fall 2012 semester, both the MAHG and MASTAHG programs will award the Master of Arts degree, a universally recognized designation for liberal arts programs in the arts and sciences.

At the time this program was proposed, the university was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents to offer degrees with the Master of American History and Government designation.  This "Master of..." designation was reflective of the Regent's belief that the proposed program's original target audience -- secondary school social studies teacher -- made it more of a professional preparation program than a traditional research program.  Thus, the "MAHG" degree designation was created, much like a Master of Education or a Master of Business Administration degree.  Reflecting the success of the program and the body of scholarship produced by our students, the Regent's reclassified the program as a Master of Arts in 2012. 

A: For courses during the summer semester, payment may be postponed until March 1. After March 1, payment for summer courses is due at the time of registration.

For fall and spring online courses, tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. 

Payment can be made in the following ways:

• Online by credit card, debit card, or checking account draft.  This may be done as part of the registration process, via WebAdvisor, or separately at the Ashland University Student Accounts office website. 
• Credit or debit card by phone at (419) 289-5958. 
• A check or money order, made payable to Ashland University, mailed to the MAAHG program office.  
• An actualized student loan through the Ashland University Financial Aid office.
• Written proof of an outside scholarship or fellowship. Documentation should be mailed or faxed to the MAAHG program office.

Please note that credit and debit card payments - whether made online, over the phone, or in person - will incur a 2.7% service charge (minumum charge: $3.95). Additionally, electronic checking drafts done through our website will incur a $2.95 processing charge per transaction. All service charges will appear on your credit card or bank statement as a separate transaction.  There is no service charge for personal or bank-issued paper checks or cash transactions.

A: The balance due to the university is provided on the confirmation page after you submit your registration. If you did not submit payment at the time of registration, you will receive an invoice by e-mail at your ashland.edu address. You may also check your account balance and make payments through WebAdvisor.

 If you did not pay for courses when you registered, payment may be made in the following ways:

• Online by credit card, debit card, or checking account draft.  This may be done as part of the registration process, through WebAdvisor, or separately at the Ashland University Student Accounts office website. 
• Credit or debit card by phone at (419) 2899-5958. 
• A check, made payable to Ashland University, mailed to the MAHG program office.  
• An actualized student loan through the Ashland University Financial Aid office.
• Written proof of an outside scholarship or fellowship. Documentation should be mailed or faxed to the MAHG program office.

Please note that credit and debit card payments - whether made online, over the phone, or in person - will incur a 2.7% service charge (minimum charge of $3.95). Additionally, electronic checking drafts done through our website will incur a $2.95 processing charge. All service charges will appear as a separate transaction on your credit card or bank statement. 

There is no service charge for personal or bank-issued paper checks or cash transactions.

A: Yes, and many students do this.  You do not need to enroll in the degree program to take courses. To take classes in the program without committing to pursue the MA degree, you must:

• Apply for non-degree admission to the university.
• Pay the $30 application fee.
• Arrange for an official transcript to be sent to the MAAHG program office from the institution at which you earned your bachelor's degree.
• Register for classes.

A: Students may register for as few as one or as many as four courses in any particular semester. While offered on a unique intensive schedule, each course is designed to replicate a full semester-long class, including a selection of readings and assignments as may be found in a similar course with a more traditional schedule. In order to ensure that students are not overburdened by the demands of such an intense schedule, students may not register for more than four courses in any one semester.

The following courses do not count toward the four course limit. MA students may enroll in four courses in addition to any one or more of the following:

• AHG 670 – Directed Study
• AHG 690 – Research Methods
• AHG 691 – Thesis
• AHG 692 – Capstone Project

A: For Weeklong Summer courses, you must withdraw on or before 12 noon on Monday during the week of the course to receive a full refund of tuition and a prorated refund of room and board costs. No refund will be given for withdrawals after noon Monday.
For Live Online courses, you must withdraw before the start of the second class meeting (for courses with 8 class meetings) or before the start of the third class meeting (for courses with 16 class meetings).  No refunds will be given for withdrawals after these times. 

A: If it is necessary for you to drop a course, please put your request in writing and send by email to mahg@ashland.edu, or by postal mail to MAAHG Program, Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805.  Please note that all drop requests must be received prior to the deadlines noted above. 

A: Please let us know of your decision by e-mailing us at mahg@ashland.edu.

A: All of Ashland University's graduate loan applications are made through the Ashland University Financial Aid office. Please visit the site for complete information about your graduate loan options - including deadlines and requirements - and to begin the application process.

A: Ashland's Title IV code is 003012.

A: Yes. Only students pursuing the degree may receive a Federal Stafford Loan.  Non-degree students may not apply.  Additionally, students must be enrolled at least half-time (3 or more credit hours) in each semester they receive a loan.

A: While the amounts will vary from course to course, the books for each course will be approximately $125.  Author, title, and edition information may be found in a course's syllabus.  All titles are available at the Ashland University Bookstore, however you are free to source books via the vendor of your choice.  

A: The James Madison Graduate Fellowship is a federally-sponsored program for current or potential social studies teachers. The fellowship will cover the full cost, up to $24,000, of graduate study leading to a master's degree in a field which will enhance the fellow's ability to teach the principles of the United States Constitution. Full details about eligibility may be found at the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation website.

A: Yes.  Both MA programs fully meets the requirements of the Madison Foundation. We offer many courses which fulfill the program's constitutional study requirements. Many Madison Fellows have earned their master's degree at Ashland and more than 60 are presently enrolled. 

A: Yes. We have worked with many Madison Fellows and have some helpful insights into creating a successful application.

A: The Plan of Study Form should be completed by the fellow and the fellow's academic advisor. Once you are admitted to an MA program, we will assign you an academic advisor. Contact information for your advisor may be found in your acceptance letter. Once you have been accepted to the university and you have been awarded a Madison Fellowship, contact your advisor to discuss the Plan of Study.
Our advisors have worked with many Madison Fellows in the past. Your advisor can offer extensive assistance in planning an acceptable course of study. Once complete, your advisor will sign your Plan of Study as the "University Official" mentioned at the bottom of the form. We will then mail your Plan of Study directly to the Madison Foundation office.

A: Please complete Part 1 of the Payment Request Form as completely as possible.

• For "University of Graduate Study" (part 1, number 2) write "Ashland University".
• For "School/Department of Study" (part 1, number 3) write "College of Arts and Sciences".
• For "Master's Degree Sought" (part 1, number 4) write "MA".
• For "Subject of Degree Sought" (part 1, number 5) write "American History and Government".
• For part 1, number 6, the degree requires 32 credit hours.
• For part 1, number 7, Ashland operates on a semester system.
• For part 1, number 8, write the year your fellowship was awarded.
• For part 1, number 9, write the number of hours approved for reimbursement from your Plan of Study – generally 32 hours.
• For part 1, number 13, the starting date of the term is the first day of the semester during which the course(s) will be held, even if the course only runs for a portion of the semester. See the Ashland University Registrar's Academic Calendar for the official semester start dates.
• For part 1, number 15, line A, enter the amount of the tuition.  Tuition rates vary by semester and course.  Please see the Tuition and Fees page for current rates.  
• For part 1, number 15, line B, enter $0 - all fees are included with the tuition (except for application, transcript, and graduation fees).
• For part 1, number 15, line C, enter $125 multiplied by the number of courses you have registered for OR the exact cost of your books. If you are submitting your Payment Request Form early, we estimate books will cost $125 per course. If you are making your request after you have purchased books, enter the exact cost of your books.
• For part 1, number 15, line D, enter the amount of room and board cost (number of courses multiplied by this year's room and board rate). If you are NOT staying on campus in Ashland dormitories, enter the cost of your off-campus room (if necessary).
• For part 1, number 15, line E, enter $0 if you are residing on campus (board costs are included in the Room figure on line D). If you are staying off-campus, enter the cost of your meals/board (if necessary).
• For part 1, number 15, line F, enter the total of lines A through E.
• For part 1, number 18, 6 credit hours per semester is considered full time at the graduate level.
• For part 1, number 19, enter the number of credit hours for which you are registered.
• For part 1, number 20, enter the course codes of the classes for which you are registered this summer. For example, "AHG 501A".
• Sign your name in part 2.
• Print a copy of this year's Tuition and Fees page and attach it to you Payment Request Form. This will serve as your documentation of the current tuition, fee, room, and board rates.

Once you have completed the Payment Request Form, please fax, email, or mail it to Chris Pascarella at the Ashbrook Center. DO NOT SEND IT TO THE ASHLAND REGISTRAR, FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, OR YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISIOR.  Your form will be reviewed, signed, and mailed to the Madison Foundation office.

Our fax number is (419) 289-5425. Postal mail should be addressed to:

Master of Arts in American History and Government
Ashbrook Center at Ashland University
401 College Ave
Ashland, OH 44805

A: All students, both degree-seeking and non-degree, are issued a username and password for all of the university's various web-based systems.  Your username and password will be provided to you with your acceptance letter at the time of your admission to the program.  It is important that students know and remember their username and password. 

Your username and password will provide you with access to the following university web-based systems:

• WebAdvisor - WebAdvisor is Ashland's student information portal. Here, students may check grades, track their progress in the program, check account balances, make payments, and much more.
• Ashland University Student Email - Each student is issued a student email address, powered by Google's Gmail.  Your email address is <your username>@ashland.edu.  
• ANGEL Learning Management System - The LMS is used by online course instructors to provide supplemental course materials, submission of assignments, and examinations. 
• myAU Portal - Ashland University's new online web portal will feature news and information for students. 
• Campus computers and networks - Use your username and password to log in to campus computer workstations and to connect your own laptop, tablet, or smartphone to the campus WiFi network. 

A: If you need to change your password, go to Ashland University's self-service password reset tool at pass.it.ashland.edu.  First, follow the prompts to log in using your username and current password.  Once you have logged in, you may change your password or you may enroll in the self-service reset tool. 

ALL STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL IN THE SELF-SERVICE RESET TOOL.  By doing so, you will create a series of challenge questions with answers only you would know.  Should you forget your password in the future, you can reset it on your own without having to call the Ashland University IT Help Desk.  

A: If you have forgotten your username, go to webadvisor.ashland.edu and click "Account Information" in the lower right hand corner of the screen.  On the next screen, click "What's My Login Information?"  Enter the requested information then click "Submit".  Your username will appear on the next screen. 

If you do not know or have forgotten your password, you must contact the Ashland University Information Technology Help Desk at (419) 289-5405.

Only the IT Help Desk can assist you with a forgotten password.  No one in the MA program office knows your password nor are we permitted to request a password reset on your behalf.

A: Yes.  All students in the program, whether degree-seeking or non-degree, have an ashland.edu email address.  Your email address is provided with your welcome packet at the time of admission. You may access your student email at students.ashland.edu.  Enter your Ashland University username and password and click "Sign In". 

You are welcome to use this email account any way you wish, however this is the university's official means of conacting you.   Certain university communications, including Financial Aid and invoices from the Student Accounts office are sent only to this address.  If you do not expect to use it on a regular basis, it is suggested that set your ashland.edu mail to forward to your primary email address.  To do this, log in to your ashland.edu account and follow these instructions.  

A: Not necessarily. The required courses are not introductory in the sense of providing information or skills that are necessary for the successful completion of other courses. They are required to insure that students are familiar with the breadth of American history and the development of America's political institutions. They may be taken at any point.

A: If you do not have a strong background in American history, we recommend that you begin with the AHG 501 through AHG 505 series. They will provide you with a broad overview of all of American history, which will be helpful as you take other courses. We do not recommend beginning your coursework with an AHG 510 - Great American Texts course.

A: Teacher certification or licensure requirements vary widely from state to state. In general, neither the MAAHG nor the MASTAHG degrees are likely to meet all requriements for licensure as a social studies teacher. In most cases, additional course work in educational methods and other social science fields like psychology, sociology, and economics may be required. We suggest contacting your state's department of education to learn more about the specific requirements.  

If you are interested in receiving your initial license as a social studies teacher, the Bachelor's Plus program offered by the Ashland University College of Education may be of interest to you.  This program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than education who wish to become licensed teachers. Contact the College of Education at (419) 289-5977 to learn more about this option.  

A: Students wishing to develop expertise requiring study beyond what is offered in other courses may arrange with a professor to work individually on a topic. The student's academic advisor must approve all directed studies.

The AHG 670 - Directed Study course is offered for two credit hours.  Contact your academic advisor for more information or to register.  

A: Yes.  Our online courses are offered as live, synchronous teleconferences in which students and instructors will participate in real-time. Like our on-campus courses, online courses will be offered for 2 semester credit hours. Schedules for online courses will vary from semester to semester and course to course. 

Online courses will be open to both degree-seeking and non-degree continuing education students taking classes for graduate credit. Degree students should be aware that our online offerings are intended to supplement in-person residential instruction at the Ashland campus. The degree cannot be completed solely online.

A: Ashland is located roughly one hour from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), and the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK).

We offer a complimentary shuttle service between Ashland and the Cleveland airport ONLY.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GROUND TRANSPORTATION FROM ANY AIRPORT OTHER THAN CLEVELAND. The best way to get to campus from Columbus or Akron-Canton is by rental car.

A: Participants who want to use the shuttle service should book their flights several weeks prior to their planned arrival.  Please schedule your arriving flight at CLE for Sunday prior to 2 pm Eastern Time.  Your departing flight should be scheduled for Friday after 4:30 pm.  We cannot guarantee shuttle service for Saturday arrivals or departures.  Please contact us prior to booking nonrefundable flights for any time other than Sunday or Friday. 

Please send a copy of your itinerary to us at mahg@ashland.edu.  Please include your name, city of departure, airline, flight number, time of arrival, and a phone number (preferably a cell phone) as soon as travel plans are finalized. The shuttle schedule will be created based on all of the participants' arrival information. The schedule will be emailed to participants with detailed instructions during the week before the session begins.

A: Ashland University is located in Ashland, Ohio, roughly halfway between Cleveland and Columbus off of Interstate 71. Take Exit 186 (US 250) and head west into town. Follow the signs to the university.

For those using GPS devices or internet maps, check in takes place at Senior Apartment Building B, located at 420 Samaritan Avenue, just east of King Road on the south side of campus.

A: Check-in takes place on Sunday between noon and 4:00 pm in the lobby of the Senior Apartment Building B (building 7 on the campus map).

Students whose need to check-in prior to noon on Sunday MUST make arrangements with us AT LEAST one week in advance at mahg@ashland.edu.  Early arrival times are limited and cannot be guaranteed without prior arrangement.  

A: Bring your books, photocopied course packet(s), and personal items. We will provide a basic blanket, sheets, towels, washcloths, a pillow and pillowcase. A laundry facility is available at no charge. You may wish to consider bringing a robe, drinking cups, hangers, laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, and an alarm clock.

A: Yes.  On-campus housing and meals are available on a week-to-week basis during the summer semester.  This includes a double-occupancy air conditioned room, basic linens, and all meals from dinner Sunday through lunch on Friday.

A: Because of the intensive nature of each course, students are strongly encouraged to reside on campus during the week the course meets.  Living on campus is convenient.  No time is lost to commuting each day.  Classes, meals, the library, and the computer lab are all within walking distance of campus housing.  The campus dining and MA program staffs take care of the logistics of your stay so you may focus solely on your studies without distraction.  

On-campus housing is not required, however.  Students who live withing commuting distance of the university or who choose to make other living arrangements may live off campus during the week.

A: In most cases, MA students are housed double-occupancy in air-conditioned apartment-style housing.  Each apartment has two bedrooms, each with a private bathroom.  Two students are assigned to each bedroom; a total of four students per apartment.  All apartments are fully furnished and feature a common living room, dining room, full kitchen, and patio.  Please notify us at mahg@ashland.edu at least one month before the start of classes with roommate requests or special needs.  

A limited number of single rooms are available at no additional charge.  Single room requests will be housed in Ashland University dormitories. The dormitories have community bathrooms on each floor and may not be air-conditioned. If you wish to be assigned to a single room in a dormitory, please contact us by email at mahg@ashland.edu.

A: Ashland University's Rybolt Sports Sciences and Recreation Center is available for your use during the week. The Rec Center features a 5000 square foot fitness center with weight room, lap swimming pool and diving well, whirlpool, raquetball courts, climbing wall, basketball, indoor track, golf simulator, game room, and more.  

The Rec Center's hours may be found here.  Reservations are required for the racquetball courts and golf simulator and can be made by calling (419) 289-6173.

A: Yes.  A computer lab is available for your use 24 hours a day in 200 Patterson Hall (building 13 on the campus map). Access is granted with student ID cards, which you will receive when you arrive on campus. Computers are also available throughout the library, in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center (building 20 on the campus map), and on the third floor of Andrews Hall. All campus computers have access to the internet, Microsoft Office, and are connected to printers.

You are welcome to bring your own laptop or tablet computer to campus.  Ethernet and WiFi are available in all campus residential facilities.  WiFi is also available in all classroom buildings, the library, and most student dining and lounge areas on campus.  Technical support for connecting to the campus network is available from Ashland's Information Technology Help Desk.  

A: No.  Telephone service is not available in student rooms.  A campus phone may be found on the first floor of each Senior Apartment buildings and in the lounge area of Andrews Hall.  You are welcome to use these campus phones to make local or toll-free calls off-campus.  To place a call from this phone, you must first dial 8 for an off-campus line, then dial the local number (10 digit dialing is required in Ashland County) or dial 1+the toll-free number. Similar phones are located around campus. Additionally, pay phones are located on the first floor of the Hawkins-Conard Student Center.

Should you need to leave a number with friends or family at which you may be contacted while at Ashland, please use the Ashbrook Center's main phone number: (419) 289-5411.  We will relay any messages we receive for you.  

A: Students in the Master's program may get an EagleCard, Ashland's student ID card, in the EagleCard Office located on the Lower Level of the John C. Myers Convocation Center (building 27 on the campus map). Click here to learn more about the EagleCard and its uses.

A: Yes, you are welcome to stay on campus for the Friday and Saturday night between classes. There is no cost for the weekend stay.  You must make your request in advance by contacting us at mahg@ashland.edu. No meal service is available between lunch on Friday and dinner on Sunday evening.  Several fast food and casual dining restaurants are located within walking distance of campus.  

A: Yes. The Ashland University Safety Services office can alert you to severe weather or other campus emergencies while you are on campus. To learn more or sign up for text message or email alerts go to the Ashland University Emergency Contact System website. 

A: Participants are responsible for supplying the following items:

• A relatively recent PC or Mac.
• A broadband internet connection (at least 1.5 Mbps DSL/cable line or better).  Dial-up is NOT sufficient.
• A webcam.  If you do not already have a webcam on your computer, we suggest the Logitech HD Webcam C310 (available for under $40 at amazon.com).  
• A headset with a microphone is required.  This helps minimize the possibility of audio feedback and background noise.  
• A current version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari are recommended. 

Additionally, participants may need administrator privileges on the computer with which they intend to participate.  In certain cases, you may be required to download plug-ins or updates to your software which are required to run WebEx.  If you are using a computer from your employer's IT department, please verify in advance that your computer is capable of running the necessary software.  

A: No.  Degree students are required to complete at least 16 hours of the program in residence during summer sessions.  The program's faculty believe strongly in the importance of face-to-face contact and in the benefit of immersion in our intensive summer courses.  

A: No.  The WebEx Training Center module is not supported on smartphones or tablets at this time.  

A: We understand that some people may live in areas which are not serviced by high-speed providers. Unfortunately, a high-speed connection is essential to handle the demands of videoconferencing. If you have a laptop computer with WiFi, you may consider connecting at a local business (i.e. a coffee shop or restaurant), public library, or other place which offers free WiFi.

A: As in a traditional course at Ashland, discussion between students and professors is the essence of a Live Online class. Participation is expected at all sessions. You are strongly encourage to consider upcoming obligations prior to registering for classes. 

A: Yes.  To access the library's research databases go to the Library homepage.  Search for the journal or database you wish to use, then click the appropriate link to access the resource.  You will be taken to an authentication screen.  Enter your last name and your seven-digit Ashland University student number.  Do not use your Ashland University username or password.   Complete instructions may be found on the library's website.   

A: Your Academic Advisor is the best resource for questions about academic progress and course selection. You were assigned an advisor at the time of admission and the advisor's name and email address were provided with your admission letter. If you have misplaced your admissions materials, you can find out your advisor's name, phone number, and email address via WebAdvisor. Log in to WebAdvisor, go to the "Students Menu" and click "My Profile" in the "Academic Profile" section. There may be more than one advisor listed under "Advisor Name." The FIRST advisor listed is your advisor.

A: To log in to WebAdvisor, go to webadvisor.ashland.edu.  Click "Log In" in the upper right corner.  Enter your Ashland username and password and click "Submit". 

A: General questions not related to your personal academic progress should be addressed to Chris Pascarella or Carrie Clever at the Ashbrook Center.

A: Yes. The Graduate School's Graduate Writing Consultation (GWC) program is available to students enrolled in the MAHG program. The GWC can help reacquaint graduate students with the academic style of writing and provide assistance developing skills in written communication. While the GWC does NOT provide proofreading or editing services, the consultant will provide suggestions for improving structure, grammar, and punctuation. To learn more about the GWC or to schedule an appointment, contact Susan Blake, Graduate Writing Consultant.  Additionally, you may refer to Purdue University's well-regarded Online Writing Lab.

A: There is no single, preferred style used by all instructors. Please consult with the instructors of each course for their preferred citation format.

A: The university and the MAHG program take matters of academic integrity seriously. Students, whether enrolled in the MAHG program or taking individual courses for credit, are expected to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy found in the Ashland University Graduate Catalog. Students accused of academic dishonesty may face failure on the assignment, the course, or dismissal from the program.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to make yourself familiar with the correct procedures of citation and use of sources. The Graduate Writing Center offers many excellent resources on research, writing, citation, and use of sources. You may find additional information on citations and the proper use of sources at Purdue University OWL.

A: The university no longer mails paper grade reports to your home address. Grades are ONLY available via WebAdvisor, the university's student information system. Neither your professors nor the program office can release grades over the phone or via email.

A: Grades will be posted on WebAdvisor shortly after the end of the semester and not necessarily at the end of the course.  For summer courses, grades are generally posted by mid-September; fall courses, by mid-January; spring courses, by mid-May.  

A: Official transcripts may be requested from the Ashland University Registrar's Office. 

A: Requests for letters of reference should be made to your Academic Advisor, not directly to current or former faculty. Please direct all requests your Academic Advisor.

A: Students may track their progress toward their degree on WebAdvisor. After logging in to WebAdvisor, select the Students menu. Under Academic Profile, choose Program Evaluation. Check the box next to the program you are in. Press SUBMIT.

The Academic Evaluation displays your progress toward your degree, including your GPA, courses completed, course grades, and remaining course requirements. It is recommended that students check their progress regularly, particularly when preparing to register for classes.

A: You must complete the University's Application for Graduation. Here are the deadlines for application:

• August graduates (summer completion): May 1
• December graduates (fall completion): September 1
• May graduates (spring completion): February 1

MAHG students should apply for graduation when they begin their thesis or capstone project or when they schedule and prepare for their comprehensive examination. Delaying registration for graduation may result in the assessment of a late fee. Additional information is available from the Registrar's website.