aip.projectdragonfly.orgAdvanced Inquiry Program | Master's Degree & Graduate Courses | Miami University

Advanced Inquiry Program | Master’s Degree & Graduate Courses | Miami University Universal Utility LinksTop Destinations myMiami News and Events Pay My Bill One Stop Libraries Connect Sitewide links Project Dragonfly Apply to Dragonfly Advanced Inquiry Program Global Field Program Earth Expeditions Professional Development Courses In Support of DEI News and Media Meet the Team About Dragonfly Advanced Inquiry Program Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is a ground-breaking online master’s degree that combines web-based Miami graduate courses with face-to-face experiential learning and field study at premier zoological, botanical, and wildlife conservation institutions nationwide. Request Information Loading... AIP at a Glance 8 World-class Zoos and Botanical Gardens Across the Nation 2.5 Years to Complete Your M.A. or M.A.T. While Working 92% of Alumni Feel the Program Met or Exceeded Expectations 58% of Graduates Report Having Received a Pay Increase or Promotion Due to the Program Program Overview The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is a part-time, online master’s degree offered by Miami University. AIP master’s students earn 35 credit hours online and 21 of those hours have an additional component of experiential face-to-face learning at an affiliated AIP site in one of eight cities nationwide. Students taking AIP courses part-time typically complete the degree in 2.5 years. AIP master’s candidates also have the unique option to integrate once-in-a-lifetime international field study into their coursework by choosing from Earth Expeditions courses in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Applicants elect to enroll in either a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree in the Biological Sciences (for teachers with an existing license; does NOT lead to licensure) or a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Biology. Discovering Advanced Inquiry Program Sites: Exploring Boundless Learning Opportunities Skip carousel content WCS/Bronx Zoo Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Missouri Botanical Garden Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Brookfield Zoo Chicago Cleveland Metroparks Zoo San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Detroit Zoological Society What kind of support and experience can this program provide? Read more Applications and Eligibility Applications are accepted from early September through January 28th (for the GFP) or February 28th (for the AIP) of each year for enrollment beginning late spring. No GRE is required. Apply Now Project Dragonfly master’s programs are open to a broad range of individuals: Recent college graduates; Graduates who haven’t been to school in years; Professionals working in non-profit education, business, and government settings; Anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree, regardless of major, and has an interest in improving human and ecological communities Enrollment Information The AIP and GFP master’s can be completed part-time while working. Miami offers significantly reduced tuition for this program. Participants need to fulfill the minimum Graduate School GPA requirements for admission to the program. For more information, please visit the Graduate School’s Admissions Information . Biology Course Requirement All Dragonfly graduate students are required to have completed (receiving a final grade of B- or better) one university-level general biology course or its equivalent before completion of their degree. Students admitted to the program who have not previously met this requirement through their undergraduate studies need to complete such a course before they graduate. More information may be found in the Biology Requirement FAQs and on the Biology through Inquiry webpage . Transfer Credits Only the following credits are transferable into the AIP or GFP: Up to 7 credits from a past Earth Expeditions field course (with an earned grade of B or higher) may be applied. Up to 7 credits from past AIP W+ courses taken through Miami University may be applied. Note: No other credits can be transferred into the AIP or GFP. No exceptions can be made to the transfer credit policy. Which Master’s Degree Is for Me? Not sure? That’s okay — you can change your target degree and major once admitted to the program. The Master of Arts in Biology (M.A.) This degree option is for any applicant with a bachelor’s degree interested in advancing their career through global leadership, community engagement, life sciences, and environmental stewardship. The Master of Arts in Teaching in the Biological Sciences (M.A.T.) Designed for certified teachers, this degree provides real-world experiences that advance district, state, and national educational standards through research-based practices for student achievement in core content areas. This degree is not intended to lead to educator certification. Courses and Costs Our AIP Sites FAQs Hear About the Program from Our Students Is This for Me? Here are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. How have students funded their participation? What kinds of funding sources are available? Believe it or not, I have been ‘pay-as-I-go.’ ” – Jennifer H., GFP student from Longwood, Fla. Check to see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. I was lucky in that my employer offered $3,500 per year for graduate school. That was more than enough to cover each year of the AIP program.” – Amy T., AIP graduate from Goshen, Ohio I was able to pay as I went. I charged the tuition, which I found reasonable, and then worked hard to pay it off before the next semester. The cost is drastically reduced. I did not have a single loan. Also, I was able to write it off on my taxes.” – Perky S., GFP graduate from Dover, Idaho With reduced fees as part of Miami University’s support for this program, each master’s course is offered at a fraction of actual costs. But we know students sometimes need additional help! Check out our Helping Fund Your Degree .” – Project Dragonfly I have so many job and family responsibilities. How will I find time to add graduate studies? I started the AIP master’s eight months pregnant and also had a 3- and a 2-year-old and was a full-time teacher. When you find something you love and are passionate about, you make it work. I graduated this past December and loved everything the AIP master’s taught me. … It is a worthwhile program and gears toward your individual passions!” – Adrienne C., AIP graduate from Cleveland, Ohio (replying to Adrienne C.) I just graduated from the GFP master’s and think you hit on the most important aspect of the work load. If you’re enrolling in a program like this, the chances are you’re incredibly passionate about what you’re studying. While the workload can become heavy at times on top of other responsibilities, that passion definitely keeps driving you. That and the support of a great community filled with other people who share your passion.” – Mike R., GFP graduate from Fair Lawn, N.J. I found that the course work provided an escape from the day-to-day demands of my job as a teacher. I looked forward to losing myself in my courses. They were almost like therapy. I looked at the summer Earth Expeditions courses as not only academic growth but personal growth, as well. I learned so much about myself and gained confidence that I never would have found had it not been for this program. It is amazing how much the program becomes a part of your life. … I could not picture my life without Project Dragonfly.” – Leah C., GFP graduate from Batesville, Ind. (replying to Leah C.) Great post, Leah – I, too, found it an escape into another professional life to talk science with peers not high school students. Nice to hear the perspectives of other formal and informal educators – I think we respect each other’s jobs more as well.” – Kimberly L., GFP graduate from Jackson, Ohio There are many grad programs out there (physical and online) but how many can CHANGE your life? This one will. There is not a week (or sometimes day) that goes by where I don’t reference (verbally or...