Graduate Programs

LIBERAL STUDIES

Degree Offered:
Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies, M.A.

Coordinator: Judith D. Suther

MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN LIBERAL STUDIES

The Master of Arts degree program in Liberal Studies is designed primarily for adults seeking to enhance their general education in the liberal arts at the graduate level. It provides a flexible, multidisciplinary framework to accommodate the varied undergraduate backgrounds and personal interests that students bring to the program. The curriculum draws upon the full range of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The emphasis is on liberal arts education rather than on specialized study or professional training.

For recent recipients of the baccalaureate degree, the MALS program may provide the insight needed to make an informed career choice, or it may enhance opportunities in a career already launched. For returning students, graduate liberal studies may renew ties with university life or lead to a change of career. For persons with significant work experience, the program offers a chance to integrate the life of the mind with that of the workplace. Just as students come to graduate liberal studies from a variety of fields, so they pursue a variety of careers after earning the MALS. The most widely represented are in business, education, government, law, and social services.

Although the MALS is not exclusively an evening program, the majority of courses are offered at times convenient for working adults. It is possible to earn the degree in a timely fashion through evening courses only.

Additional Requirements for Admission to Liberal Studies. In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for graduate study in Liberal Studies:

  1. A GPA of at least 2.75 on academic work beyond high school and 3.0 for courses prerequisite to the area of proposed graduate study.
  2. Satisfactory scores on the Miller Analogies Test or the Aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination.
  3. A two-page essay describing the applicant's objectives in undertaking graduate work in Liberal Studies.
  4. A resumé of employment history or volunteer experience (for applicants who have been out of school for at least five years or whose baccalaureate degree was delayed).
  5. Acceptance into the program must be approved by the Liberal Studies Faculty Advisory Committee.
Degree Requirements. The master's program in Liberal Studies requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work with grades of A or B, including at least 15 semester hours in courses open only to graduate students. A course in which a student receives a grade of 'C' is not allowable as part of the 30 required hours.

The program begins with two core courses that give students some common grounding in the issues of liberal arts education. Each student then chooses a program emphasis by completing at least four courses that focus on a common theme, a Liberal Studies elective course, and two elective courses that can be taken in any department in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program concludes with a seminar, a master's essay or project, and a comprehensive examination. The requirements in outline: 

                                               Semester Hours 

Core courses: MALS 6101 and 6102                       6
Program emphasis: four related courses                12
  focusing on a theme developed by
  the student and faculty adviser
Liberal studies elective                               3
General electives                                      6
Concluding seminar: MALS 6600                          3
No more than 6 hours of independent study may be applied to the degree. Students requesting independent study must have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours in the program, including MALS 6101 and 6102. A form for such requests is available in the Coordinator's office and must be completed and the study approved in advance of registration.

Comprehensive Examination. Each candidate concludes the program with a comprehensive examination taken during the final semester of course work. It focuses on the work of the concluding seminar and material from other courses in the student's program. The examination allows the student to integrate material from a variety of disciplines and to demonstrate understanding of the scope of Liberal Studies.

Assistantships. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available each year. In order to be fully competitive, applications must be received by March 15. Application forms are available through the Graduate School.

Prizes. A Spring Prize of $250 is awarded annually for an outstanding paper or project completed for a MALS course. Only students admitted to the Liberal Studies program by the submission deadline for the prize are eligible.

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