Eden Hall Campus

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is a broad, interdisciplinary program of study (30 credits) designed for students seeking intellectual breadth and openness in a manageable curricular format. The MALS program is designed to provide a foundation of courses for inquiry into significant contemporary cultural topics through an interdisciplinary critical approach. Students will take a required Introductory Seminar, will progress through 4 core topic Seminars of Ideas, choose 4 elective themed Seminars of Inquiry courses, and culminate their studies in a self-directed Capstone Course, in which they will produce a Capstone Project.

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program provides the unique opportunity to read, study, and discuss issues of interest and importance to you and your local community. Students will gain both a breadth of knowledge informed by many disciplines, and depth of knowledge in the exploration of specific courses and ideas. The MALS program is particularly well-suited to students with bachelor’s degrees in professional fields who are seeking a master’s degree as a way to broaden their knowledge base in arts, science, and the humanities.

• Complete your degree in two years or less by taking classes during 7-week terms
• Attend classes in the evenings

• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Complete an application
• Submit one official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) Program of Study
MLS 601	Introduction to Liberal Studies- To view a draft of the course syllabus, click here. This foundational course is designed as an introduction to liberal studies, focused on the theme of Creativity and Imagination, and is organized on the presentation and seminar model. Students will be expected to read, summarize, critique, and analyze works from a wide variety of disciplines including the Arts, the Humanities, the Social Sciences and the Sciences; discussion will be based largely upon student presentations. Frequent written and oral presentations will help students explore confidently current issues of importance in such interdisciplinary areas of interest as Identity and the Self, Community and Behaviors, Nature and Environmentalism, and Science and Technology. Each student will write a substantial independent seminar paper to be presented in the final class meeting.
MLS 610	Core Seminar of Ideas: the Arts
MLS 620	Core Seminar of Ideas: the Humanities
MLS 630	Core Seminar of Ideas: the Social Sciences
MLS 640	Core Seminar of Ideas: the Sciences
MLS 650	Seminars of Inquiry
MLS 660	Seminars of Inquiry
MLS 670	Seminars of Inquiry
MLS 680	Seminars of Inquiry
MLS 699	Liberal Studies Capstone Practicum- This course must be taken as each student’s last course in the MALS degree program. This capstone course is a self-directed, guided independent practicum in which the student will produce a written project that serves to weave together her interests in different disciplinary areas of study. At the same time, the student will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop-style program with several other MALS students in which they will review, analyze, and critique each other’s projects throughout the term. The workshop will encourage graduating students to be exposed to different emphases within the MALS program, and to recognize different practices and strategies for success.