Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (M.A.)

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is a 30 credit-hour graduate program designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue advanced interdisciplinary study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. Students will learn to conduct advanced research across disciplinary boundaries, synthesize information, and present that information in a range of formats, both oral and written, suitable for a variety of audiences. Students may focus on one of three areas of concentration (American Studies, International Studies, and Leadership and Public Service), or they may elect to design their own focus of study.

Objectives of the program

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of issues and approaches in interdisciplinary studies.
2. Students will demonstrate skills in conducting research in multiple disciplines.
3. Students will be able to convey information clearly and effectively in writing, conforming to the structure and format prescribed by discipline, occasion, and audience.
4. Students will be able to convey information clearly and persuasively, demonstrating mastery of oral communication skills and effective use of multi-modal media.
5. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the MALS program will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of issues and approaches in interdisciplinary studies.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of resources used in multiple disciplines.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of research methodologies employed in multiple disciplines.
4. Evaluate resources.
5. Synthesize information.
6. Analyze structural and rhetorical features of a variety of texts.
7. Present information in a variety of formats.
8. Adhere to appropriate documentation of resources.
9. Convey information clearly and effectively through oral presentation.
10. Demonstrate skills in collaboration.
11. Demonstrate use of multi-modal media in presentations.
12. Demonstrate skills of critical thinking (examining topic/issue from multiple perspective.
13. Demonstrate skills of critical thinking in critiquing methodologies and arguments.
14. Demonstrate skills of critical thinking in conducting and presenting research.

Graduate Applications

Applications for graduate study should be directed to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the Graduate Program, the applicant must meet or exceed the following criteria:

1. A completed application for graduate study and payment of application fee.
2. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions attended in this country or its equivalent at a foreign institution based on a four-year degree reflecting a baccalaureate degree and an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 (overall).
3. If GPA does not meet the 3.0 minimum requirement, applicant must submit the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum score of 300, with at least 150 in the verbal reasoning potion of the test or the Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) with a passing score of at least 388.  Test scores older than five (5) years at the time of application will not be accepted.
4. If a non-native speaker of English, provide official results from tests taken within the last three (3) years or one of the following acceptable means of documenting English language proficiency consistent with success in graduate programs (Note that higher scores may be required of some graduate programs so applicants are urged to consult their desired program to identify whether a higher score is required:
   1. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based (PBT) or 79 on the internet (iBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL);
   2. A minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam;
   3. Certificate of Completion of level 112 of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) from an ELS Language Center;
   4. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic with a score of 59;
   5. Cambridge CAE (Certificate of Advanced English ) with a minimum level of C1;
   6. Cambridge CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) with a minimum level of C1;
   7. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) with a score of 77:
   8. TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) with a score of 745:
   9. Bachelor’s degree earned from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education within the last three years.
5. Two letters of recommendation from people who have known applicant in either a professional or academic context.
6. Applicants must submit a two-part writing sample in which the candidate will demonstrate the ability to take on graduate work by showcasing a variety of writing skills:
   1. A description, in the form of a personal narrative, of the applicant’s intellectual and professional development and the role the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies will play in his/her continued growth as a student, citizen, and/or employee.
   2. A research paper or project, in which the applicant shows the ability to form and support a thesis in the field of humanities by locating, summarizing, synthesizing, and documenting information from scholarly resources.

These writing samples should total together no less than 10 pages, double-spaced, not counting bibliography. The research component may be something the applicant has written for a previous class, but should be submitted without instructor’s markings.