Admission Requirements

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies offers three options to students,  degree, non-degree and an audit option.  Those students who wish to obtain a master's degree should complete the degree program requirements.  Those students who are interested in taking a course for credit but may not want to obtain a degree should complete the non-degree requirements.  Students who are unsure if a master's program is for them are encouraged to start as a non degree student with the ability to change their status to a degree student at a later time.  The final option is to audit.  This option is available to an individual who is interested in a particular class or subject  but does not intend to ever complete a degree.  Non-degree students pay full course tuition, audit students pay 1/2 the course tuition.

Degree program

Admission requirements

1. Official transcripts, demonstrating a minimum grade point average of 3.0, mailed by the college or university directly to the coordinator of the MLS program, evidencing a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.  (If undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, you may be admitted on a probationary basis; contact the program director for details.)
2. Degree application form.
3. A 500 word application essay answering the following questions: What motivated you to apply to the MLS program? What are your future hopes and expectations and how do you see this program helping you to achieve those goals?
4. $50 non-refundable application fee
5. A personal interview to be scheduled upon receipt of a complete application. 

The Admissions Policy Committee will make admission decisions based on the above criteria as well as other guidelines it may establish to judge the candidate's readiness for graduate work.

Graduation requirements (32 credits)

• Core areas (15 credits)
• • Introduction to Liberal Studies
  • Intellectual History
  • Ideas and Issues in the Humanities
  • Ideas and Issues in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Ideas and Issues in the Social Sciences
  
  Thematic Area (one three credit course in four of the five thematic areas)
  • Classical Perspectives
  • American Perspectives
  • Diverse Perspectives
  • International Perspectives
  • Ethics and Liberal Studies
• Capstone (3 credits)
• Master's Thesis Project I (1 credit)
• Master's Thesis Project II (1 credit)
• Maintenance of a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

These requirements are ordinarily to be completed within eight summers of the starting date of entrance into the program.

Non-Degree Option

Requirements

1. Official transcripts, demonstrating a minimum grade point average of 3.0, mailed by the college or university directly to the coordinator of the MLS program, evidencing a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

2. Non-Degree application form.

3. Non-refundable application fee of $50.

4. Registration form.

Audit Option

Requirements

1. Non-degree Audit application form.

2. Registration form.