Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the main FAQ page for additional questions related to admission. If you cannot find the answers to your questions on this web site, please contact the School of Continuing Studies' Admission Office at (312) 503-1083.

Program Information:

What are the advantages of the part-time, MALS program?
The MALS program gives adult students, most of whom are working full-time, an opportunity to learn from dedicated and talented Northwestern University faculty. Because the MALS degree is an interdisciplinary one, students have an extraordinary opportunity to learn from experts in diverse fields such as history, philosophy, religion, sociology, political science, and art history. The program courses are designed to give students a broad and stimulating intellectual experience. Students engage in a variety of serious intellectual pursuits that prepare them for further academic or professional study, enhance their career credentials, and satisfy their desire for in-depth knowledge.

The MALit and MALS course offerings look very similar: What is the difference between these two degrees?
The two programs do allow for cross-enrollment, which we feel enriches everyone's experience, but the main focus of each one is distinct. Students in the MALS program take most of their courses from the MALS course offerings, which have a humanities and social science focus. By contrast, MALit students focus primarily on Literature.

Literature, of course, belongs in any study of the humanities. In some cases, MALS students may take graduate literature courses, especially if those courses relate to their academic interests. For example, a student who plans to do a thesis on American urban history, focusing on Chicago, might take a Chicago literature course as part of his or her course of study. Or an MALS student who is studying Latin American politics may take a graduate course on Latin American literature.

Will my degree be conferred through the School of Continuing Studies? What will my diploma read?
If you began taking courses in the Winter 2009 quarter and later, your degree will be conferred by the School of Continuing Studies, and your diploma will state this fact. If you began taking courses prior to Winter 2009, your degree will be conferred by The Graduate School, and your diploma will state this fact. Please note that this is an administrative technicality only; the academic quality and rigor of the program is the same for all students.

Who teaches the courses?
The courses are primarily taught by full-time Northwestern University faculty. The faculty are drawn from a variety of departments such as anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology. All faculty are dedicated to fostering a fruitful, collaborative exploration of the humanities.

How long does it take to complete the MALS program?
MALS students are allowed a maximum of five years to complete a program, although students generally complete degree requirements in two to three years.

Can I transfer credits from another graduate program?
No course work may be transferred from outside Northwestern University to fulfill MALS program requirements.

Are any online courses available?
Not online courses are offered at this time.

How large are classes?
Class sizes typically range from 10 to 20 students per class, which gives them considerable personal attention from the faculty.

Can I take just one course?
Yes. If you do not want to pursue the entire degree or if you would benefit professionally or academically most from a certain area, you can take courses on an individual basis as a nondegree special Student or pursue a Professional Graduate Series certificate program. If you do not need university credit, the Visiting Scholar option is the most affordable way to take MALS courses.

What could this degree do for my career?
The credential of having taken a master's degree or other graduate-level work at Northwestern University looks impressive on any résumé. In particular, the MALS program hones your critical thinking and communication skills, improves your research and writing abilities, and expands your problem-solving capabilities by exposing you to multiple ways of seeing the world. These qualities are highly -prized by employers. Alumni report that the degree made a positive difference in their career advancement and salary.

MALS students come from a variety of professional disciplines. Our students are doctors, lawyers, writers, accountants, teachers, librarians, entrepreneurs, museum professionals, and homemakers, all of whom are united by their interests in continuing the life of the mind. Some students switch careers as a result of their experience in the program. Others come here because they are interested in intellectual pursuits for their own reward. A number of MALS students over the years have gone on for further study at both the master's and PhD levels.