Program Overview
Curriculum
The MALS program requires the completion of nine courses and allows each student to design his or her own curriculum. Students have great flexibility in their course selection. The program is framed at the beginning by two required MALS seminars and at the end by the capstone project. Students design a program that focuses on their individual interests or that completes one of the optional concentrations in liberal studies.
Optional Specializations
Students who wish to lend more structure to their MALS experience may complete a specialization in
- American Studies
- History
- Religious and Ethical Studies
- Individualized plan of study created from available courses
A specialization may be especially beneficial to educators, students who are thinking of going on to a PhD program, or anyone who wants to combine interdisciplinary methods with specific subjects.
Students complete four thematically linked courses in
order to create a specialization. Please see course
descriptions
for more information.
MALS Seminars (minimum
2 courses)
These seminars introduce the methods and tools of scholarly
inquiry - especially the modern research library - through
a particular topic explored under the guidance of the seminar
leader. MALS students often begin the program in the fall
quarter with IPLS 401 and then enroll in either 402 in the
winter or 403 in the spring. However, students may take any
combination of these seminars. Topics change yearly. Examples
of recent seminar topics include
Electives
- 400-Level Elective Courses
Electives offer students the opportunity to apply interdisciplinary
methods to particular fields and contexts — for example,
philosophy, history, art history, or literature.
- 300-Level Courses (up to
3 courses)
Students are allowed to enroll in up to three 300-level courses approved
by The
Graduate School.
They often take such courses during Summer Session.
Capstone Project (1
course)
Students sign up for the final course in the program during
the term in which they start their master's essay. The capstone
project for the MALS program is a thesis (45-75 double-spaced
pages) written under the supervision of a graduate faculty
member. The capstone project presents an opportunity to research
and explore a topic thoroughly. Students often elect to expand
a seminar paper from a previous course. With the approval
of the program director, students can create an interdisciplinary
project rather than writing a traditional thesis.
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