Master of Liberal Arts

Program Description

The Master of Liberal Arts program is designed for post-baccalaureate students who seek an interdisciplinary educational experience that emphasizes historical and cultural breadth rather than specialization. The program establishes an environment which encourages the integration of learning and life experiences and provides college graduates an opportunity to develop further the competencies essential for participation in a world of unprecedented change. The program, which is seminar-based, is open to people holding degrees in all undergraduate majors.

Students may design programs that are non-professional in intent, that lead to doctoral programs in the liberal arts, or that enhance professional opportunities and advancements. For example, it is suitable for certified, practicing teachers who wish to gain depth and breadth of understanding in the liberal disciplines. Students develop the plan of study in consultation with the program advisor.

Program Objectives:

  1. The program strives to provide a program a that inspires and challenges students to pursue independent intellectual inquiry, critical thought, and clear written and oral expression.
     
  2. The program also encourages students to adopt a life of intellectual and creative growth, self-awareness and social consciousness.
     
  3. The Program strives to offer a stimulating program of interdisciplinary courses through which students are given the means for developing not only analytic skills, but also a sensitivity to values, a discerning capacity in judgment and compassion required of citizens living in a difficult and uncertain world
     
  4. The Program is comprehensive. It focuses on liberal arts with an emphasis on academic instruction, continuing education the offers students a variety of approaches to ideas. By providing venues in which MLA students can both exercise intellectual creativity and appreciate the creative work of others, the program strives to make students more aware of how Liberal Arts can improve their lives.

An MLA Degree Program with a Hispanic Studies emphasis is an option available for persons with a knowledge of Spanish who wish to pursue graduate study with this sort of focus. The program takes advantage of MSUM's excellent Spanish faculty and the framework of the MLA Program.