Admission to the Master of Liberal Studies is suspended during the redesign of the program.
The College of Letters and Science offers an interdisciplinary graduate program leading to a Master of Liberal Studies. The MLS curriculum consists of small introductory seminars, special topics courses conceived exclusively for the program, electives taken in specific departments, and a final thesis or independent project. All courses are taught by graduate faculty drawn primarily from the College of Letters and Science and augmented by other interested instructors from across the University. Such faculty diversity allows students to expand their cultural and intellectual horizons through a carefully structured course of study that encourages multiple perspectives on important issues and integration of knowledge across disciplines.
The MLS program is housed in the internationally respected Center for Twenty-first Century Studies, which ensures access to leading scholars, outstanding facilities, special lectures and other events. Each fall a limited class of new students is admitted in order to maintain an intimate learning environment, and all courses are offered during evenings. Although the MLS is not a traditional graduate degree that focuses on a single academic field or set of professional skills, its emphasis on critical thinking, imaginative reflection, ethical consideration, and effective communication carries substantial value in both private and public life.
Liberal Studies Courses
LIBRLST 701 Traditions and Transformations I:
3 cr. Graduate.
A fundamental contemporary issue explored through a historical perspective; emphasis on the humanities. Interdisciplinary resources, methods, theories. Required special programs outside regular class hours.
Prerequisites: grad st; admis to MLS Prog.
Course Rules: Not retakable.
Last Taught: Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 702 Traditions And Transformations II:
3 cr. Graduate.
Continuation of LibrlSt 701, exploring a contemporary issue within a more recent modern/postmodern context. Required special programs outside regular class hours emphasize course topics.
Prerequisites: grad st; LibrlSt 701(P)
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 12 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 721 Special Topics in Liberal Studies:
3 cr. Graduate.
Topics in human culture emphasizing the pervasiveness of a particular idea, belief, process, or other cultural construct in many facets of human society.
Prerequisites: grad st; admis to MLS Prog
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2014, Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2009.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 722 Special Topics in Contemporary Cultural Studies:
3 cr. Graduate.
Topics in contemporary culture; emphasis on literature, experimental arts/film, mass culture, performance; new approaches to study of culture, including media theory, multi-culturalism, feminism, post-colonialism.
Prerequisites: grad st; admis to MLS Prog
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Fall 2013.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 797 Special Topics In International Liberal Studies:
3 cr. Graduate.
Examination of a belief, idea, process, or other cultural construct in an international setting.
Prerequisites: grad st; admis to mls prog
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 798 Liberal Studies Master's Project
4 cr. Graduate.
Culmination of student's studies in MLS Program; may take any form appropriate to interdisciplinary focus of student's study prog, e.g. research paper, performance, literary/exhibition project.
Prerequisites: grad st; 20 cr in the MLS Prog.
Last Taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2014.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 799 Independent Work in Liberal Studies
1-3 cr. Graduate.
Independent reading or project; topic selected in consultation with supervising professor.
Prerequisites: grad st; admis to MLS Prog.
Last Taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2014.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 888 Candidate for Degree
0 cr. Graduate.
Available for graduate students who must meet minimum credit load requirement.
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
Course Rules: Fee for 1 cr assessed; unit does not count towards credit load for Fin Aid. Repeatable. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.
Last Taught: Spring 2017, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Summer 2012.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
LIBRLST 901 Seminar on Philosophical Approaches to Science
3 cr. Graduate.
The nature and function of sciences, the logic of the scientific method as it relates to health, and implications of research and practices in health care.
Prerequisites: grad st.
Course Rules: C L Sci 901 & LibrlSt 901 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Fall 2007.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
| Name | Rank | Degree | School | Graduate Faculty | Emeritus Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Clark | Professor | PhD | Florida State University | No | Yes |
| Janis Eells | Professor | PhD | University of Iowa | Yes | No |
| Kristie Hamilton | Associate Professor | PhD | University of Texas at Austin | Yes | No |
| Robin Mello | Associate Professor | PhD | Leslie University | Yes | No |
| Bernard Perley | Associate Professor | PhD | Harvard University | Yes | No |
| Robert Schwartz | Distinguished Professor | PhD | University of Pennsylvania | No | Yes |
| Merry E. Weisner-Hanks | Distinguished Professor | PhD | University of Wisconsin-Madison | No | Yes |