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.

Programs

Liberal Studies Courses

NameRankDegreeSchoolGraduate FacultyEmeritus 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