Master of Liberal Arts
The Master of Liberal Arts program (MLA) provides the opportunity, at an advanced level of intellectual inquiry, to explore interdisciplinary perspectives that are the hallmark of a rigorous liberal arts education. MLA students pursue course work and independent research with Washington University scholars of history, anthropology, literature, art, music, philosophy, politics, religion, and science.
Core MLA seminars examine a broad range of intellectual history that extends from specific traditions of thought to questions of cultural difference; from specific rituals to acts of creation and innovation; and from moments of discovery to diverse responses to change, including transforming experiences such as euphoria, nostalgia, illness, and rebellion. Through a focus on interpretative skills in oral and written expression, these seminars help students sharpen their own thinking about contemporary issues in relation to ideas about justice, values, and critical inquiry that have influenced the course of history.
Master of Liberal Arts Program
Washington University, Campus Box 1064
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Telephone: (314) 935-6700; fax: (314) 935-4847
The Students
"Shortly after moving to St. Louis, I was introduced to the M.L.A. program. It became the welcome wagon that helped me adjust to my new home city . . . and the ability to delve into a variety of disciplines has helped satisfy my need to explore interests not formally studied."
-Marlene Altman, self-employed, statistical research and polling
"I derive a sense of accomplishment from spending time in the company of great books, sharp classmates, and skilled teachers who clearly enjoy working with adults."
-Robert Senior, physician, Washington University School of Medicine
"There I was -- three kids, house, dog, station wagon -- and I thought, there must be more! There was more . . . a lot more. There were new ideas and new ways of looking back at old ideas, a celebration of thinking and questioning . . . and a feeling of community with students and faculty, and . . . a wonderful sense of me."
-Carol Cradock, homemaker
Students in the Master of Liberal Arts program combine graduate study with busy professional and personal lives.
They come from all corners of the St. Louis area; they are diverse in age, background, and livelihood; but they share a joy of learning and a realization that their lives and careers can be enriched by the liberal arts.
Curriculum
"The M.L.A. program encourages one to explore subjects that would be off the beaten track from a more focused M.A. That is the beauty of the program--one can experiment and explore."
-Evy Warshawski, Managing Director, Edison Theatre, Washington University
The Master of Liberal Arts program consists of seminars that introduce students to the methods and questions of different disciplines.
Planned and taught by full-time Washington University faculty, the core interdisciplinary seminars are organized into four general categories and cover a wide variety of topics and issues. Actual topics vary each semester.
Most core seminars are held one evening a week during the fall and spring semesters and twice a week during the summer term.
Some students take all 30 hours of the degree in the seminars that are designed specifically for the M.L.A. program; others augment a particular interest by taking related courses drawn from different departments.
Once-a-week seminars fall into four general categories:
IDEAS AND INQUIRY
How do we know what we know? What ideas have shaped human consciousness? How do ideas and myths define our theories, models, and metaphors? The Legacy of Greece - Critical Passages - The American Dream: Myth and Reality - Religion, Society, and Culture - Metamorphoses: Ancient Myth and Modern Drama - Questions of the Soul in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
THE CREATIVE IMAGINATION
What are the nature and sources of creativity, especially in the arts and literature? What does creativity mean to the artist, scientist, writer, or composer? What qualities of mind, personality, and environment affect creation and innovation? On the Nature of Story - Theater and the Politics of War - Film and Psychoanalysis - Optimal Plans - Seeing Double - Eros Unveiled: Sexuality in Western Culture - Literature of Catastrophe - Visions and Revisions: 19th-Century Arts and Society
SCIENCE AND HUMAN VALUES
How has the growth and application of human knowledge affected human society? What is the non-scientist to believe as new discoveries are announced daily? What new ethical choices are posed by developments in science and technology? On Account of Illness: Stories on Affliction and Recovery - You Are What You Eat: Animal Rights and Hunting - How the Earth Works
HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING
What have been the enduring values of the Western and non-Western cultures? How can we cultivate in ourselves empathy and understanding for people in other times and places? The Spanish Civil War - Islamic Movements of Reform, Revival, and Revolution - Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Scriptures: The Formation of Community - Crow on the Withered Branch: The World(s) of Japanese Poetry - Focus on Cuba
Admission
Admission to the Master of Liberal Arts degree program is open on a
selective basis to qualified persons with a baccalaureate degree. To
apply to the program, please submit:
- a completed Application for Graduate Admission form, including an essay of 300-350 words describing your interest in and qualifications for the program;
- a non-refundable $35 application fee;
- and official transcripts of all previous college work.
- Admission Time Line: University College and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences review completed applications and make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. The process typically takes four to six weeks, and so we urge applicants to submit their materials by the following schedule in order to ensure a timely decision: mid-November for spring; mid-April for summer; mid-July for fall. If you plan to apply for federal financial aid, please note that this process can take six to eight weeks. It is suggested that applicants begin by completing their FAFSA at the time of application. For additional information about Financial Aid and step-by-step Financial Aid application instructions, click here.
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Liberal Arts degree, students must satisfactorily complete nine courses (five of which must be drawn from the core seminars) and a final independent project for a total of 30 units of graduate study. A maximum of 6 credits of related and comparable graduate-level course
work may be transferred from another university or from a related
graduate program at Washington University with the approval of the
program director. These must be graduate-level units not used to
fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Transfer credit may be
granted only for authorized courses for which the student received a
grade of B or higher.
A Final Project, developed under the supervision of a Washington University faculty member, is required for the Master of Liberal Arts degree.* This project presents an opportunity to explore independently and extensively an area of personal interest and must be completed at the conclusion of a student's course work. The project also provides an opportunity for students to work closely with a member of the MLA faculty. The topic may be a subject first identified during a course or one that has emerged over time in the program.
*MLA Final Project
The MLA final project often arises from MLA course work and takes into consideration MLA and other Washington University faculty resources. Normally completed during the final semester of the program (and in some cases the final year), the project entails substantial research and analysis on a topic determined by the student in consultation with the program coordinator. The project is completed under the primary supervision of a faculty advisor, along with a faculty committee, and it is evaluated by this committee in the form of an oral examination at the conclusion of the student’s program.
There are two options for the final written project: 1) Directed Research Project (DRP), the minimum requirement for all students; and 2) Master’s Thesis, available to exceptionally strong students authorized by the program coordinator.
Directed Research Project
MLA students are expected to complete a three-unit Directed Research Project (DRP) at the end of the program. The DRP is a study of approximately 40 pages that may build on (but may not replicate) material from one or more MLA classes the student has taken. This project presents an opportunity to explore independently and extensively an area of personal interest. The project also provides an opportunity for students to work closely with a member of the MLA faculty.
Master’s Thesis
Exceptional students with strong research interests may be authorized to complete the MLA with Thesis in place of the DRP. The MLA with Thesis option is a six-credit, two-semester study that includes extensive references to extant published material on the topic. Students must have an A- average (3.7 GPA) for all of their MLA courses in the program to qualify for the degree with thesis. Generally, the faculty director for such a thesis would expect it to conform to requirements for the M.A. degree in his/her home department. Students who are approved for this thesis must meet Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's Thesis guidelines.
Advisor and Committee
Prior to the semester in which the student begins the DRP or Master's thesis, the student must confer with the MLA Program Coordinator to establish the topic and scope of the project and also to establish the student's faculty committee. The final project is completed under the primary supervision of a faculty advisor ("director"), who, along with one additional faculty member for a DRP, or with two additional faculty members ("readers") for a thesis, constitute the student's DRP or Master's thesis committee. Faculty directors and committee members for the DRP should be MLA teaching faculty with training in an area relevant to the student's research topic. Master’s thesis directors and committee members should be tenured or tenure-track faculty at Washington University.
The student works with his/her director, meeting regularly (at least once per month) throughout the semester(s) dedicated to the DRP or Master's thesis. The student is expected to submit individual sections or chapters one at a time to his/her director, according to a schedule that they arrange at the start of the project, in order to receive comments and suggestions for revisions. Once the director has approved a fully-revised and final version of the student's DRP or Master's thesis, the student will submit it to the other two faculty readers.
The full faculty committee will evaluate the student's work during an oral examination. Authorization to proceed to the oral exam occurs only once the student's director approves a full and final version of the DRP or Master's thesis, and no later than two weeks prior to the oral exam, in order to ensure that the other two members of the committee have time to read the DRP or Master's thesis. Although the scheduling of a thesis date and time does not guarantee that the oral exam will take place, students should schedule an oral defense date very early in the semester in order to have a slot reserved by all members of his/her committee.
Oral Examination
The Director will work with the student and the other two committee members to select a date for the oral exam. The student should notify University College well in advance of the oral exam date to arrange for the necessary paperwork and assign a room for the exam.
Final Essay
Along with the final Directed Research Project or Master’s Thesis, the student will submit to all members of the committee a 5-page personal statement about his/her experiences in the MLA program.
Procedures and Timeline
It is important to adhere closely to requirements and deadlines associated with the final project in order to ensure timely completion of the project and fulfillment of program requirements. Please read carefully “Directed Research Project and Master’s Thesis Guidelines and Timelines” (below) for detailed information about procedures, requirements, forms, and deadlines. All candidates for the MLA are required to complete the Final Project Proposal Form for M.A. Programs. All students authorized to pursue the Master’s Thesis also must complete the Title, Scope, and Procedure Form. See “Directed Research Project and Master’s Thesis Guidelines and Timelines” (below) for detailed information about procedures and deadlines.
Directed Research Project and Master's Thesis Guidelines and Timelines
Planning
You should begin planning for your Directed Research Project the semester prior to your final semester of study. If you have authorization to pursue a Thesis, begin planning two semesters prior to your final semester of study. The Title, Scope and Procedure of Dissertation (Thesis) Form must be completed and returned to University College at least six months before the month in which the degree is expected to be conferred. University College will forward approved Title, Scope & Procedure forms to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
Proposal
The proposal introduces the topic and provides an explanation of the merits of the research that the student proposes to undertake. The proposal must be accompanied by a formal bibliography of both primary and secondary sources. In preparing the DRP or Master’s Thesis proposal, students will find it useful to address the following questions: What is your primary area of research? What knowledge do you expect to gain from this research? Do you have a working thesis? How has your topic developed from your studies in the MLA program? What primary works (works of literature, film, etc.) will form the basis of your study? What motivates your selection of these specific works? What published books and articles address issues you propose to study? What are the major chapter divisions of your project? The proposal should be written in essay form with an attached bibliography and be two pages in length.
Registration
The Final Project Proposal Form must be completed with all required signatures for registration. In addition to the form, a copy of the proposal is required for registration. Registration follows the normal academic schedule. Refer to the current course schedule for registration deadlines. Submit your Final Project Proposal Form to the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, University College, January Hall, Room 100; this will serve as your registration form.
Schedule Your Oral Defense
The Oral Defense should be scheduled as soon as possible after you have registered. The Oral Defense should take place no later than two weeks prior to the end of the semester you plan to graduate. Consult with your committee to find a time that is agreeable. Your Oral Defense will probably last only 1 hour, but schedule 1.5 hours for the defense to provide a small cushion of extra time if needed. To schedule and reserve space, contact the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, 314-935-6759. Please consult the University College online calendar for specific deadlines for the oral defense. Usually the defense must be completed by the beginning of September for summer graduates, the beginning of January for fall graduates, and late April or early May for spring graduates. Please note that these dates conform to deadlines for all graduate programs and are not flexible.
Submission of the Final Project (Directed Research Project or Master’s Thesis): Submit a copy of your final project to each member of your committee two weeks in advance of your oral defense to allow time for review. Upon successful defense of the project, the final version must be submitted to University College along with a copy of the final paper. In addition, thesis candidates must submit an electronic copy and one hard copy of the Master’s Thesis to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences according to the deadlines listed in the online calendar. Please refer to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Master’s Thesis guidelines for formatting and presentation requirements.
Important Contact Information
Harriet Stone, MLA Program Coordinator
hastone@artsci.wustl.edu (314) 935-5142.
Elizabeth Fogt, Director of Advising and Student Services, University College
efogt@wustl.edu (314) 935-6778.
Cassandra Schroeder, Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, University College
cschroed@artsci.wustl.edu (314) 935-6759.
Faculty
Every participating faculty member in the Master of Liberal Arts program is an accomplished scholar and teacher. All enjoy inquiry and discussion with small groups of motivated adult learners. A few are mentioned below.- MIRIAM BAILIN - 18th- and 19th-century English literature
- J. CLAUDE EVANS - philosophy
- ROBERT HEGEL - Chinese literature and culture
- AHMET KARAMUSTAFA
- STEPHANIE KIRK
- LUTZ KOEPNICK
- MARVIN MARCUS - Japanese literature and culture
- STAMOS METZIDAKIS - modern literature; French culture
- GEORGE PEPE - Greek & Roman history & thought; political ideology & concepts of liberty
- JAMES POAG
- HENRY SCHVEY - contemporary American and British drama
- ELZBIETA SKLODOWSKA
- HARRIET STONE - French culture; comparative literature; art and sicnece
