Master of Arts in Liberal Arts
The 30-credit Master of Liberal Arts (M.L.A.) degree program at Washington University gives motivated, college-educated adults the chance to further their intellectual growth in a community of adult learners.
M.L.A. students study with Washington University scholars of history, anthropology, literature, art, music, philosophy, politics, religion, and science. The liberal-arts curriculum aims to foster skills that go beyond professional training:
Washington University, Campus Box 1064
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
phone: (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 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.Â
Once-a-week seminars fall into four general categories:Â
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 Origins of Political Virtue - Discovering the Heartland - The Legacy of Greece - The American Dream: Myth and Reality - Religion, Society, and Culture
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 - The West and the American Imagination - Theater and the Politics of War - The Age of Victoria - Film and Psychoanalysis
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? Science, Creation Science, and Pseudoscience - Relativity and Quantum Ideas - Heredity and Modern Social Issues - Birds, Biology, and Human Values - Evolutionary Controversies: Past and PresentÂ
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? Vienna 1900 - The Court of Louis XIV -Vietnam and America - The Spanish Civil War - Islamic Movements of Reform, Revival, and Revolution
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Liberal Arts degree, students must satisfactorily complete nine courses (four of which must be drawn from the core seminars) and a final independent project for a total of 30 units of graduate study. Up to six units of related graduate credit may be transferred from another university with the approval of the program director.
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.
Final Project/Master of Liberal Arts Directed Research Project
MLA students are expected to complete a 3-unit Directed Research Project (DRP) at the end of the program. The DRP is a study of approximately 30 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.
Creative Project Option
Occasionally, creative writing or other creative projects may be considered to meet the requirement for the DRP. The approval of boththe Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and Prof. Harriet Stone is required for the "nontraditional" option. Students approved for the "creative" DRP must submit a 10-page critical analysis along with the project itself.
Two-Semester Options
1. DRP.* Some students may wish to complete a project of sufficient breadth to warrant a more extensive study. With the approval of the Dean and the MLA Coordinator, students may complete a 6-unit (2-semester) Directed Research Project of approximately 60 pages. In the case of creative work, to obtain approval the student needs to present compelling reasons for extending the project over two semesters.
*To receive credit for the first semester of work on a two-semester project (DRP and MLA with thesis), the student must obtain the Director's approval on a substantial piece of the project (normally a reworking of an earlier draft) in time for the Director to submit final grade for this work by the end of the semester. Generally, the work submitted for the first semester should represent no less than one-third of the entire DRP (exclusive of the introduction and the conclusion).
2. MLA with Thesis. Exceptionally, students with strong research interests may wish to complete the "MLA with thesis" in place of the DRP. The "MLA with thesis" option is a 6-credit (2-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 register with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and meet the GSAS thesis-related regulations.
Procedures
**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 (314) 935-6759 well in advance of the oral exam date to arrange for the necessary paperwork and assign a room for the exam. The oral exam must be scheduled in time for University College to include the student in its list of graduates. The specific date varies slightly from term to term.
Application Procedures
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:
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.
M.L.A. students study with Washington University scholars of history, anthropology, literature, art, music, philosophy, politics, religion, and science. The liberal-arts curriculum aims to foster skills that go beyond professional training:
- the techniques of critical inquiry
- the willingness to examine complex issues
- the knowledge to choose wisely
- the ability to communicate effectively.
Washington University, Campus Box 1064
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
phone: (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 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.Â
Once-a-week seminars fall into four general categories:Â
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 Origins of Political Virtue - Discovering the Heartland - The Legacy of Greece - The American Dream: Myth and Reality - Religion, Society, and Culture
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 - The West and the American Imagination - Theater and the Politics of War - The Age of Victoria - Film and Psychoanalysis
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? Science, Creation Science, and Pseudoscience - Relativity and Quantum Ideas - Heredity and Modern Social Issues - Birds, Biology, and Human Values - Evolutionary Controversies: Past and PresentÂ
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? Vienna 1900 - The Court of Louis XIV -Vietnam and America - The Spanish Civil War - Islamic Movements of Reform, Revival, and Revolution
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Liberal Arts degree, students must satisfactorily complete nine courses (four of which must be drawn from the core seminars) and a final independent project for a total of 30 units of graduate study. Up to six units of related graduate credit may be transferred from another university with the approval of the program director.
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.
Final Project/Master of Liberal Arts Directed Research Project
MLA students are expected to complete a 3-unit Directed Research Project (DRP) at the end of the program. The DRP is a study of approximately 30 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.
Creative Project Option
Occasionally, creative writing or other creative projects may be considered to meet the requirement for the DRP. The approval of boththe Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and Prof. Harriet Stone is required for the "nontraditional" option. Students approved for the "creative" DRP must submit a 10-page critical analysis along with the project itself.
Two-Semester Options
1. DRP.* Some students may wish to complete a project of sufficient breadth to warrant a more extensive study. With the approval of the Dean and the MLA Coordinator, students may complete a 6-unit (2-semester) Directed Research Project of approximately 60 pages. In the case of creative work, to obtain approval the student needs to present compelling reasons for extending the project over two semesters.
*To receive credit for the first semester of work on a two-semester project (DRP and MLA with thesis), the student must obtain the Director's approval on a substantial piece of the project (normally a reworking of an earlier draft) in time for the Director to submit final grade for this work by the end of the semester. Generally, the work submitted for the first semester should represent no less than one-third of the entire DRP (exclusive of the introduction and the conclusion).
2. MLA with Thesis. Exceptionally, students with strong research interests may wish to complete the "MLA with thesis" in place of the DRP. The "MLA with thesis" option is a 6-credit (2-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 register with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and meet the GSAS thesis-related regulations.
Procedures
- Once the student has decided on a topic for the project, s/he should consult MLA Coordinator, Prof. Harriet Stone. Prof. Stone will assist the student in selecting a Faculty Director for the DRP and two additional faculty readers. It is the student's responsibility to contact all three faculty members and to receive their assent to serve on the DRP committee, and their signatures on the Final/Directed Research Project Proposal form signed by the Faculty Director and Prof. Stone, and a detailed description of the project. Send these to the University College office, January Hall Room 100, before the beginning of the semester.
- The student is expected to confer with his/her Director at the outset of the project and throughout the semester after the Director, typically after he or she has read a section of the project (for example, after each chapter). In some cases, more meetings are advisable.
- Once the Director has approved a full version of the DRP, the student should submit it to his/her two other committee members, allowing them two weeks to read it in advance of the oral defense (see details below**). Along with the final DRP, the student will submit to all members of the committee a 5-page personal statement about his/her experiences in the MLA.
**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 (314) 935-6759 well in advance of the oral exam date to arrange for the necessary paperwork and assign a room for the exam. The oral exam must be scheduled in time for University College to include the student in its list of graduates. The specific date varies slightly from term to term.
Application Procedures
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 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.
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.
- GARLAND ALLEN - biology, evolution, and history of science
- MIRIAM BAILIN - 18th- and 19th-century English literature
- HENRY BERGER - U.S. diplomatic history and foreign relations
- JOHN BOWEN - sociocultural anthropology; language and religion in Southeast Asia
- RICHARD COLES - biology, ecology, and ornithology
- JAMES W. DAVIS - American presidency; national defense strategy and military history
- J. CLAUDE EVANS - philosophy
- WAYNE FIELDS - 19th- and 20th-century American literature and rhetoric
- MICHAEL W. FRIEDLANDER - astrophysics; history of science
- BEATA GRANT - Asian religions; Chinese culture and religion
- ROBERT HEGEL - Chinese literature and culture
- GERALD IZENBERG - modern European intellectual history; development of Freud's thought
- DAVID KONIG - colonial American history; origins of American legal culture
- VICTOR LEVINE - international politics
- MARVIN MARCUS - Japanese literature and culture
- STAMOS METZIDAKIS - modern literature; French culture
- GEORGE PEPE - Greek & Roman history & thought; political ideology & concepts of liberty
- HENRY SCHVEY - contemporary American and British drama
- JOSEPH SCHRAIBMAN - Spanish literature, history, and culture
- HARRIET STONE - French culture; women's literature
