Programs by Campus
Kokomo
Liberal Studies
School of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: alkiser [at] iuk [dot] edu
Departmental URL: www.iuk.edu/~koartsci/MSLiberalStudies.shtml
Curriculum
Degree Offered
Master of Liberal Studies
General Information
The Master's of Liberal Studies (M.L.S.) offers three different tracks:
- INTERDISCIPLINARY TRACK: Provides students with the opportunity to take an individualized program of graduate courses and interdisciplinary core seminars in a variety of disciplines in the arts and sciences. Students identify and explore significant patterns and connections that exist among the diverse disciplines that define current knowledge. The curriculum includes carrying out independent work, including the design and execution of projects
- ACADEMIC TEACHING TRACK: Provides students with academic teaching training in the form of teaching assistantships and subject content in the field of their choice (English, Communication Arts are the most popular)
- GLOBAL STUDIES TRACK: Provides students with a deeper understanding of international issues such as multiculturalism, conflict resolution, human rights, energy, and the environment.
Students begin with an introduction to graduate liberal studies and interdisciplinary methodology, then choose one of the three tracks. The M.L.S. program draws on faculty with diverse expertise to explore topics through a multidisciplinary approach.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Master of Liberal Studies program by the Graduate Liberal Studies Committee of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In order to be admitted to this program, a student is expected to have earned a baccalaureate degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement may be admitted provisionally upon the recommendation of the director of the M.L.S. program and or the Graduate Liberal Studies Committee. Completed applications include the following: application form, application fee, cover letter, at least two letters of recommendation, a writing sample, scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or equivalent graduate exam scores, and transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate study.
A student whose native language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 560 (standard grading) or 220 (computer graded). The recommended TOEFL score is 600 (standard grading) or 250 (computer graded). Exceptions to these requirements may be made at the discretion of the graduate liberal studies committee.
Application Deadlines
Students may be admitted to the M.L.S. Program to begin in either the fall or spring semester. All admission decisions are made by the faculty members of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduate Liberal Studies Committee. The committee meets to review applications three times each year. The deadlines for submitting completed applications for review by the committee are as follows: Fall application deadline is July 15; the Spring application deadline is November 15.
Students are advised to give reference letter writers at least two to four weeks’ notice so that their letters will arrive prior to the deadline. Applications that are not completed by a given deadline will not be considered until the next deadline and may cause a delay in admission by one semester.
Track Requirements
Interdisciplinary Track:
Completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. If a student drops below a 3.0 GPA in any given semester, they could be dismissed from the program. Only courses with a minimum grade of “B-” will count towards the degree.
Coursework: D510-Introduction to MLS Graduate Studies in first fall semester (3 hours)
Area of Concentration (21 hours)
(Courses must come from the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Natural, Information and Mathematical Sciences.) The completion of a thesis (6 hours): D601 Thesis Proposal (3 hours) and D602 Thesis Writing (3 hours)
Academic Teaching Track (English, Communication Arts and other disciplines ):
- Completion of 31 hours of graduate coursework;
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. If a student drops below a 3.0 GPA in any given semester, they could be dismissed from the program;
- Only courses with a minimum grade of “B-” will count towards the degree.
Coursework:
- D510 Introduction to MLS Graduate Studies in first fall semester (3 hours)
Area of Concentration (16 hours)
- D591 Teaching Practicum (1 hour)
- D550 (6 hours) Teaching Assistantships ( two, 3 hours each)
Requirements for this track also include a teaching portfolio as part of the thesis.
Global Studies Track:
- Completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework;
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. If a student drops below a 3.0 GPA in any given semester, they could be dismissed from the program;
- Only courses with a minimum grade of “B-” will count towards the degree.
Coursework
- D510 Introduction to MLS Graduate Studies in first fall semester (3 hours)
Area of Concentration (16 hours)
- D514 Graduate Liberal Overseas Study (6 hours)
The completion of a thesis (6 hours): D601 Thesis Proposal (3 hours) and D602 Thesis Writing (6 hours). Requirements for this track also include a travel portfolio.
Academic Curriculum (33 cr.) (All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise designated.). After successfully passing the introductory course and the core seminar requirements for the program, students may select from one of two options to complete their M.L.S. degree, thesis or non-thesis option.
THESIS OPTION:
- D510 Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies
Core Seminars
- D501 Humanities Seminar
- D502 Social Sciences Seminar
- D503 Science Seminar
Each of the core courses is a graduate seminar combining detailed study of particular topics with broad interdisciplinary perspectives. These courses give students the opportunity to explore the connections that exist among the diverse discipline and perspectives that define contemporary knowledge.
Electives (9 hours)
- D511 M.L.S. Humanities Elective
- D512 M.L.S. Social Science Elective
- D513 M.L.S. Science Elective
- D514 Graduate Liberal Studies Overseas Study
Six hours must be in two of the three departments.
Electives offer students a wide variety of choices with which to create programs of study suited to their individual interests. These elective courses may be selected to build support and background for the graduate project, or to enable students to more ably participate in the public intellectual, artistic, and cultural life of their communities. Students may repeat the elective courses under a different topic.
THESIS - 6 hours of thesis work or a capstone project/Thesis/Creative Activity
The Thesis/Creative Activity Option offers students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty committee and to complete a thesis designed around their unique interests.
Non-Thesis Option:
Students may select the option of taking twelve graduate hours in lieu of the thesis work or capstone project: six hours replacing the thesis/capstone project plus an additional six hours of coursework. Their work will be assessed by a portfolio.
Academic Regulations
Students must have their programs of study approved by the M.L.S. program director. An average grade of B (3.0) is required for graduation, and no course with a grade lower than B– (2.7) will be counted toward the degree. Students are required to retain good academic standing, i.e., to maintain a GPA of at least 2.7. Failure to maintain good standing may result in dismissal from the program.
Other academic regulations and policies are established by the Graduate Liberal Studies Committee of the School of Arts and Sciences. Students are to consult the M.L.S. program director for further information.