School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Humanities
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Netty Provost, Interim Director
Program overview
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (M.A.L.S.) program at IU Kokomo is an integrative program that explores various aspects of the humanities, social/behavioral sciences, and natural sciences, and emphasizes the connections between them. This program utilizes existing coursework in the arts and sciences, supplemented with seminars designed especially for this degree. The latter will assist the student in discovering the relationship among the disciplines of the arts and sciences and in developing a broad overview of those areas. Students will also be expected to do independent work, often including the design and execution of projects. Students may choose from three different emphases or tracks: the Individualized Track, the Academic Teaching Track, and the Global Studies Track. The M.A.L.S. program at IU Kokomo is an Associate Member of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP).
Objectives
The M.A.L.S. Program is designed to meet the needs of several populations within the broad region that Indiana University Kokomo serves. Its goal is to produce critical thinkers with a global understanding who are capable of interdisciplinary innovation. It meets the educational goals for individuals whose careers will be enhanced by a graduate credential, those who might wish to change careers, or those who wish to complete a challenging program of study for personal fulfillment.
M.A.L.S. Program Goals
The M.A.L.S. program enables all students to acquire the following knowledge and skills while completing the program:
- the ability to analyze and interpret scholarly works in a variety of academic disciplines
- knowledge of the methods and approaches of at least one particular academic discipline
- the ability to communicate in a variety of academic disciplines
- the ability to recognize and communicate the interconnectivity of academic disciplines
Students are admitted to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program by the M.A.L.S. Advisory Board. 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.A.L.S. program and/or the M.A.L.S. Advisory Board. Completed applications include the following:
- application form
- application fee ($40)
- cover letter
- at least two letters of recommendation (at least one faculty letter)
- a research-based writing sample (8 - 20 pages)
- scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or equivalent graduate exam scores
- transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate study
Exceptions to these requirements may be made at the discretion of the M.A.L.S. Advisory Board. Application materials can be submitted to Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, c/o Humanities Department, Indiana University Kokomo, 2300 S. Washington Street, Kokomo, IN 46904.
Graduation Requirements
- At least 30 credit hours including: 3 credit hours of introduction to the program, 21 credit hours in area of concentration, and 6 credit hours of thesis work. (The Academic Teaching Track requires 6 credit hours additional in teaching methods and practice.)
- An overall GPA of 3.0
- Approval of the M.A.L.S. Director
Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (LBST D 510)
A comprehensive introduction to graduate liberal studies. Explores the cultures of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Investigates interdisciplinary methodologies. Offers strategies for graduate-level reading, research, and writing for other publics.
Thesis Proposal (LBST-D 603)
Independent initial research/exploration of thesis topic including a formal proposal containing a statement of purpose, a background or rationale, an extensive literature review, a methodology, and a working thesis title. This course is a prerequisite for students registering for LBST-D 604.
Thesis (LBST-D 604)
Independent thesis work conducted in consultation with Thesis Committee.