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The
Master of Liberal Arts experience
Most
students entering this program have specific or professional
degrees and feel a need to build upon their previous
education. But whether it is to gain an edge in corporate
jobs or merely for one's personal enrichment, all students
share a strong desire to revisit the liberal arts and
study with peers from diverse backgrounds. Despite their
busy lives, MLA students have found the program's demands
manageable.
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All MLA courses are conducted in small, discussion-oriented
evening sessions conveniently located on the
University campus.
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Courses are taught by University faculty. The experience
and knowledge they bring to the classroom match their
enthusiasm for teaching adult students and the rapport
it inspires.
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After completing eleven courses students are awarded
a Master of Liberal Arts degree from St. Edward's University.
They are also honored at the University's formal graduation
ceremony.
We
hope that you will take advantage of this new degree
offered by St. Edward's and become a part of a degree
program that will enrich and change your life!
Program
Overview The
MLA Degree
The
Master of Liberal Arts program is a 33-semester hour
(11 course) program, with an emphasis upon a broad,
integrative, liberal-arts-based vision intended to provide
breadth and balance for adults competing in a complex
era of narrowing, fragmenting, specialization.
The
theme of the St. Edward's MLA program is Change,
Identity, and Leadership.
Using materials from a variety of disciplines, the SEU
Master of Liberal Arts program encourages students to
develop a broad-based knowledge of critical issues in
contemporary culture, both to enhance their understanding
of individual identity in relation to society and to
heighten their participation and leadership in civic
life. Emphases are both on personal intellectual exploration
from a liberal arts perspective and on knowledge and
skills necessary to be agents of informed change in
society.
Students
ordinarily begin their graduate work with a gateway
course that emphasizes critical and creative thinking
within a broad liberal arts perspective and establishes
the communication, inquiry, and research skills expected
of graduate-level study. Following this course, students
enroll in Thematic Studies courses-seminars that engage
vital cultural issues. They may also enroll in special
graduate/undergraduate courses that are taught through
the university's undergraduate programs. In addition,
students may also enroll individually in Directed Studies
courses. To complete their programs, students will enroll
in a Special Project course.
The
MLA is interdisciplinary. It adheres to
the values of liberal education, offering students drawn
from a variety of backgrounds and professions an alternative
to specialized graduate study. It crosses the boundaries
of the traditional disciplines to provide participants
the breadth of knowledge, academic confidence, and research
skills of the generalist.
The
MLA is individualized. For the MLA degree,
students take three required courses, select three thematic
studies seminars from a variety of offerings, and choose
five electives. For the Certificate in Liberal Studies
and the Executive Certificate, students take one required
course and choose three others, including Directed Independent
Study courses.
The
MLA is supportive. An advising specialist
in the Center for Academic Progress will assist you
through the admission process and will be available
for individual appointments as you proceed through your
program. In addition, you will be assigned a faculty
advisor. As your major professor, this faculty member
will work closely with you on the formation of your
program of study and will supervise your Special Project.
In addition, the MLA Program Director will be available
to answer general questions.
The
MLA is personal. From the personal admission
interview with the program director, to the required
gateway course, in which you meet and closely interact
with other MLA students, to the close one-on-one meetings
between you and your faculty advisor, the MLA. insists
on the values of communication, community, and personal
respect.
The
MLA is designed with adults in mind. For
over 25 years, New College has fulfilled its mission
of providing university education for adult, nontraditional,
students. The MLA extends this experience. Courses offered
by the MLA program will be offered at night or as directed
individual studies. Students who can come to class during
the day will have the opportunity to register for graduate-level
cognates of courses offered through the Honors Program
or by the Undergraduate College. The assumption is that
almost all MLA students will be part-time. |
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