Liberal Studies
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program is an interdisciplinary graduate program administered by Department of Interdisciplinary Studies within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is a broad, interdisciplinary program of part-time or full-time graduate study that integrates and expands the student's knowledge and awareness and that is geared to the student's personal interests. Each student, in consultation with an academic advisor, designs an individual program of study around an interdisciplinary theme or topic that is of intrinsic interest to the student or that relates to the student's professional or academic interests. Students take graduate courses across a range of NC State departments as well as MALS seminars designed specifically for the program.
Master's Degree Requirements
Thirty hours of course work made up of:
- Three MALS seminars OR two MALS seminars and a research methods course (9 credit hours),
- Six courses (18 credit hours) representing the student's interdisciplinary concentration plan (no more than two courses from any one discipline) and
- One (3 credit hour) culminating project or thesis.
Some examples of concentrations that are well supported by graduate courses in the NC State curriculum are: Science, Technology and Society, the American Experience and Leadership, National and International Issues and Decision Making, Women's Health Equity & Equality, Climate Justice, .
More Information
Admissions Requirements
Students entering the Master's program in liberal studies must have an undergraduate degree. In addition to the material required by the Graduate School, students applying are asked to submit a four to five page statement describing their objectives in doing a degree in liberal studies and a resume. GRE scores are not required. All applicants are interviewed.
Applicant Information
- Delivery Method: On-Campus
- Entrance Exam: None
- Interview Required: Yes
Application Deadlines
- Fall: June 25
- Spring: November 25
Faculty
Full Professors
- Kimberly I. Allen
- David Michael Berube
- Carolyn Bird
- Jason Bocarro
- Jonathan D. Bohlmann
- Jeffrey P. Braden
- Kimberly Ann Bush
- Marina F. Bykova
- Jonathan M. Casper
- Katherine M. Charron
- Gary L. Comstock
- Veljko Dubljevic
- Michael B. Edwards
- Stephen C. Ferguson
- Victoria Gallagher
- Shelley E. Garrigan
- Michael D. Garval
- Nora Haenn
- Anne Hardison-Moody
- Karey A. Harwood
- Mary E. Haskett
- Jessica K. Jameson
- Akram F. Khater
- Lada Kochtcheeva
- Yu-Fai Leung
- Jorge Mari
- Duarte Morais
- Sylvia Christine Maria Nassar
- Jose Pasten
- Robert P. Patterson
- Jorge Mari
- David M. Rieder
- Adriana de Souza e Silva
- Michael Struett
- Erik R Thomas
- Kenneth Vincent
- Rodney Waschka
- Yingjiao Xu
- Kenneth S. Zagacki
Associate Professors
- Kyle Stephen Bunds
- Cameron Denson
- Ayse Ercumen
- Whitney Knollenberg
- Kama A Kosenko
- Alicia McGill
- Seth Murray
- Mark Nance
- Radmila Sazdanovic
- Amanda J. Stewart
Assistant Professors
- Kalyca Becktel
- Alexis Meredith Clark
Associate Teaching Professor
- Amanda Ross Edwards
- Victoria Ralston
Teaching Assistant Professor
- Khodr Zaarour
Practice/Research/Teaching Professors
- Gary Beckman
- Charles Albert Flink
- Kimberly Ange-Van Heugten
- Erin C. Jordan
- Jonathan Kramer
Lecturers
- Darby Orcutt
- Jory P. Weintraub
Emeritus Faculty
- Dennis M. Daley
- Douglas J. Gillan
- Sarah D. Kirby
- Sarah Stein
Courses
Intensive study of an interdisciplinary issue or area. Seminars, varying each semester, address such topics as arts studies, history and literature, sociobiology and social sciences, world trade and world conflict, and technology and social change.
Prerequisite: Admission to M.A. in liberal studies
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Advanced independent study of an interdisciplinary topic under supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite: Admission to M.A. in liberal studies
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Advanced independent research on an interdisciplinary project under supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite: Admission to M.A. in liberal studies
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For students in non thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer