Liberal Studies
Offered at IU South Bend by Graduate School
About
The Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) degree program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences provides opportunities for students to engage their curiosity in an intellectual exploration of the world of ideas. But the rewards of the pursuit of knowledge go beyond intellectual satisfaction. Students gain a refreshed approach to an enriched personal and professional life through a program that reinvigorates curiosity and creativity. They gain fresh perspectives and the critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills so valued in today's workplace.
In the MLS program, students can:
- Take courses on a wide range of topics in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
- Get personalized attention in classes with no more than 15 students.
- Complete a capstone project on a topic that interests you.
- Choose a general course of study or specialize in tracks such as business, history, or sustainability leadership.
Students begin with an introduction to graduate liberal studies and interdisciplinary methodology, and then enroll in at least three core seminars in the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. Seminars combine detailed study of a particular topic with a broad interdisciplinary examination of ways of understanding. The MLS degree program draws on faculty with diverse expertise to explore topics through an interdisciplinary approach.
For the MLS capstone experience, students have the chance to work one-on-one with the professor of their choice on a final project that they design. Examples include:
- Field research
- Feasibility study
- Literacy, historical, or cultural analysis
- Creative work
- Public intellectual protfolio