Master of Liberal Studies Current Students
Now offering classes in Plano beginning Spring
2010!
Spring 2010 Course Schedule
Registration for Spring 2010 courses for current students begins November 3, 2009. New students and readmitted students are eligible to register on November 23, 2009.
SPRING 2010 COURSE SCHEDULE & IMPORTANT DEADLINES/DATES
SPRING 2010 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master's degree you will need to successfully complete thirty-six (36) credit hours of approved graduate study, or 12 courses, within six years after beginning the program. Students must take two foundational courses within the first 12 hours of their course work: HUMN 6316/The Human Experience: An Introduction to Liberal Studies, and another designated writing intensive course of your choosing. It is highly recommended that students take these as their initial courses in the program. These courses may not be waived.
Students must complete their coursework with at least a B (3.0 GPA) average. All courses attempted for credit on a student's graduate program must average B (3.0) or better, with no grade less than C (2.0) applying toward the degree. Within the 36 hours, students may include up to six hours of transfer graduate credit from another accredited institution or another academic department at SMU (see below). Students may also include up to six hours of Independent Study (see below). Students may not take more than three one-credit-hour classes unless special permission is given by the Director/Dean. At least 3 credit hours must be taken as part of the required capstone course/experience.
Curricular Concentrations
The SMU Master of Liberal Studies program offers students the opportunity to specialize or concentrate in a particular curricular area through the course of the degree.
Concentrations for Fall 2009:
- Humanities
- The Arts and Cultural Traditions - Literature, Art, Poetry, Performing Arts, and Society
- Global Studies - Global Trends, Power, Non-Western Literature, and Geography
- Gender Studies
- Peace and Social Justice - Human Rights, Political Science, History, Psychology, Gender Studies
- Self-Designed
Concentrations Coming in the Fall of 2011:
- Organizational Dynamics
- Communication, Media and Technology
- Environmental Sustainability
If you elect to concentrate or specialize in a certain curricular area, you must complete the following requirements:
- 3 credit hours for the required introductory course: HUMN 6316 The Human Experience
- 3 credit hours for a designated writing intensive course of your choice
- 18 credit hours of approved credit from your chosen area of concentration
- 3 credit hours for the required capstone course/experience
- 9 elective credit hours
Once the student satisfies the requirements for a given concentration, the concentration area will appear on the student's final transcript.
Transfer credit: The student must file a Petition for Transfer Credit, accompanied by a course description and official transcript, with the MLS office. Transfer credit will be accepted by the Dean under the following regulations:
- The course must be compatible with the overall curriculum of liberal studies.
- The course must be graduate level (6000 or above).
- The course must have earned a grade of A or B.
- The course may not have been used in attaining a previous degree.
- The course must have been taken within the past six years.
- Courses taken prior to matriculation must be approved within one year of beginning the MLS program.
- Transfer credit will be considered for study by correspondence or online study on a case-by-case basis
Independent Study: Students may earn up to 6 credit hours through Independent Study in a subject area relevant to the MLS Curriculum. Students must first complete the two required courses and must be in good academic standing to be eligible to undertake an independent study. To enroll in an Independent Study, students must work with an MLS faculty member to define specific course requirements and complete an Independent Study Contract subject to the approval of the Director and/or Dean. Independent Study courses may be taken for one, two, or three credit hours. The deadline to submit proposals to the MLS office is at least two weeks before the beginning of the term for which the study is requested. The form is available online in the MLS Forms Library.
2009/2010 MLS Academic Calendar
Fall 2009: Important Dates
Spring 2010: Important Dates
May 2010 Graduation
If you plan to graduate in May 2009, please be sure to complete your Application for Candidacy to Graduate form if you haven't already. Instructions for this form may be found at: http://smu.edu/registrar/ACG/ACG_PS_Instructions.asp. For more information about the details of May 2010 Commencement for SMU and the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, please click here.
May 15, 2010 Commencement:
Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development
Location: Greer Garson Theatre
Time: 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Reception: A reception for all graduates and their families will take place in the theatre lobby immediately following the ceremony.
For more information about commencement, please contact Anne Dilday at: 214-768-2780.
Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures for the Master of Liberal Studies program are outlined in the MLS Student Handbook.
Check out our Forms Library below for important forms you may need:
Click on the following links to obtain forms in PDF* format:
Registration Information
Access.SMU
Access.SMU is the University's student enrollment and information maintenance
system. It is web-based and is online at https://access.smu.edu. Students use
Access.SMU to register for classes, view grades and obtain unofficial
transcripts, maintain and update personal information, and pay tuition, apply
for financial aid and much more. You will be able to enter Access.SMU once you
receive your temporary password from ITS by mail about 3 weeks after you receive
the acceptance letter. If you need assistance in enrolling before then, the MLS
office will be glad to process the initial enrollment.
Please go to
www.smu.edu/help/access/tutorial/student for step-by-step instructions on
how to use Access.
SMU Email Account Information
All students at SMU are provided an SMU E-mail account. The account serves as the University's official form of communication and students should check the account often. Visit https://webmail.smu.edu/ to log into your webmail account. You will be required to enter your student ID number and your password to log in. Your webmail account will be generated the same time your student account is generated.
Please Note: Check this email account daily for
important programmatic and institutional information. This is the
University's primary method of communication.
Student ID
All MLS Students are issued a student ID number. You will need your student ID number in order to register for classes, obtain grades and access online student services. The Photo ID also serves as a library card.
Students may obtain an SMU photo ID free of charge by going to the Park 'n Pony Office located on the 1st floor of Expressway Tower on the Southeast corner of Central Expy and Yale. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30a.m.-5:00 p.m. For additional information call 214-768-PARK (7275).
You may go to the Park 'n Pony website at
http://www.smu.edu/parknpony more information.
Password & Computer Help Desk
Your initial log in password for webmail and Access.SMU will be generated by the
SMU Help Desk and will be mailed to you approximately two to three weeks after
your official admission to the MLS Program. If you do not receive a temporary
password by mail 3 weeks after you receive your acceptance letter, please
contact the Help Desk at 214-768-HELP (4357) or
help@smu.edu for assistance. You should never share your password to
anyone.
How to Add/Drop/Swap Courses in Access.SMU
NOTE: Please check the academic calendar for important
dates for registrations/drops/withdrawals/cancellations.
Click here for the Academic Calendars:
Summer 2009 Academic Calendar
Fall 2009 Academic Calendar
Add/Register for classes
a. Click the Student Center link, click the Add a Class link, click the scroll bar to view page content then select the appropriate term from the drop down menu then click the Change button.
b. Click the scrollbar to view the schedule for the term you selected. Click the Search button. If you know the 4-digit class number of the course, then you can click Add a class and select the appropriate term, and enter the class number in the box then click Enter. If you do not, then click the Course Subject list and click the scrollbar to continue. Select the MLS subject area you want to view and click the subject. That will bring up all of the courses under that subject offered in the semester. For example, clicking HUMN will bring up all of the courses under that subject.
c. Click the Select class button once you see the course you want to enroll in. Then click the Next button.
d. Click the scrollbar to continue then click the Proceed to Step 2 of 3 button.
e. Click the Finish Enrolling button. Then click the My Class Schedule button.
f. Click the scrollbar to view your Class Schedule.
Drop Classes
a. Click the Student Center link, click the Drop a Class link, and Select Term from the drop down menu.
b. Click the Change button then click the scrollbar to continue.
c. Click in the Select option of the class you want.
d. Click the Drop Selected Classes button.
e. Click the Finish Dropping button.
f. Click the My Class Schedule button to view classes.
Swap Classes
a. Click the Student Center link and click the Swap Classes link.
b. Click the Select Term list and select the appropriate term then click the Change button
c. Click the Select from your schedule list. Then click the class you want to swap out of.
d. Enter the 4-digit class number of the course you want to swap into. If you do not know it, click the Search button to select another class.
e. Click the Finish Swapping button to complete the swap.
f. Click the My Class Schedule button to view your schedule.
How to Update/Verify
Personal Information in Access.SMU
NOTE: Please update/verify this information before every
semester to clear the hold on your account. If the hold does not clear
automatically after you update/verify all of the information below, contact the
Registrar's office at (214)768-3417.
Update/Verify Addresses
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Home Address link.
c. Click the I have verified and/or updated my information; it is current option.
d. Click the Save button.
e. Click the Home link.
Update/Verify Phone Numbers
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Home Phone link.
c. Click the I have verified and/or updated my information; it is current option button.
d. Click the Save button.
e. Click the OK drop down menu.
f. Click the Home link.
Update/Verify Demographic Information
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Demographic Data link.
c. Click the scrollbar.
d. Click the scrollbar to continue.
e. Click the Religious Preference list.
f. If you select Methodist as your religious preference you will be prompted to enter additional information to fill out.
g. Click the list item
h. Click the I have verified and/or updated my information; it is current option.
i. Click the Save button.
j. Click Home link.
Update/Verify Emergency Contacts
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Emergency Contact link.
c. Click the Edit button.
d. Click the Add a Phone Number button.
e. Click the Phone Type drop down menu.
f. Click the Cellular list item.
g. Enter the desired information into the Phone Number field. Example, type"214/555-2323".
h. Click the Save button.
i. Click the OK button.
j. Click the I have verified and/or updated my information; it is current option.
k. Click the Save button.
l. Click the Add an Emergency Contact button.
m. Enter the desired information into the Contact Name field.
n. Click the Relationship drop down menu.
o. Click the Other Relative list item.
p. Enter the desired information into the Phone field.
q. Click the Save button.
r. Click the
OK button.
Tuition Billing through Access.SMU
NOTE: Please pay close attention to payment due dates. If
payment is made after the payment due date, a hefty late payment fee is applied
to your account. All bills can be paid online through Access.SMU.
You may also go in person to the Service Desk on the first floor of the Laura
Lee Blanton Building to pay in person. Please contact them at
(214)768-3417 for more information.
Click here for the Payment Due Dates:
Summer 2009 Academic Calendar
Fall
2009 Academic Calendar
Paying your SMU Bills Online
a. Click Make a payment.
b. Enter your SMU ID without the dash.
c. Enter an amount on each account on each account type for which you want to make a payment.
d. Click Make Payment.
e. Enter your Credit Card number & the Expiration Date.
f. Click Submit Payment.
g. A receipt will be sent to the email address entered.
View Account Summary
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Account Summary link.
c. Click the View All link.
d. Click the scrollbar to continue.
e. Click the Home link.
Accept/Decline Financial Aid
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the Accept/Decline Awards link.
c. Click an entry in the Aid Year column.
d. Click the Accept option.
e. Enter your Submit button.
f. Click the Yes button.
g. Click the OK button.
h. Click the Home button.
View Your Financial Aid
a. Click the Student Center link.
b. Click the View Financial Aid link.
c. Click an entry in the Aid Year column.
d. Click the View Scheduled Disbursement Dates link.
e. Enter your Account Summary link.
f. Click the Home link.
***For further assistance with your Student Account, visit the bursar’s
webpage at
www.smu.edu/bursar. If you have trouble paying in Access.SMU, you may also
pay by going to
www.smu.edu/bursar/webpay.
Parking
You may also purchase a parking decal at Park 'n Pony. The fee is
approximately $60.00 per semester. The parking fee should be paid online
in Access.SMU. If you cannot go in person, the office will mail you the decal
upon request. You may also obtain a Dart Transit Pass for only $5.00. Just go
to the Park 'n Pony office and get your ticket to ride DART, TRE, and the "T".
The pass allows you unlimited access to buses, trains, and light rail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an academic transcript? Students and alumni may request official transcripts online by going to http://smu.edu/registrar/transcripts.asp#ON-LINE.
How do I receive my grades? Grades are entered online by instructors. You may view grades by going to http://access.smu.edu. Grade information is NOT given out over the phone nor are they mailed.
How do I change my address? Updates to the student's home, mailing, and billing addresses should be made by using Access.SMU under "Your Portfolio." Each student must provide the University Registrar with a current home address, telephone number, a local mailing address as well as the name, address, and telephone number of a designated emergency contact.
How do I file for graduation? Students must file an "Application for Candidacy to Graduate" form during the term in which they are scheduled to complete all degree requirements. Applications should be filed by the deadline date in the University Calendar. Applications cannot be accepted after the graduation date. You may print the form by clicking here: ACG Form. Please fax or mail the form to the MLS office. Our fax number is (214)768-2104 and the mailing address is Master of Liberal Studies, P.O. Box 750253, Dallas, TX 75275-0253.
How do I withdraw from the University?
Please Note: You must contact the MLS Office to initiate the
withdrawal/cancellation process first.
Students desiring to withdraw from the University must initiate a Student
Petition for Withdrawal / Cancellation form, secure approval from their academic
dean, obtain authorization from Student Account Services within the Division of
Enrollment Services, and submit the form to the University Registrar. The
effective date of the withdrawal is the date the Student Petition for Withdrawal
is processed in the Office of the Registrar. No refunds are made without an
official withdrawal. Discontinuance of class attendance or notification to the
instructors of intention to withdraw does not constitute an official withdrawal.
Medical withdrawals allow a daily pro rata refund of tuition and fees. However, a medical withdrawal includes requirements that must be met prior to re-enrollment at SMU. The medical director, psychiatric director, counseling and testing director, or the vice president for student affairs must authorize medical withdrawal. Authorization may be obtained prior to or after withdrawal, but preferably no later than 21 days after withdrawal. A student who officially cancels his or her enrollment or withdraws from the University is charged only a portion of tuition and fees based on the effective date of the cancellation / withdrawal.
How do I audit a course? You may download the form by clicking here: Audit Form. The audit course instructor's signature/approval is required on the form as well as the Academic Dean or Records Office, Student Financial Office, and University Registrar's Office. The auditor must pay the audit fee in the Student Financial Services' Office before attending any classes. Bring the completed form to the Enrollment Services' Service Desk, Ground Floor in the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services' Building.
*Use this link to obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
(software that is necessary to open a PDF document): 