Curriculum

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Liberal Studies 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.  You 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 (HUMN 6370, SCCL 6305, or HUMN 6397).  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 (not on the diploma).

Transfer credit: Students 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
• The form is available online in the MLS Forms Library.

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.

IMPORTANT:  For a comprehensive listing of the policies, procedures and possibilities of the MLS program, please review the MLS Student Handbook.