Mar 28, 2024  
2019-20 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-20 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Liberal Arts, M.A.


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Janet McCormick, Interim Program Director
(615) 904-8208
mala@mtsu.edu

The College of Liberal Arts offers the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, an interdisciplinary program offering a thesis and non-thesis option.

The Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA), a broadly interdisciplinary program, allows students to construct a personal plan of study from within the College of Liberal Arts graduate programs. With the guidance of the program director, students build a program of study that will enhance career opportunities, provide preparation for further graduate study, or create opportunities for lifelong learning.

Admission Requirements


To be admitted to the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, applicant must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.

Admission decisions are made after a holistic review of all admission materials and are based on the program’s judgment of the applicant’s capacity, suitability, and preparation for graduate study. The admissions committee reserves the right to request references and/or an interview.

Application Procedures


All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicant must

  1. submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
  2. submit a current resume or vitae;
  3. submit a 500-word statement of purpose outlining academic interests and goals;
  4. submit two letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors, or others familiar with qualifications to address applicant’s potential to successfully complete the M.A. in Liberal Arts program;
  5. submit official transcripts of all previous college work.

Degree Requirements


The Master of Arts in Liberal Arts requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours.

Candidate must

  1. complete a minimum of 30 semester hours; no more than 30 percent of the total degree hours dual-listed as undergraduate/graduate hours can be counted toward the degree;
  2. successfully complete and defend a thesis or capstone project.

Curriculum: Liberal Arts


The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements. In addition, a maximum of 6 hours of thesis research may be required to fulfill degree requirements.

Core (9 hours)


Guided Electives (12 hours)


Choose from additional MALA topics courses and electives or courses in other College of Liberal Arts graduate programs as approved by the director. (Student may take up to 9 credit hours of guided electives at the 5000 level.)

Program Notes


Candidate must

  1. file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies;
  2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.

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