Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

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1 Preparing for Leadership OFFERED ONLINE excelsior.edu/mals Talk to us about transferring up to 15 of your graduate-level credits.

2 Start with a strong interdisciplinary core. TIER I 12 credit hours The is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to help graduate students gain perspective on the world we live in and examine in depth a topic of interest. Liberal arts is one of the oldest approaches to learning, dating back more than 2,000 years to Greek and Roman times. Then, as now, liberal education was seen as a way to expand the life of the mind and provide students with the skills required for a life of success, freedom, and cross-cultural understanding. An interdisciplinary degree in liberal studies enables the learner to think more broadly, creatively, and critically, argue more effectively, and behave more ethically. Students in this program are able to explore issues and topics of their own interest from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives and explore connections between issues and their historical and social context. You ll begin your program by taking four courses that shed light on what it means to be a member of the global community and dealing with the ethical complexities unfolding today. As part of Tier I, you ll also demonstrate that you can successfully engage in scholarly research and academic writing. Tier I Required Courses (3 credits) MLS 500 Graduate Research and Writing Tier I Course Choices (9 credits) MLS 621 Ancient Greece through the Renaissance MLS 622 The Birth of the Modern Age MLS 623 The Search for Meaning and Identity in the Contemporary World MLS 631 Revolutions in Knowledge MLS 632 Capitalism and Its Impact MLS 633 Darwinism and Its Influence MLS 673 Mindsets: Cross-Cultural Understanding * You may transfer up to 3 credits into Tier I with advisor approval.

3 Enjoy more options than in most other programs. TIER II 12 credit hours * In this tier, you may earn credit from a wide variety of sources: Excelsior College courses, coursework at other institutions, independent learning contracts with Excelsior College faculty, and even certain ACE-approved military coursework. Six of the required twelve credit hours may come from non-liberal studies disciplines, such as technology or management, if the subject matter relates to the focus topic you choose for your Thesis. Our course offerings will change and expand as world conditions and professional requirements change. After 17 years of working in industry, it was time for a change. This program revitalized my desire to learn and achieve more personally fulfilling rewards, and it helped me make the transition from engineering to teaching. Tier II Course Choices (Each course is three credits.) MLS 661 Cultural Perspectives: Interpretive Strategies MLS 662 Ethics in a Changing World MLS 664 Geopolitical Brinksmanship MLS 667 Cultural Diversity in the Workplace MLS 668 Religion in Society and World Politics MLS 681 Leadership in Organizations and Education MLS 682 Social Issues in Organizations and Education MLS 683 The Art of Leadership: Literature and Film MLS 684 Ethics, Media, the Arts, and Society MLS 685 Strategic Problem Solving MLS 693 Social Justice and Societal Oppression MLS 694 Theories of Conflict and Conflict Resolution MLS 695 Community Amidst War, Disaster, Trauma and Daily Life MLS 699 Economic Development in Lesser Developed Countries MLS 700 Independent Learning Contract * 12 of the 15 credits that you are eligible transfer into this program will be applied to Tier II. Tom Ask Graduate

4 Complete the program with individualized study. TIER III 9 credit hours Pursue the topic of your choice. The final component of this program is up to you, your Academic Advisor, and a Faculty Mentor. Together you ll design a program of study in any area within the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, or fine arts. Cap off your core study on your focus topic distilled through a traditional or creative thesis (such as music, painting, or creative writing), accompanied by research. Tier III Required Courses (9 credits) MLS 697 Methodology (3 credits) MLS 900 M.A. Thesis (6 credits) A master s degree was important to help me advance in my profession. The Excelsior College program was a good fit because of the flexibility. With knee surgery, my wife pregnant with twins, being on call seven days a week for work and my volunteer work, flexibility was key. The cost, online format, great diversity of professors, and the student interaction was equally impressive. Recent master s thesis titles: The Harry Potter Series: A Positive Passageway for Young Males Trail of Tears: Christianity, Spirituality, Betrayal and Triumph in Native American Women s Writing The Clinton 12 Chronicles: Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement Moral Values: Moral Development in Multicultural Adolescents and What Contributes to Creating Pro-Social Behavior African American Literature and Black Social Mobility in the Twentieth Century Chad Pezzano Graduate

5 Study in your own space... with renowned faculty from around the world. Career advancement often comes with a master s degree from an accredited institution. Through Excelsior College, you can earn that degree online while delving into a topic that fascinates you. Our unique program enables you to finish ahead in many ways. As a master s degree candidate in this program, you will: Get a head start. Pending Advisor approval, we may accept up to 15 of your graduate-level credits (including certain ACE-approved military coursework) more than most master s degree programs. You save time and money by not having to repeat courses you ve already completed. Study in your own space. All of our courses are online. Study with renowned scholars. We draw distinguished faculty from leading academic institutions throughout the world many of them pioneers in their fields. Tailor your studies to your goals. Use our three tiers to design your studies around your area of interest. You ll also pursue individualized study on that topic, culminating in a traditional or creative thesis. Enjoy valuable support. Our Academic Advisors and faculty facilitators available by phone, fax, or guide you through the process. Use online resources. You ll have access to the Excelsior College Library through our unique partnership with the Sheridan Libraries of The Johns Hopkins University.

6 Earn your degree from a world leader. As a world leader in online learning, Excelsior College has helped busy working adults earn their college degrees for over three decades. With more than 145,000 graduates, we empower you to fit learning into your life with distance programs that let you study whenever and wherever you choose. As a result, you benefit from a flexible and affordable way to complete your advanced degree. You also earn your degree from an accredited college and a distinguished program. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Our Master of Arts in Liberal Studies was the first entirely distancelearning program to be admitted to full membership into the Association For Graduate Liberal Studies Programs. Call ext. 22 The Liberal Studies Advantage A graduate level liberal education will set you apart from the rest by equipping you with attributes that employers are now requiring in our global economy such as: Verbal and written communication skills Cross-cultural understanding Team building skills Civic engagement Critical and reflective thinking Decision-making and problem-solving abilities Visit excelsior.edu/mals or us at GradAdmissions@excelsior.edu Located at 7 Columbia Circle Albany, New York , Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education 3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA telephone: The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The program has been accepted into full membership by the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP). All the College s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department. Excelsior College is a Title IV eligible educational institution (Federal Code #014251) offering Federal Financial Assistance (Pell Grants, the FSEOG program, Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans) to students who qualify and are enrolled in course-based programs. Excelsior College accepts students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. enroll12-015; 06/12 EX 0533