Liberal Studies, M.A.L.S.

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Rene Palumbo; palumbo@etsu.edu; 423-439-6158

Marie Tedesco, Ph.D., Director

916 West Maple
Box 70659
(423) 439-4223
e-mail: tedescom@etsu.edu

Jo Lobertini, Ed.D., Assistant Dean/Chair

916 West Maple
Box 70659
(423) 439-4223
e-mail: lobertin@etsu.edu

Faculty:

Jill LeRoy-Frazier; Marie Tedesco.

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers students from a variety of backgrounds an alternative graduate education. Firmly grounded in the values of interdisciplinary  learning, the MALS degree allows students to design an individualized program of study in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, and related fields. Students may thus pursue study in such areas as Women’s Studies, Appalachian Studies, and African American Studies, fields where graduate courses exist, but not graduate degrees. MALS students, except those who choose the Archives Concentration —complete a common core, then combine graduate courses from other academic departments with either a thesis or a special project to complete their programs of study.

Program Admission Requirements

A student applying to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program needs the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
2. An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. A successful admissions interview.
5. A writing sample of four-five pages. In the writing sample, the applicant will elaborate on reasons for applying to the MALS program, on comprehension of liberal arts, and interdisciplinarity, on relevant intellectual interests, and if an Archival Studies Concentration applicant, on the work of the archivist and the nature of the archive.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete thirteen (13) credits in a common core and 18 - 21 credit-hours in related graduate courses. The thesis option requires 31 total credit-hours, while the project option requires 34 total credit-hours. The MALS core consists of the following courses:

• MALS 5000 - Foundations in Liberal Studies (1 credit)
• MALS 5100 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study (3 credits)
• MALS 5200 - Seminar in Liberal Studies (3 credits) *
• MALS 5400 - Seminar in Interdisciplinary Research (3 credits)
• MALS 5950 - Special Project in Liberal Studies (3 credits)
• MALS 5960 - Thesis (3 credits)

Note:

*May be repeated once when topic changes.

Beyond the MALS core, the program of study will come from offerings of various departments at East Tennessee State University, with the following limitations: Elective courses must come from at least two (2) different academic departments, and except in special circumstances, no more than one (1) course may be taken from colleges other than Arts and Sciences, and Education. Only six (6) credit-hours of coursework may be taken from any one (1) department in Art and Sciences, and Education, without the approval of the M.A.L.S. director. Please note that a student may not take all elective courses from the College of Education. Students must meet all prerequisites for all courses.