Liberal Studies, M.A.L.S. (Gender and Diversity Studies Concentration)

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Mary Duncan; duncanm@etsu.edu; 423-439-4302

Marie Tedesco, Ph.D., Director

916 West Maple
Box 70659
(423) 439-4223
e-mail: tedescom@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 for Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

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 interdisciplinary, on relevant intellectual interests, and if an Archival Studies Concentration applicant, on the work of the archivist and the nature of the archive.

Note:

*May be repeated 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) deparment in Arts 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 coruses.

Gender and Diversity Studies Concentration

Major Field Core: 13 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) or
• MALS 5960 - Thesis (3 credits)

Concentration Requirements: 12 credit hours

• MALS 5300 - Gender, Diversity, and Social Justice (3 credits)

• Coursework approved by the MALS program director in:

  • Women’s and Gender Issues (3 credit hours)
  • Diversity and Ethnicity (3 credit hours)
  • Philosophy, Ethics, and Social Justice (3 credit hours)

Electives: 9 credit hours

 Complete 9 hours of disciplinary department coursework as approved by the MALS program director concentrated in one of the three area categories: Women’s and Gender Issues; Diversity and Ethnicity; or Philosophy, Ethics, and Social Justice.

Total credit hours for concentration: 34