Master of Arts
Program Director: Ron Von Burg
Overview
The program offers a master’s degree in interdisciplinary exploration of human questions, experiences, and challenges, drawing on diverse fields across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, as well as law, medicine, business, and divinity. Faculty from varied academic disciplines offer interdisciplinary seminars with a focus on integrating knowledge, thinking critically, and strengthening practices of analysis and communication. Students are encouraged to shape their studies around their particular interests and may enroll in directed studies as well as any master’s level course in the university with permission of the instructor.
Adult learners in any stage of life, from recent college graduation to preparation for post-career activities, are welcome to apply. No specific type of undergraduate degree or major is required. All applicants must show the ability to study in a graduate-level program, as indicated by a minimum of a B average in undergraduate studies. Further, the applicant’s writing sample included with the application should demonstrate capacities for reading comprehension, analysis of a topic, and clear writing.
LBS 720-LBS 729 are topics courses that vary by semester. Topic categories are listed below. Please see this website for specific course descriptions.
LBS 720. Special Topics: Language and Literature. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to Language and Literature. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. May be repeated for credit if topic differs.
LBS 721. Special Topics: Media, Arts, and Rhetoric. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to studies in media, art, and rhetoric. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. May be repeated fro credit if topic differs.
LBS 722. Special Topics: Politics and International Relations. (3 h)
Special topics in Liberal Studies related to politics and international relations. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if the topic differs.
LBS 723. Special Topics: History, Societies, and Culture. (3 h)
Special topics in Liberal Studies related to studies in history, societies, and various cultures. Emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if the topic differs.
LBS 724. Special Topics: Philosophy and Religion. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to studies in philosophy and religion. Emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if the topic differs.
LBS 725. Special Topics: Popular Culture. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to studies in popular culture. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if topic differs.
LBS 726. Special Topics: Urban Arts and Architectural Design. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to urban arts and architecural design studies. Course empahsis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if topic differs.
LBS 727. Special Topics: Science, Health, and Culture. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to the sciences, health and culture. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if the topic differs.
LBS 728. Special Topics: Fine Arts, Aesthetics, and Creativity. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to the study of Fine Art and the areas of asethetics and creativity. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if topic differs.
LBS 729. Special Topics: Psychology, Humanism, and Business. (3 h)
Special Topics in Liberal Studies related to the areas of psychology, humanism, and business. Course emphasis will vary with instructor. Course may be repeated for credit if topic differs.
LBS 786. Directed Study. (1-3 h)
Working with a faculty advisor, the student completes a special reading project in area not covered in regular courses or a special research project not related to the master's thesis. A student who wishes to enroll must submit the Directed Study Form, signed by the advisor, to the program director. May be repeated once for credit with the permission of the program director Staff.
LBS 790. Capstone Project. (3 h)
Capstone project options includes: 1) research paper describing and explaining tentative hypotheses based on quantitative and/or qualitative research; 2) creative work with accompanying interpretive text; 3) internship with non-profit or for-profit organization with on site supervision; 4) portfolio of M.A. work, including a retrospective paper on major learnings from student's course of study as well as two academic papers from M.A. courses taken.
LBS 791. Thesis Research. (3 h)
LBS 792. Thesis Research II. (3 h)