Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

Why pursue a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at North Central College?

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program brings today’s headlines into conversation with classic statements on humanity’s most enduring questions. Students investigate how our cultural, social, and natural worlds intersect in order to understand issues in our own lives in their full complexity. Together, they examine a variety of materials across a wide array of academic disciplines in order to integrate disparate insights into a view of the whole.

All the courses in the MALS program are run as small, discussion-based, Socratic seminars. Students develop close working relationships with each other and program faculty, whose expertise represents the range of traditional arts and sciences. In addition to intensive seminars, students work individually with program faculty on either a focused capstone project of their devising or on a problem-based project in which they integrate knowledge and insights from across the liberal arts.

Graduates of the MALS program master assured, compelling communication, developing and honing skills in critical reading, concise writing, confident speaking, and careful research. Students will find new ways to work productively in diverse settings and approach challenges creatively in their personal lives, workplaces, and communities.

Flexible Format

• Cohort Model
• 100% Online
• Synchronous sessions Monday and Wednesday
• Enrolling for Fall 2022 Cohort

Benefits of a Cohort Model

• Structured program that supports busy graduate students
• Comprehensive program that can be completed in 5 semesters
• Close connection with faculty and classmates through online discussions

Interdisciplinary Coursework Designed for Today

The MALS degree is an interdisciplinary program drawing upon coursework from many different areas such as art, humanities, and social sciences. It is designed to train you on how to think critically and contextually about your own experiences, as well as a wide range of topics. The reimagined courses focus on areas that are relevant to our culture today from healthcare, religion, and sports, to gender and sexuality, science, and immigration issues.