Liberal Studies Graduate Program
We regret to inform everyone that admission to UMD’s Master of Liberal Studies program has been suspended indefinitely.
This action was taken, after considerable deliberation, by a committee of the program faculty in consultation with officers of the College of Liberal Arts, Continuing Education, and The Graduate School.
Please direct questions to:
John Schwetman, MLS Director
218-726-8437 or jschwetm@d.umn.edu
or
Nancy Heller Olsen
218-726-8965 or nolsen@d.umn.edu
Master of Liberal Studies (MLS)
A degree of difference!
The Master of Liberal Studies Program allows graduate students to create a master's program from courses and areas they want to study at their own pace and convenience. It is designed for the college graduate who wishes to obtain a master’s degree without interrupting his or her career. In addition to a wide variety of courses across disciplines, MLS specific seminars and modules focus on the diversity of the human condition.
The MLS Program requires
students to take a minimum of 32 credits and a Plan B Project.
The program core requirements (9 credits)
IS 8001 Introduction to Liberal Studies (4 credits)
IS 8501 Seminar: Ethics and the Human Condition (4 credits)
IS 8591 Directed Study which can be taken for 1 credit
Plan B Projects
In place of a thesis, MLS students complete one to three original research papers called "Plan B Projects" which may be an expansion of work done in a course or another topic of special interest. Plan B papers and projects are submitted to the examining committee before your final oral presentation and examination and represent 120 hours of independent research.
Faculty
MLS courses are taught by award-winning and acclaimed faculty such as those pictured below.
 |
John Schwetman,
Ph.D. |
John Hatcher, Ph.D. http://www.d.umn.edu/~jhatcher/
|
 |
 |
Lawrence M.
Knopp, Jr., Ph.D. |
| Robert Weidner,
Ph.D. Department of Sociology- Anthropology rweidner@d.umn.edu http://www.d.umn.edu/~rweidner/ |
 |
 |
Gesa Zinn, Ph.D. Department of Foreign Languages and Literature gzinn @d.umn.edu http://www.d.umn.edu/~gzinn/ |
Financial assistance for students in the MLS program
Each year, one $1,000-$1,200 Edward J. Smith tuition scholarship is available to students participating in the MLS Program. It is awarded on the basis of academic excellence and financial need.
Edward J. Smith attended UMD and served as a member of the Academic Support and Student Life staff until his death in 1994. He valued lifelong learning and was a role model for those facing hardship and handicaps. This scholarship is dedicated to older students returning to higher education. To be eligible for the Smith scholarship, MLS students must be more than 25 years of age and have demonstrated financial need.
Other opportunities are available to MLS students, including loans and financial assistance. Although the MLS program has no research or teaching assistantships available, students are eligible to apply for these positions in other departments.
You may download Scholarship application materials and submit them by mail or in person.For more information, contact
John Schwetman, MLS Director: 218-726-8437, jschwetm@d.umn.edu or
Nancy Heller Olsen: 218/726-8965, nolsen@d.umn.edu
More information
For more information about the MLS Program, contact
John Schwetman, MLS Director
218-726-8437 or jschwetm@d.umn.edu
or
Nancy Heller Olsen
218/726-8965 or nolsen@d.umn.edu