Master of Liberal Studies

Lately I've been looking at schools offering MA "Liberal Studies" degrees. Here's my list I've come up with so far, I'm wondering: Which, if any, of these schools would be considered "good" schools in terms of going on to do a doctorate? My next degree (if any) will need to lead to a doctorate program ... will a MLS likely get me there?

Sorry that there are no links, but since I don't have enough posts yet any posts I make with links in them are moderated and never seem to appear. All of these programs can be easily found via Google & their name and program title. The prices listed are for tuition costs, as best as I can determine. I've included CSHDH's program as well just because it is well known/established and practically speaking similar to the others ...

FHSU seems to sound great on paper (especially cost!) but I'm not sure how well regarded they are even though they are RA (as all the schools on this list are) ...

Fort Hays State University
Master of Liberal Studies
$6,634 - 31 hours

California State University, Dominguez Hills
Master of Arts in Humanities
$6,750 - 30 hours

Excelsior College
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
$14,550 - 33 hours, can transfer in many credits

University of Toledo
Master of Liberal Studies
$14,322 - 33 hours

Regis University
Master of Arts, Religious Studies
$14,760 - 36 hours

Southern Methodist University
Master of Liberal Studies
$15,660 - 36 hours

Texas Christian University
Master of Liberal Arts
$18,000 - 30 hours, no thesis?

Forgot to mention ... my area of study interest would be interdisciplinary, technology & religion.

 

Where are you planning to attend to earn the doctorate? If you have some schools in mind for the doctorate, I would ask them.

Good luck!

Shawn

 

UNCG offers an interesting MALS: http://goglobal.uncg.edu/graduate_liberal_studies/

 

Technically Harvard's Extension School offers the Master of Liberal Arts in a variety of fields including religion and technology.

http://extension.harvard.edu/2008-09/programs/

 

Harrison Middleton University offers a variety of graduate degrees with tuition of USD10,050.00 which might suit your educational pursuits. The school is nationally accredited by DETC and now offers doctorate degrees (Doctor of Arts or Doctor of Education).

 

WNMU also offers a MALS program and there has been quite a bit of discussion recently in this forum:
http://www.wnmu.edu/VirtualCampus/InterdisciplinaryMasters.htm

Since you mentioned a MA Humanities (CSUDH) above here is another at APU
http://www.apu.apus.edu/Academics/Degree-Programs/program.htm?progid=4516&program_type=Masters

I would suggest taking the masters degree that gives you the most transfer units into the Ph.D. program you plan to pursue.

What technoloy area are you interested in?

 

Let's not forget my personal favorite:

University of Oklahoma
http://www.ou.edu/cls/mals/

 

Thank you for your replies so far! I don't know where I'd want to do a PhD, there's nowhere in particular ... in terms of my topic, I'd be interested in studying how different religious groups are using technology, in particular the Internet.

 

I would go with SMU if money is not an issue; however, CSU-DH would be perfect for the pocket.

 

Salve Regina University has an MA in Humanities offered online.

http://www.salve.edu/programs_esalve/

Thomas Edison State College offers an MLS

http://www.tesc.edu/1839.php

 

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers an 11-course MALS degree that will accept up to 11 hours of transfer credit. In-state tuition is $142.11 per credit, out-of-state is $290.00 per credit for distance education courses, more if you choose to take classes on-site as an out-of-state student. They also nickel and dime you with a $16.03/credit hour technology fee, a $55.00 orientation fee, and a $6.00 per term registration fee, but it's still a pretty good deal, especially for NC residents. UNC-G has a long history of innovative education, and some of their best teachers participate in their MALS program.

 

I've been in several of the programs listed

1. U of Oklahoma requires a two week on-campus intro seminar but it's really a good thing, kind of gets you into jump-start mode. Staff and profs at OU are very kind, helpful and responsive. I've been in this program twice, plus I earned my Bachelor of Liberal Studies there. I highly recommend OU's program.
2. Cal State U, DH is okay but they'll require the GRE, which started after I was in the program. They also are not very supportive or helpful and take way too long to respond to anything.
3. I've enrolled and then disenrolled in three courses at UNC/Greensboro. The profs were all, without exception, very biased and very far left. If that suits you, plus the online format, then you might like it.
4. Excelsior -- I earned my Associate's degree when it was Regents College. They also provide very little help or support and take forever to respond to anything.
5. Fort Hays -- the main downside is that their exams must be proctored, which is a real pain. That was a deal breaker for me.
6. I'm in the Master's program at Harrison Middleton U, but it's not necessarily for everyone. Based entirely on the Great Books of the Western World and you create your own courses after the first required Cornerstone course. Lots of reading, of course. The master's thesis may use sources other than the Great Books but the courses can not.

 

CSU-DH doesn't currently require GRE. I looked at this back in 93 and IIRC the booklet they sent didn't mention GRE.

http://www.csudh.edu/hux/admreq.html

 

FHSU has a really good reputation in the Kansas/Colorado/Nebraska area.

They also have one of the leading telecommunication programs in the nation. You'd get a great education as well as a school with a great reputation from FHSU. Many of the profs have gotten their doctorates from Big 10 schools. I had several profs in my undergrad who had PhDs from Notre Dame, Cornell etc.

 

Yep, you're so right friartuck, my bad!


At one point I was thinking of enrolling again at CSUDH (I don't seem to learn my lesson) and they did require the GRE at that time. They must have dropped it -- maybe too many people protested, I dunno!

Emmzee: I have to add that some colleges have very strict requirements of completing the master's program within five years, others are six (like Harrison Middleton) and if I recall, Excelsior College says ten years. I even called them and asked, because that's quite unusual. So whatever program you're interested in, be sure to check out the time requirements for completion.

 

this is a great overview...

I completed the MLS at FHSU in 2007 and didnt have any proctored exams. My concentration was in Org Leadership, perhaps other departments have different approaches.

 

Of course, there are these old MLS threads, if they're of any use to you:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12795
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20134
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27618
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28322

 

If you were there in person, likely a different story. I figured emmzee planned on the distance degree .... in which case FHSU requires any course exams to be proctored. I wanted to do a master's through them, since they are very cost-effective, but I had a tough time dealing with proctors when I lived in a larger city. Now I'm on an island and it wouldn't work out for me. Sigh.

CSU-DH -- My bad, they don't demand the GRE. At one point in time they did but it appears they have dropped that requirement. Sorry for the wrong info.

 

Thats not correct. I completed the degree entirely by distance and never had any proctored exams, including comps.

I also teach for them (also in the Leadership Department) and have no proctoring requirements.

I would fact-check that requirement with the department head for the track you are pursuing.

 

Well, here is my experience ......

I agree, emmzee should contact FHSU if interested in their MLS program. I did contact them last year and was told, in an e-mail, that for courses requiring exams I would have to find a proctor. They listed who would be acceptable as a proctor. Thus I had to nix them for what I wanted.

Guess this goes to show -- do your research before committing! The nice thing about the UNCG MALS is you can enroll in up to three MALS courses as a "visiting scholar" before you apply for admission to the MALS program. That's a good way to try before you buy. Sure wish every college allowed such a thing.