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For additional information about the Master of Liberal Studies degree, contact Maureen Godman, Director of the MLS program. To receive a hard copy of the application form, contact Sue Peek. |
| Advisory Committee | Dr. Maureen Godman, English, Director Dr. Bruce Mactavish, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Science Dr. Bruce Mechtly, Computer Information Sciences Dr. Tom Prasch, History Dr. Maria Raicheva-Stover, Mass Media Dr. Mary Sheldon, English Dr. Sandy Tutwiler, Education Back to Top |
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| Curriculum Goal | The MLS program at Washburn
University is designed to develop students who understand the integrated
nature of learning. As learning has become increasingly specialized, society
continues to need individuals with enhanced skills at seeing the "big picture."
Through the combination of core interdisciplinary seminars and an individualized
study program, students will become increasingly proficient at moving from
the specific to the general and in seeking solutions by integrating the
various disciplines. The capstone experience will provide students with
an opportunity to demonstrate these skills, as well as the broad humanistic
goals of reading, writing, and thinking at a more sophisticated level. Back to Top |
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| Oversight | Program management is
provided by the Master of Liberal Studies Advisory Committee which consists
of faculty from the divisions of Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative and Performing Arts,
Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Education. The MLS Director
is Chair of the committee. The committee will approve all core courses and
individualized study programs. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
will sign off on all degrees. Each student will be assigned an advisor from
among the committee members. A co-advisor from another academic field may
be selected by the student. Back to Top |
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| Graduate Faculty | Although the MLS Advisory Committee
will have the responsibility for determining which faculty members will teach these
courses, for the most part, the faculty will consist of full-time members of the
faculty who are either tenured or on a tenure-track contract. Back to Top |
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| Scheduling | Core Interdisciplinary courses
will be regularly offered in the evening or on weekends. The MLS Director will
work with individual departments to insure that a reasonable mix of upper-division
courses are offered at times that are accessible to non-traditional students. Back to Top |
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| Admissions | Applicants to the program must have a minimum GPA of
3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and a
bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Applicants must submit to the MLS Committee an
application form plus a three- to five-page essay
defining what a liberal education degree means at the
graduate level and specifying how the general aims of
liberal education are relevant to the specific goals
the applicant has in pursuing the MLS degree. The
second part of the essay should be as concrete as
possible at this early stage of the applicant's plans
and should suggest a cohesive link between liberal
education and the student's academic needs and career
goals. After reading the essay, the committee may then
interview applicants for admission. Students must also
submit official transcripts of previous university
work, as well as three letters of reference which
address the students' accomplishments and ability to do
quality graduate work. Applicants who do not meet the
minimal requirement may petition for probationary
admission. To move from probationary to full admission,
the candidate must complete 9 hours of graduate courses
with a 3.00 GPA. Undergraduate students may petition
for admission to graduate courses in the last six hours
before completion of their undergraduate program. Please note that all students not currently enrolled at Washburn must complete an application for admission to the University as well as submit an application to the program. In addition, those who have never attended Washburn should send transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended to the Office of Admissions. Contact the Admissions
Office (1-800-332-0291, admissions@washburn.edu)
or visit the Washburn homepage for
details.
Applications for admission for the fall semester must be received by April 15 of the preceding semester; applications for the spring semester are due by November 15. Back to Top |
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| Transfer Credit | Transfer credit from other accredited graduate programs will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but in no circumstances will more than six hours of transfer credit be accepted. Transfer credit will be granted only in the individualized study component of the program. Twelve hours of interdisciplinary seminars must be completed at Washburn University. Back to Top |
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| Satisfactory Progress | Students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 in graduate courses to remain in good standing. Upon completion of six graduate hours, students will be required to select an advisor who will assist them in creating an integrated program with a clear rationale. The program of study must be completed within a six year time span. Students who have not been admitted to the program may take courses on a space available basis. Back to Top |
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| Degree Requirements | Completion of the 30 hour requirement
with a minimum GPA of 3.0 at graduation and completion of a successful capstone
project.
A 30-hour program: 15 Hours: Individualized Study Program. Students must construct with an advisor an integrated program that goes beyond their undergraduate experience. Students may not repeat for graduate credit a course they have already taken for undergraduate credit. The individualized study program must have a clear rationale, and it must include course work from at least two divisions. The program proposal must be approved by the MLS Advisory committee. Courses in the ISP may be dual-listed at the 300/500 level. Students receiving graduate credit will have more demanding course requirements, and will complete an appropriate research project. 12 Hours: Core Interdisciplinary Seminars. Faculty will develop a series of interdisciplinary, team-taught seminars. These courses do not assume that students possess professional-level proficiency in the disciplines that provide the courses. They will not be offered in specific disciplines such as Philosophy or Chemistry. Rather they will be offered as Liberal Studies courses that are designed to introduce students to the underpinnings of the disciplines. They will be built around a considerable body of independent work and student presentations to the seminar as a whole. They are interdisciplinary and will be taught by faculty from two or more departments. These courses MUST be completed at Washburn University. Students will select 12 hours from the following: LS-500 Introduction to Graduate Research in Liberal Studies (required) Students must take LS 500, Introduction to Research, in addition to at least one seminar in each area. Each seminar will offer 3 hours credit. Students may take LS-501, 502, or 503 more than once, though they will not be able to repeat a specific seminar. The following courses have also been identified as meeting the criteria for the Master of Liberal Studies Program. Courses must be taken at the highest level offered to apply to the MLS.
3 Hours: LS-599: Capstone Experience Students will apprentice themselves to one faculty member to pursue a theme developed in the core interdisciplinary program or individualized study program. By the end of the second week of the semester in which students are enrolled in the capstone project, they must submit a written proposal to their capstone advisor. This proposal will be submitted to the MLS capstone committee for its review and approval. The expectation is a research paper of 30 pages or an approved equivalent. Students will be strongly encouraged to develop creative alternatives. Regardless of the form the project takes, it must in some significant way reflect both an in-depth understanding of a specific subject matter and the interdisciplinary nature of learning. Papers or projects will be defended before a three- to five- person committee consisting of the advisor and two-four other faculty members chosen by the student and approved by the advisor. The Capstone course provides the final opportunity to evaluate the student's mastery of the Liberal Studies curriculum. The final project should reflect the student's appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of learning. |
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