Master of Liberal Arts MLA Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

The Path to Earning the MLA

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MLA Degree Requirements

The conferral of the MLA degree is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

• The Completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate work; a minimum of 15 of the hours must be at the 6000 level.
  
• The satisfactory completion of LA 6013, Introduction to the Liberal Arts, and LA 6713, Liberal Arts Project, as part of the 30-semester-hour requirement.
  
• The public presentation of the project paper prepared for LA 6713.
  
• The Completion of a 12- to 18-semester-hour major concentration of course work in one of the three areas: communications (including English and linguistics), the fine arts, or social sciences. The completion of 6 to 12 hours in a related area of study.
  
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 on all graduate course work attempted at Arkansas Tech University with a maximum of six semester hours of "C" grades.
  
• A minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate course work completed in residence at Arkansas Tech University. (Full time residence is not required.)
  
• Completion of all degree requirements within six years of admission to the program.

  

  MLA graduate and adjunct professor of English Laura Johnson assists a student

   

  The Path to Earning the MLA

The MLA student, in consultation with an advisor, will design a program that best suits the student's needs.

LA 6013: Introduction to the Liberal Arts

Intro to Liberal Arts should be one of the first courses in the program. This course prepares the student for interdisciplinary studies in the liberal arts and for graduate level research.

Major Concentration

Four to six courses selected to satisfy program requirements should define a major area of interest in communications, the fine arts, or the social sciences. The major concentration may have a disciplinary (history, literature) or a topical (American studies, international affairs) orientation.

Selected Courses in Related Areas

Two to four of the courses in the program should be selected from areas outside the major concentration, but related to it in a supportive, interdisciplinary manner. For example, a student with a major concentration in literature might select related courses in the fine arts and social sciences.

Liberal Arts Project

MLA Students should enroll in LA 6713 (Liberal Arts Project) toward the end of their program. Each Liberal Arts Project student will work closely with a faculty supervisor to define a topic and to design an appropriate project. The project may be research based or may be originally creative.