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The Graduate Liberal Studies Program offers the
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) and the Certificate of
Advanced Study (CAS). Students who wanting to pursue the degree or
certificate must petition to matriculate
(apply for degree candidacy) into the MALS or CAS program.
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)
MALS students complete a program of study with a concentration of courses in one area of
study, complemented by a
small number of courses outside the area of concentration. The possible
areas of concentration are: Arts, Humanities, Mathematics, Sciences, and
Social Sciences.
Completing a master's essay or project is an option in
the MALS. Two plans of study are offered:
-
No master's essay/project: 36 units of graduate
credit (12 courses) not including a final essay or project.
-
With the master's essay/project: 30 units of
graduate credit including 9 courses and a final essay or project
"course" that confers 3 units of credit.
The 30-credit plan requires a three-credit
master's
essay or project, appropriate to the student’s area of concentration,
which is proposed and completed under the advisement of a current member
of the Wesleyan faculty or a visiting lecturer in liberal studies who
has taught in the GLSP within the past two academic years (six terms).
Students must select one or the other plan when
petitioning to matriculate, although they may petition to switch plans
at a later date.
Distribution requirements for the
two MALS programs
|
Program: |
30-unit plan (master's project) |
36-unit plan (no
master's
project) |
| Within
concentration: |
6 courses (18 credits) |
7 courses (21 credits) |
| Outside
concentration:
|
2 courses (6 credits) |
3 courses (9 credits) |
|
Electives: |
1 course (3 credits) |
2 courses (6 credits) |
| Final
essay or project: |
1 course (3 credits) |
n/a |
| Total
courses/credits: |
10 courses (30 credits) |
12 courses (36 credits) |
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS)
The Certificate of Advanced Study requires a previously earned master's
degree or higher. The CAS requires a master's essay or project. All courses leading to
the certificate must be taken at Wesleyan University; no transferred
credit is accepted toward the certificate.
Students who have completed an MALS at Wesleyan may
continue with the GLSP to pursue the CAS. All courses offered in
the GLSP apply to the MALS or the CAS. The CAS differs from the
MALS in the expectation for the final essay or project. CAS students
should not repeat courses already taken for the MALS.
CAS students may concentrate in Arts, Humanities,
Mathematics, Sciences, or Social Sciences.
Distribution requirements for the CAS
|
Program: |
CAS |
| Within concentration: |
6 courses (18 credits) |
| Outside concentration: |
2 courses (6 credits) |
| Electives: |
1 course (3 credits) |
| Master's
essay or project: |
1 course (3 credits) |
| Total
courses/credits: |
10 courses (30 credits) |
Program Completion Charts
Program completion charts provide a “map” of the requirements for the 30- and
36-credit MALS plans and the CAS To use them, select the chart
appropriate to your program and plan, then write in each course you have
taken inside and outside your area of concentration. Then you will be
able to see how many more courses you need to take in order to properly
distribute your courses. When placing your courses on the form, please
note that courses graded (C+) or lower do not count toward the degree or
certificate, no more than six credits graded (CR) will be applied to the
degree and none to the certificate, and only one graduate tutorial
course will be applied to the degree or certificate.
MALS Completion Chart – 30-credit plan:
Word version or
html version
MALS Completion Chart – 36-credit plan:
Word version or
html version
CAS Completion Chart: Word version
or html version
Timeline to Complete Degree or Certificate
Students are expected to
complete all degree requirements within six years of their first GLSP course.
If circumstances arise that prevent a student from completing the degree within
six years, students may petition for an extension of one or two years. Eight
years is the maximum amount of time students may take to complete degree
requirements. Final Essay or Project
Students in the CAS and MALS 30-unit plan complete a culminating
final essay or project. Click here for
more information about final essays and projects. |
