Degrees Offered

Degrees

Graduate Liberal Studies at Wesleyan offers the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) and the Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil). Students who would like to pursue the MALS or MPhil must apply for the degree 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.

Distribution Requirements for the MALS:

6 courses (18 credits) within the area of concentration
6 courses (18 credits) outside the area of concentration
Courses must be taken in at least three of the five areas of concentration
Optional master's essay or project instead of the sixth course within concentration

Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil)

5 courses (15 credits) within the area of concentration
2 courses (6 credits) outside the area of concentration
2 courses (6 credits) electives, either inside of outside the area of concentration
1 thesis
Courses must be taken in at least three of the five areas of concentration

Timeline to Complete Degree or Certificate
Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within six years of their first GLS 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.

Foundational Courses

Students are strongly encouraged to take a foundational course during their first few courses in the program. Foundational courses are intended to provide an additional level of guidance, support, and feedback to ensure that students develop the tools and skills necessary for graduate level research and writing. 

Students concentrating in arts, humanities, and social sciences should take a course with a writing intensive option.  Seminars with a "writing intensive option" are regular GLS seminars, typically with an enrollment limit of 18, in which a maximum of 2 - 4 students may register for the writing intensive option.  These 2 - 4 students will have additional writing assignments and will receive more extensive detailed feedback on their work from the instructor.

Students concentrating in mathematics and sciences should enroll in a mathematics and sciences foundational course.  These courses are designed to help students hone the quantitative analysis and scientific thinking skills that are necessary for graduate work in these fields.