Dept. Code: MLS
The MALS Program
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program is founded on an interdisciplinary approach to issues and questions central to the history and development of human culture. It is designed to provide a broad understanding of these issues and questions through a focused and systematic program of study drawing upon faculty from various disciplines in the humanities, the social sciences, and the basic sciences. MALS is a unique, thirty (30) credit graduate program designed to fosters a continuous desire to learn, allowing both traditional and non-traditional (professional) students the flexibility to take classes in their own individualized course of study within the College of Arts and Sciences.
A MALS degree can lead to new and evolving career opportunities. With the expertise you’ll gain through the enriching MALS coursework, you will learn to creatively adapt to new challenges and embrace multiple, diverse perspectives. All of these abilities—reading, writing, discussing and researching—are essential to a successful career and can be applied to problem-solving in any number of contexts: from the arts to education, from business to public service.
For further information regarding this program, please visit mals.miami.edu
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program
1300 Campo Sano Avenue, 215
Coral Gables, FL 33146-2025
Call 305-284-8783 or email mals@miami.edu
Master's Programs
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program (MALS) is designed for the student who seeks to develop the critical thinking that marks a truly educated person—for the student who brings a heightened awareness of the unanswered questions that confront an inquiring mind—for the self-motivated person who never stops asking the first question: why?
MALS students come from various backgrounds. They are artists, business professionals, entrepreneurs, engineers, homemakers, lawyers, recent graduates, journalists and teachers. The program gives them the opportunity for intellectual and personal growth and for sharing their experiences with others in a community of learning.
Certificate in Liberal Studies
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Liberal Studies requires 15 credit hours of coursework. The curriculum can be designed to fit each student's academic goals and credits earned in the Certificate Program can be transferred into the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.
MLS 601. Aspects of Creative and Reflective Thought. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected aspects of creative and reflective thought, based on materials from the arts, the humanities, the sciences, the social sciences and history. The focus will be on themes and issues represented in a variety of cultural traditions.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MLS 602. Perspectives on Human Nature. 3 Credit Hours.
Basic theories of human nature proposed by the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. The course deals with fundamental issues regarding the concept of human nature, such as the nature of the self and its relation to society, the impact of culture on self perception and the relation of thought to human action.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MLS 603. Theories of the Physical Universe. 3 Credit Hours.
Various understandings of the nature of the universe and their impact on human culture. The course will deal with critical issues addressed in the various attempts to understand the physical world, such as fundamental structures and processes, the limitation of human perception, and the interaction between the human species and its environment.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MLS 604. Survey of Medical Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.
In this seminar we will examine the varieties of medical humanities, and, using these various lenses, come to a better understanding of the way in which cultural competencies and scientific understanding can go hand-in-hand. In this class we will focus on contemporary issues in medicine through lenses that include (but are not limited to) religion and biomedical ethics, feminist studies of modern health care, issues of death and end-of-life care, the history of medicine, disability studies, and the use of art and literature in the healing process. We will explore these subjects in the context of both providing and reflecting on the work of health care in the 21st century.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MLS 605. Global Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Mitigation. 3 Credit Hours.
There is an emerging global consensus that climate change will stress the economic, social, and political systems that underpin each nation state. This course aims to address the whole complexity of climate change, by bringing together the science of climate change, the analysis of impacts, and the economic and engineering strategies to reduce emissions. This interdisciplinary course covers the tools and insights from economic analysis, environmental science, and statistics that inform our understanding of climate change impacts, the design of mitigation and adaptation policies, and the implementation of these policies. Students will be actively engaged in exploring the scientific and economic issues underlying the threat of global climate change and the institutions engaged in negotiating an international response.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.
MLS 611. Studies in the Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of selected topics in the Humanities.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 612. Studies in the Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of selected topics in the Social Sciences.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 613. Studies in the Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of selected topics in the sciences.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 621. Studies in the Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of selected topics in the Humanities.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MLS 625. Special Topics. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of special topics central to history and the human culture.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MLS 626. Special Topics. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of special topics central to history and human culture.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 627. Special Topics. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of special topics central to history and the human culture.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MLS 631. Studies in the Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary study of selected topics in the Humanities.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MLS 696. Directed Readings. 1-3 Credit Hours.
A directed readings course allows you to work independently with a MALS professor, researching a topic of your choice.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 697. Directed Readings. 1-3 Credit Hours.
A directed readings course allows you to work independently with a MALS professor, researching a topic of your choice.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 798. Seminar in Liberal Studies. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary seminar designed to expand the knowledge of students in the areas of critical theory, esthetics, media theory, psychology and politics.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MLS 799. Seminar in Liberal Studies. 3 Credit Hours.
Interdisciplinary seminar designed to expand the knowledge of students in the areas of critical theory, esthetics, media theory, psychology and politics.
Components: SEM.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
MLS 810. Master's Thesis. 1-6 Credit Hours.
The student working on his/her master's thesis enrolls for credit, in most departments not to exceed six, as determined by his/her advisor. Credit is not awarded until the thesis has been accepted.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 815. MALS Project. 1-6 Credit Hours.
The student working on his/her MALS project enrolls for credit, not to exceed 6, as determined by his/her advisor. Credit is not awarded until the project has been accepted.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
MLS 820. Research in Residence. 1 Credit Hour.
Used to establish research in residence for the thesis for the master's degree after the student has enrolled for the permissible cumulative total in MLS 810 (usually six credits). Credit not granted. May be regarded as full time residence.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: THI.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
MLS 825. Continuous Registration-Master's Study. 1 Credit Hour.
To establish residence for non-thesis students who are preparing for major examinations. Credit not granted. Regarded as full time residence.
Requisite: Plan of Master of Arts Liberal Studies.
Components: LEC.
Grading: SUS.
Typically Offered: Offered by Announcement Only.
