Graduate Bulletin

Liberal Arts, M.L.A.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: June 30

Spring: November 1

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but all application materials must be received by the deadline to be considered for that semester.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be requested from individuals who are well positioned to evaluate the applicant's academic abilities and accomplishments as well as her/his potential for graduate study.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

No specific coursework is required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for admission to graduate study at Temple University.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your academic and research achievements, your current research interests, and your future career goals.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is not required.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.

Resume:

An academic CV or professional resume is required.

Transcripts:

An official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended is required.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the M.L.A. Program upon approval. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple and not older than five years. The grade(s) earned must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

MLA 8011:  Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies

MLA "Foundations" course

Two MLA "Topics" or "Proseminar" courses

Six electives

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Qualifying Paper:

All candidates for the M.L.A. degree are required to write a Qualifying Paper, which is typically 40-50 pages in length. It should demonstrate the student's ability to write analytically on a topic of her/his choice; to read, absorb, and evaluate scholarly thought and research; and to develop and establish her/his own perspective on the problem being examined. The Qualifying Paper is submitted for approval to the M.L.A. Advisory Committee or other graduate faculty chosen by the M.L.A. Program. Revisions may be requested.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/mla

Department Information:

Master of Liberal Arts Program

College of Liberal Arts

811 Anderson Hall  (022-01)

1114 West Berks Street

Philadelphia, PA  19122-6090

mla@temple.edu

215-204-1644

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Colleen Knapp
Program Administrator
colleen.knapp@temple.edu
215-204-1644

Stephanie Morawski
Program Coordinator
morawski@temple.edu
215-204-1644

Program Director:

Jayne K. Drake
mla@temple.edu
215-204-7743

Assistant Program Director:

Michael Szekely
mszekely@temple.edu
215-204-6704

About the Program

The Master of Liberal Arts is an interdisciplinary degree that offers students the opportunity to take courses from a variety of graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts and elsewhere in the University. Students are encouraged to develop an individual program of study, based on their own interests and objectives and at the direction of the M.L.A. Program Director. Our students are generally working adults who want to grow intellectually by extending their liberal arts education. Some may be seeking to move toward the doctoral level in an area and want to prepare themselves for graduate work; others may be interested in changing careers and wish to gain post-baccalaureate experience. The M.L.A. degree might be relevant, for example, for those who want to move into educational administration, library work, public policy, the law, or teaching.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years

Campus Location:

Main, Center City

Students may take a significant number of required and elective courses at the Main and Center City campuses. Occasionally, courses are offered at the Ambler or Ft. Washington campuses.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m. The degree program can be completed on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Continuous Enrollment:

Students must maintain continuous enrollment. When a student knows that s/he will not register for the Fall or Spring semester, s/he must submit a Leave of Absence form along with the $25 fee to the M.L.A. administrative office. If a student fails to register for two consecutive semesters without submitting Leave of Absence forms, then s/he may be dismissed from the program for non-continuous enrollment.

Department Information:

Master of Liberal Arts Program

College of Liberal Arts

811 Anderson Hall  (022-01)

1114 West Berks Street

Philadelphia, PA  19122-6090

mla@temple.edu

215-204-1644

Interdisciplinary Study:

Students are introduced to interdisciplinary thinking in introductory courses and encouraged to develop individual programs of study along interdisciplinary lines.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

The M.L.A. Program draws on faculty from across the range of disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts, with an emphasis on American Studies, Arts and Society, and Women's Studies. Students may concentrate their courses outside of the M.L.A. course offerings in two or three departments.

Job Placement:

While not a professional degree, the M.L.A. degree may be applicable to a wide range of future graduate training and/or employment: from teaching and educational administration to library work; from public policy to arts management; and from government, the law, and public service to work in the private sector.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may take up to 9 s.h. of graduate work at Temple University before applying to the program. Coursework may be credited to the M.L.A. degree with approval of the M.L.A. Advisory Committee.

Financing Opportunities

Students in the M.L.A. Program are generally working adults who want to grow intellectually by extending their liberal arts education. Therefore, funding for assistantships and academic internships is limited.

Updated 2.3.11