Liberal Arts MLA | Temple University

Master of Liberal Arts

Develop an individualized program of study based on your personal interests and professional goals with the Master of Liberal Arts in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. This unique master’s degree is specifically designed for working professionals who are preparing for a career change or to advance their current careers, or those who wish to pursue doctoral study.

Liberal Arts master's students are encouraged to develop an individual program of study, based on their own interests and objectives, and in a direction that will challenge and refine their expertise. Students develop strong analytical, research and writing skills through interdisciplinary coursework offered across the College of the Liberal Arts and Temple’s schools and colleges, allowing them to participate in a diverse network of students and faculty while opening doors to new career possibilities. Faculty are drawn from a range of disciplines with an emphasis on applied humanities and expertise in art and culture, media studies, public history, and social theory.

Our Community

The College of Liberal Arts at Temple comprises many academic disciplines and research areas. Now more than ever, an interdisciplinary liberal arts education is invaluable for your future pursuits. It offers the opportunity to further push your drive to create real change in the world, here at Temple and beyond. In this graduate program, you’ll work closely with diverse faculty members who are highly esteemed in their field and with a curious, passionate community of peers. Learn more about the College of Liberal Arts.

Program Format & Curriculum

Students have up to five years to complete the MLA program on a full- or part-time basis with evening classes held after 4:30 p.m. at both Temple’s Main and Center City campuses. Some classes are offered online or in a hybrid format.

The curriculum for this 30-credit master’s program includes one required course, three Master of Liberal Arts special topics courses and six electives, which can consist of additional MLA courses and/or graduate courses from other departments and colleges. The culminating event of the program is a Master’s Qualifying Paper, which demonstrates analytical writing, critical reading and original scholarly thought.

Recent examples of the MLA special topics courses include

Topics in the Arts and American Culture: Made in America: Transcendentalism, the Beat Generation, and the Modern Hipster,
Topics in Gender Studies: Secularism: Muslim and Jewish Women,
Ways of Seeing: African-Americans in Popular Culture, and
Topics in Cultural Studies: Everyday Life Studies: Myth, Satire, and Spectacle.

Learn more about Master of Liberal Arts courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies

*College of Education

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Liberal Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,105.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,518.00 per credit

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

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