Interdepartmental Program in Liberal Arts (Graduate Program)

For information regarding the UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in the Liberal Arts (MALA) program is an alternative to traditional graduate studies in a single discipline, enabling the student to pursue courses in a wide range of disciplines and tailor a curriculum to his or her own intellectual interests.  The program emphasizes study for the sake of personal enrichment and intellectual growth. Although the MALA program may have a vocational dimension, the primary emphasis is on fostering the curiosity, understanding, and research skills that will sustain a lifetime of learning.

Though the MALA program welcomes traditional students who seek to pursue a nontraditional, interdisciplinary course of study, it is especially suited to accommodate college educated adults who wish to return to part-time academic studies, having already established a career.

Administration

Admission

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School. Official transcripts, official test scores, and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: Graduate Student Services, 114 West David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

The MALA program accepts new students for fall, spring, and summer semesters.  Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, as they are submitted. Applicants must, however, adhere to the application deadlines established by the Graduate School.

Students seeking admission must submit satisfactory credentials from previous study and acceptable GRE scores. In general, expectations of previous work include an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or above, and GRE scores (combined verbal and quantitative) of at least 295. International students whose native language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

Graduate Faculty

The graduate faculty for the MALA is drawn from departments across the university. Contact the director for specific information.

Programs

• Liberal Arts, M.A.L.A.