Liberal Arts, M.A.L.A.

(MALA)

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirement for graduate committees is satisfied.

The Master of Arts in Liberal Arts offers both a thesis track and a non-thesis track.

Thesis track

Each student must earn at least 24 hours of graduate course credit, earn at least six hours of thesis credit (LIBA 8000 ) for the thesis project, and defend a master’s thesis. The curricular requirements include:

• At least 24 hours of graduate coursework, a minimum of 12 of which must be at the 7000 level or above, and must include LIBA 7000  and LIBA 7900 . No more than 12 hours of graduate coursework may be taken at the 4000-level
• At least six additional hours of LIBA 8000  (thesis credit)
• A maximum of 12 credits of coursework from any one department

Non-Thesis track:

Each student must earn at least 36 hours of graduate course credit and sit for an exit examination. The exit examination will include the student’s defense of a portfolio of three major essays or projects completed during his or her time in the MALA program. The student should also compose a short essay (about 5-7 pages) drawing connections among the items in the portfolio and reflecting on the larger intellectual questions encountered during his or her time in the program. The curricular requirements include:

• At least 36 hours of graduate coursework, a minimum of 18 of which must be at the 7000 level or above, and must include LIBA 7000  and LIBA 7900 . No more than 18 hours of graduate coursework may be taken at the 4000-level
• A maximum of 18 credits of coursework from any one department