The Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) provides graduate instruction in three areas: arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Gain advanced skills and knowledge in these areas and the ability to approach problems with an interdisciplinary perspective.
The program is open to students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
How you benefit
The MLS may hold special appeal for community college, dual-credit, or other post-secondary instructors who need to meet HLC standards. Read more below.
This 100 percent online, consortial program is taught by IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast.
The combination of discipline-specific certificate courses, plus the unique interdisciplinary core and capstone experience of the MLS, will help these instructors integrate new concepts and approaches into their teaching, thereby improving the quality of instruction and learning outcomes for their students.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) requires all high school teachers who teach dual-credit or other college-level courses to hold a master's degree in the field, or to have a master's degree in another area, plus at least 18 credit hours of graduate coursework in the discipline. Because this program enables students to complete a master's degree and discipline-specific coursework, it fulfills this requirement.
Additionally, the program allows students to transfer up to 20 previously earned credits from IU graduate certificate programs. Students who have earned credits from a different accredited college or university may transfer up to 6 credits.
To earn a Master of Liberal Studies, you must complete 34 to 36 credit hours.
Requirements are broken down as follows:
Core courses (13 credit hours)
Electives/certificates (12-20 credit hours)
Capstone experience (3-9 credit hours)
Traditional Thesis. Original research or analysis encompassing literature from at least two different disciplinary perspectives. The thesis must be written in scholarly format, with the appropriate citation format and extensive references. The literature review developed for the thesis proposal should serve as the initial component of the thesis. Typical thesis length: 50 or more pages.
Creative Project. Students who focus their MLS program on a creative field may complete a creative project for their MLS capstone. Creative work may include writing, art, and performance. The creative work must be accompanied by an explanatory essay encompassing material from at least two different disciplinary perspectives. The essay must be written in scholarly format, with appropriate citation format and appropriate references. The literature review developed for the capstone proposal may serve as the basis of the explanatory essay. Typical length of the explanatory essay: 20 to 35 pages.
Peer-Reviewed Publication. Students may focus their capstone work on a peer-reviewed publication in a professional forum. Examples include articles in professional journals, investigative journalism published in a major newspaper, or a book published by a reputable press. The publication must be accompanied by an explanatory essay encompassing material from at least two different disciplinary perspectives. The essay must be written in scholarly format, with appropriate citation format and appropriate references. The literature review developed for the capstone proposal may serve as the basis of the explanatory essay. Typical length of the explanatory essay: 20 to 35 pages.
Applied Project. Students may focus their capstone project on their current place of employment, internship, or practicum. The applied project should be designed to benefit both the student and the employer and can be focused narrowly on a specific issue or problem relevant to the employer. A complete literature review and an effectively designed methodology will support the value of the project. Typical length: 50 or more pages.
Public Intellectual Capstone Course. The public intellectual option offers students the opportunity to work within a learning community made up of other students and led by a faculty facilitator to explore the variety of media through which public intellectuals communicate. Students create their own portfolio of public intellectual work to be submitted for completion of MLS degree requirements. This option is fulfilled during the course, LBST-D 600, Public Intellectual Practicum.
Many online support services are available to students as they progress through the program.
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
A bachelor's degree
3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states
To apply to this program:
Complete an online application that includes:
Official transcripts
Two letters of recommendation
Interview
Application Dates
Fall semester: Aug 1
Spring semester: Jan 1
Summer 1 semester: May 1
Summer 2 semester: Jun 15
Core
LBST-D 510
-or-
LBST-D 510
Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (3 cr.) + Information Literacy (1 cr.)
-or-
Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (4 cr.)
4 Credits
LBST-D 501
Humanities Seminar*
3 Credits
LBST-D 502
Social Sciences Seminar*
3 Credits
LBST-D 503
Science Seminar*
3 Credits
*Interdisciplinary graduate seminar. Topics and course requirements vary from semester to semester.
In accordance with Federal Financial Aid requirements, IU has calculated a “Cost of Attendance” for this program based on the most common enrollments from students who are enrolled full time for the academic year. We’re showing you the estimated cost of attendance for the full 2023–24 academic year (fall and spring semesters). Cut these numbers in half to figure out the cost of a single semester. Your actual costs for housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses will vary based on:
• The number of credit hours you take • Whether you’re an Indiana resident • Your personal choices • Your travel habits
Your cost of attendance may differ from these estimates.
Full time Students
Part time Students
Direct Costs:
Tuition & Mandatory Fees
Indiana Residents
$332.44 per credit hour
Non-residents
$491.08 per credit hour
Direct Costs:
Tuition & Mandatory Fees
Indiana Residents
$332.44 per credit hour
Non-residents
$491.08 per credit hour
Indirect Costs:
Food & Housing $10,244
Books & Supplies $460
Transportation $2350
Personal Expenses $2200
Indirect Costs:
Food & Housing $10,244
Books & Supplies $184
Transportation $2350
Personal Expenses $2200
If you would like a more detailed estimate of expenses, please use IU's Tuition and Fee Calculator.