To be accepted to this program, you must have:

1. A bachelor's degree
2. 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale

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 I semester: May 1

Summer II semester: Jun 15

The M.L.S. may hold special appeal for community college, dual-credit, or other post-secondary instructors who have completed specialized coursework via an IU Online graduate certificate in biology, communication studies, composition studies, chemistry, history, language and literature, literature, mathematics, political science, or Spanish. As many as 18 to 20 credits from these certificates will apply to M.L.S. degree requirements. 

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.

Creative Project. If your focus is in a creative field, you may complete a creative project for your M.L.S. 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. You may focus your capstone project on your current place of employment, internship, or practicum. The applied project should be designed to benefit both you and your 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 you 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. You’ll create a portfolio of public intellectual work to be submitted for completion of M.L.S. degree requirements. This option is fulfilled during the course, LBST-D 600, Public Intellectual Practicum.

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)

Core

*Interdisciplinary graduate seminar. Topics and course requirements vary from semester to semester.

Find course descriptions with our Search Schedule of Classes/Courses tool.