Examine Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts with a Focus on American Culture
Offered through the world-renowned University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School, the Master of Arts (MA) in Liberal Studies at UM-Flint supports your intellectual, professional, and personal development under the guidance of expert faculty.
The master’s in Liberal Studies program encourages you to investigate American culture using methods from the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. The program equips you with an increased knowledge-base, strong critical thinking, research, and writing skills that can be applied to various careers, including those in community and political organizing and leadership, non-profit sector work, teaching, research, and advanced academic work.
Why Earn a Liberal Studies Master’s Degree at UM-Flint?
Relevant Focus – American Culture
With an emphasis on American thought and culture, the MA in Liberal Studies engages you in a critical, multidisciplinary examination of the American experience. In this program, you explore issues critical to national identity, including race, gender, equality, politics, religion, and popular culture. As a result, you emerge from the program with a deeper understanding of our nation and the historical themes and contexts that shape it.
Options for Online or On-Campus Learning
The Liberal Studies master’s degree can be completed entirely online or on campus, welcoming learners from a range of educational backgrounds and experiences. With full- and part-time enrollment options, the MA in Liberal Studies offers flexible learning formats that accommodate working adult learners’ busy schedules.
Individualized Learning
The Liberal Studies program provides you with ample opportunities to undertake individual research and creative projects that reflect your personal passions and interests. You will be challenged to complete a thesis based on your area of study and present your thesis to a faculty board and peers.
A Veteran and Active Duty-Friendly Degree
UM-Flint’s master’s in Liberal Studies program appeals to veterans and active-duty personnel with its convenient online learning option. In addition, the freedom to select elective courses allows veterans and military individuals to tailor their curriculum to their interests in American culture at a graduate level.
Community Engagement
Along with intellectual pursuits, you are also encouraged to engage civically through special projects, research, and service learning. At the University of Michigan-Flint, you have the opportunity to demonstrate the transformative power of liberal education in real-life situations and environments.
Double Count Courses to Earn a Business Certificate
You may supplement your master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a Graduate Certificate in Business to hone your advanced problem-solving, decision-making, and management skills required for successful civic and work lives.
The credits earned in the Liberal Studies program can be double counted to the business certificate requirements. This MA/Certificate program allows faster completion of two credentials at an affordable cost.
MA in Liberal Studies Program Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program offers a core curriculum in American history, institutions, and culture. It also offers electives that are drawn from across campus to allow students to pursue historical, current, and emerging issues across a range of disciplines.
The curriculum encompasses 30 credits of study with courses that nurture knowledge and skills valued in the workplace as well as the classroom. Elective courses allow for a customized curriculum based on your focus of interest in American culture. You emerge from the program with new disciplinary, cultural, and self-knowledge; facility in inquiry and analysis; critical and creative thinking; and a confident commitment to effective written and oral communication.
Review the MA in Liberal Studies catalog and course list.
Academic Advising
At UM-Flint, our dedicated advisors are the experts that you can rely upon to guide your educational journey. If you have questions about the curriculum or need help with choosing courses that suit your professional interests, both your academic advisor and your faculty advisor are here for you!
Book an appointment today.
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies?
The versatility of the Liberal Studies degree empowers you to pursue your passions with confidence. With a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies, you develop skills that are valued by employers and can be applied to a wide array of industries. Whether it’s business, education, arts, non-profits, or politics, you can increase your impact in your profession with strong competency in communication, writing, research, and critical thinking.
Graduates of our Liberal Studies program include business professionals, civic and religious leaders, community activists, artists, and scholars seeking to earn a doctorate or professional degrees.
Admission Requirements (No GRE Required)
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Undergraduate course work totaling twenty-four (24) credit hours, primarily in the humanities and social sciences
State Authorization for Online Students
The MA in Liberal Studies degree can be completed online or through a mix of online and on-campus classes. In recent years, the federal government has emphasized the need for universities and colleges to be in compliance with the distance education laws of each individual state. If you are an out-of-state student intending to enroll in the online program, please visit the State Authorization page to verify the status of UM-Flint with your state.
How to Apply to the MA in Liberal Studies Program?
To be considered for admission to the Liberal Studies master’s degree program, submit an online application below. Other materials can be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library.
- Application for Graduate Admission
- $55 application fee (non-refundable)
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please read our full transcript policy for more information.
- For any degree completed at a non-US institution, transcripts must be submitted for an internal credential review. Read the following for instructions on how to submit your transcripts for review.
- If English is not your native language, and you are not from an exempt country, you must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Statement of Purpose describing your reasons for pursuing the degree
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of your potential for advanced academic study (must include academic recommendation)
- Students from abroad must submit additional documentation.
- International students on a student visa (F-1 or J-1) may begin the MA program in the fall or winter semester. To comply with the immigration regulations requirements, international students on a student visa must enroll in at least 6 credits of in-person classes during their fall and winter semesters.
This program can be completed 100% online or on-campus with in-person courses. Admitted students can apply for a student (F-1) visa with the requirement of attending in-person courses. Students living abroad may also complete this program online in their home country. Other nonimmigrant visa holders currently in the United States please contact the Center for Global Engagement at [email protected].
Application Deadlines
Submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs by 5 p.m. on the day of the application deadline. The Liberal Studies program offers rolling admission with monthly application reviews. To be considered for admission, all application materials must be submitted on or before:
- Fall (early review*) – May 1
- Fall (final review) – August 1
- Winter – December 1
*You must have a complete application by the early deadline to guarantee application eligibility for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.
The final deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the winter semester. Those students from abroad who are not seeking a student visa may follow the other application deadlines noted above.
Take the Next Step: Apply to UM-Flint’s World-Class Master’s in Liberal Studies
With online and on-campus formats, an interdisciplinary curriculum, and a relevant focus on American culture, the University of Michigan-Flint’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program is perfect for those who are looking for a personalized learning experience.
Ready to take the next step to pursue your passions with a Liberal Studies master’s degree? Request information or start your application today!
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