91原创

Successful applicants for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program听must have a bachelor鈥檚 degree from an accredited institution.听 Applicants from any undergraduate academic field are considered. Applicants should have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better.听No GRE scores are required.

Applicants must fill out the听. In completing the form,听applicants听must provide at least two references, write two essays, and provide official undergraduate transcripts. All applicants have an in person interview with members of the Faculty Advisory Committee.

In addition, international applicants must submit one of the following:

• TOEFL score of 100 or higher (minimum speaking score of 18)
• IELTS score of 7.5 or higher
• Proof of having earned a degree in either the United States or a country where the primary language is English

Applications are reviewed by the MALS director and an admissions committee drawn from the members of the Faculty Advisory Committee.

Starting the Application

The graduate admissions form and accompanying information is hosted by 91原创's Grad College. You will submit all supporting documents through this form. Once you create an account you can access your application at any time.

Note:听After you click the final 鈥渟ubmit鈥� button on your application, you will be able to upload additional information, but you will not be able to make changes to your application. Please email gradadmissions@udel.edu with any changes to be made to your application, including updated recommender information.

If you have questions about the admissions process, you鈥檙e welcome to call the MALS office at 302-831-4130.

Submitting Recommendations

As a MALS applicant you are asked to secure two letters of recommendation from people who are familiar with those aspects of your life that bear upon your suitability for graduate study. Such letters typically come from people you have worked with in your profession or in volunteer activities, as well as from present or former supervisors or professors.听Letters from close personal friends are discouraged; letters from family members are not accepted.

Among the pertinent topics are your intellectual interests, motivation for graduate study, time management skills, enjoyment of intense small-group discussions, and degree of comfort with significant amounts of reading and writing.

Because 91原创 requires the completion of a specific grid of questions by a recommender, we also cannot accept any third-party recommendation service or any individual letters already in the applicant鈥檚 possession.听

Your application status page shows if your recommenders have been notified, started, or completed the recommendation on your behalf.

Tips to successfully receive your recommendations:听

• Be sure you have spoken with your recommender first to see what their preferred e-mail address is for use in completing graduate recommendations.
• Double check the e-mail address you entered for spelling errors.
• Please note that notification emails will come from gradadmissions@udel.edu.听If听your recommenders use a spam-blocking tool, please ask them to add this email address to their list of known/safe addresses.
• If you need to send a reminder notification to a recommender, please send an email to gradadmissions@udel.edu.

Essay/Personal Statement

As part of the application, you must submit two essays:

1. Submit a three to five page essay (double-spaced) about your intellectual interests and life experiences and how you think these can be developed in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. Please discuss your personal or professional objectives and why you believe this degree is appropriate to help you reach them.

2. Write a short essay (no more than three pages, double-spaced) about a book, essay, story or article that has been important to you (fiction or nonfiction). Discuss the author鈥檚 primary theme or argument and how it is developed. Describe how the work has influenced you.

Reviewers will be evaluating your writing ability as well as your fit for the program.

In-Person Interview

The last phase of the MALS application is an in person interview with several members of the Faculty Advisory Committee.听 You will have the opportunity to tell the committee about your personal intellectual interests and why you are interested in MALS as well as ask any questions you may have.

• A total of 30 credits are required to earn the MALS degree.
• All MALS students must take Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (MALS601). This three-credit seminar provides a review of graduate-level academic writing and research and the nature of interdisciplinary study.
• Students also choose two MALS听core courses.
• The other five courses may be selected from anything MALS offers, including core courses and electives. Students can choose from other graduate courses at 91原创 (permission for up to six credits outside the program is automatic; additional courses outside the program need approval from Faculty Advisory Committee).
• At the end of the program, students complete either a traditional master鈥檚 thesis or a more creative, alternative project. Six credits of MALS 869 (thesis) or MALS 879 (project) are required.
• Most MALS students take one or two classes a semester. The degree is designed to be completed on a part-time basis. Students can take a leave of absence if needed by contacting the director.