Academic Requirements
The Master of Liberal Studies degree requires the completion of 33 credit hours of study. The 33 hours are distributed among core seminars, electives, and a research thesis.
Core Seminars (12 hours)
Electives (15-18 hours)
In addition to the three core seminars you are required to take 15-18 hours of electives. Electives are chosen with the assistance and approval of the MLS Program Director. You are allowed considerable freedom and flexibility in choosing their electives. However, it is strongly recommended that you choose a combination of electives that represent a focused area of interest.
Any graduate level course (5000 and above) for which prerequisites are met satisfies the elective requirement. Students are not restricted to MLS-designated courses. In special cases with approval of the instructor and program director, 4000-level undergraduate courses may be assigned an equivalent MLS seminar number. No more than 9 hours of electives may be taken outside of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Thesis (3-6 hours)
The MLS thesis represents the culmination of your passage through the MLS program. A thesis is an independent research project. You are given considerable flexibility and freedom in choosing your thesis topic. The thesis is usually begun upon completion of required course work. However you are encouraged to identify a thesis topic as quickly as possible following your entry into the MLS Program.
Once a thesis topic has been identified a thesis advisory committee must be formed. This comprises two members - a Chair and one Reader. The Chair must be a member of the Graduate Faculty at the University of Toledo and should have significant expertise in your chosen thesis topic. The Reader must be a faculty member at the University of Toledo.
A student registers for thesis hours via a paper seminar request form that must be signed by the advisor and/or MLS program director. An MLS thesis must conform to the structural guidelines outlined in the Graduate School's Thesis/Dissertation Handbook. Copies of theses completed by former MLS students are available both in Carlson Library and from the MLS Director.
You are also encouraged to attend the Thesis Writing Workshop that is co-sponsored by the Master of Liberal Studies Program and The Writing Center. This workshop, which is non-credit and free-of-charge, is offered twice a year (Fall and Spring semesters).
Descriptions of Core Seminars
MLS 6010: MLS SEMINAR IN THE HUMANITIES
The Humanities seminar is intended to demonstrate the interdependent nature of knowledge in humanities and the diversity of approaches to understanding the human condition. Typically, it asks students to examine representative works of literature, history, and philosophy drawn from the ancient world, the European Middle Ages and Renaissance, and the worlds of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. In this seminar, students discuss essential and common issues and explore the traditions and spirit of humanistic inquiry.
MLS 6020: MLS SEMINAR IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
The Social Sciences seminar is intended to provide the student with an appreciation of the theories and methodologies of social science. Social scientists are primarily interested in understanding the behavior, organization, and functioning of society at a variety of analytical scales. Analytical scales include individual citizens, groups of citizens, and both public and private institutions (e.g. governments and corporations). An understanding of human behavior and societal organization allows us to make responsible and informed decisions regarding both personal and societal problems and issues.
MLS 6030: MLS SEMINAR IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES
The Natural Sciences seminar discusses major ideas in the natural sciences and how they relate to questions of importance to humans. The seminar also examines the historical development of the major concepts in the natural sciences. Previous courses in the natural sciences are not essential for the successful completion of this seminar.
MLS 6040: MLS SEMINAR IN THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
The Primary goal of the Visual and Performing Arts seminar is to examine the concept of creativity in the fields of visual art, theater, dance, and music. Topics of investigation may include art history and art appreciation; the relationship between societal structure, government, and the visual and performing arts; comparison of western and non-western arts; technology, media, and the arts; and the role of the arts in American society. This seminar will use a combination of reading and performance attendance as the basis for class discussion and written papers.