Description
Liberal Studies offers interdisciplinary master's degrees with more than thirty concentrations and certificate affiliations available for constructing a program of study. Liberal Studies also offers a specialized Maya Studies Track in combination with the Maya Studies Certificate, and an accelerated degree program.
Degrees OfferedMaster of Arts in Liberal Studies - Accelerated Graduate Program in Liberal Studies Track
- Maya Studies Track
Master of Science in Liberal Studies Admission
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s). The admission standards include some academic background in the concentration area, either through course work at the undergraduate or graduate level, or through professional experience related to the field.
Additional Admissions Information
Applicants should note the following minimal requirements for admission to the program:
- GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 attempted semester hours of undergraduate study earned toward the baccalaureate, or
- A score of 1000 on the verbal-quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). (Note that a GRE score must be submitted with the application whether the 3.0 GPA threshold is met or not.)
- A written statement describing student's goals and objectives in seeking a Liberal Studies graduate degree, including preliminary ideas about which concentration might be chosen
- Three letters of recommendation from academic references. Please contact the Liberal Studies office if you have questions about the requirement.
- For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor's degree is not from an accredited US institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required
- Interview with a Liberal Studies Graduate adviser
The Master of Arts and Master of Science in Liberal Studies programs award interdisciplinary degrees that incorporate three core courses as a common basis of study. The core courses bring together knowledge from various fields, traditions, and cultures, enhancing and extending the educational experience. The programs are intended to develop research abilities, substantive knowledge, critical thinking, and advanced skills, through the diverse concentrations of study. Individualized advising, carefully selected classes and program construction, and a commitment to the student are central to these programs.
Application Due Dates
All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
| Master of Arts in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Jun 30 |
Nov 15 |
Mar 30 |
| Accelerated Graduate Program in Liberal Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Jun 30 |
Nov 15 |
Mar 30 |
| Maya Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Jun 30 |
Nov 15 |
Mar 30 |
| Master of Science in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Jul 15 |
Nov 15 |
Mar 30 |
International Applicants
| Master of Arts in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
Nov 1 |
| Accelerated Graduate Program in Liberal Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
Nov 1 |
| Maya Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
Nov 1 |
| Master of Science in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
Nov 1 |
International Transfer Applicants
| Master of Arts in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
Dec 15 |
| Accelerated Graduate Program in Liberal Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
Dec 15 |
| Maya Studies Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
Dec 15 |
| Master of Science in Liberal Studies |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
Dec 15 |
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Degree-seeking students in the Master of Arts in
Liberal Studies program and in the Master of Science in Liberal Studies may elect to follow either a thesis or a non-thesis
course of study. The degree of Master of Arts or Master of Science is conferred when the student has
fulfilled the requirements of either the thesis or non-thesis option. Students pursuing the Maya Studies Track must take the thesis option. Students must earn course grades of "B" or better to get credit toward the masters degree.
Requirements for M.A.—33 Credit Hours Minimum
Required Courses—9 Credit Hours
- IDS 6308 Ways of Knowing (3 credit hours)
- IDS 6669 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research (3
credit hours)
- IDS 6351 Critical Thinking and Writing (3 credit hours)
Concentration—18 Credit Hours
A minimum of 18 semester hours of
course work must be completed. Course selection is done in consultation and
with approval of the program director and/or academic coordinator.
Thesis Option—6 Credit Hours
Completion of an approved elective
or directed research, and a minimum of 3 semester hours of thesis credit, and successful completion of a thesis are required.
Non-Thesis Option—6 Credit Hours
Six semester hours of approved
graduate electives and passing a comprehensive written examination are
required.
Concentrations
These
concentrations include formally identified courses of study, certificate
programs, and individualized courses of study.
- American History
- American Studies
- Art and Culture in Society
- Business and Government Writing
- Communication
- Comparative Cultural Studies: The Hispanic World
- Education
- English
- English for Speakers of Other Languages
- History
- The Human Condition
- Humanities
- International Studies
- Issues of Social Concern
- Leadership Studies
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Policy Analysis
- Race, Ethnicity, and Class
- Sociology
Graduate Certificate Programs
- Aging Studies
- Arts Management
- Computer Forensics
- Conservation Biology
- Contemporary Humanities
- Crime Analysis
- Domestic Violence
- Gender Studies
- Maya Studies
- Nonprofit Management
- Professional Writing
- Public Administration
- SAS Data Mining
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Theoretical and Applied Ethics
NOTE: Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree program must take a majority of the 33 required credit hours in traditional liberal arts courses. Students pursuing the Master of Science in Liberal Studies degree must take at least fifteen credits of their concentration in work that is traditionally from Master of Science courses. Course work must be selected so that at least one-half of the required courses are taken at the 6000 level.
Maya Studies Track
Maya Studies Track—33
Credit Hours Minimum
Core Courses—9 Credit Hours
- IDS 6308 Ways of Knowing (3 credit hours)
- IDS 6669 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research (3 credit hours)
- IDS 6351 Critical Thinking and Writing (3 credit hours)
Concentration—18 Credit Hours*
Required—6 Credit Hours
- ANG 6168 The Ancient Maya (3 credit hours)
- ANG 6324 Contemporary Maya (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses—12 Credit Hours
- ANG 5166 Problems in Maya Studies (3 credit hours)
- ANG 5167 Maya Hieroglyphs (3 credit hours)
- ANG 5228 Maya Iconography (3 credit hours)
- ANG 5165 Field Research in Maya Studies (3 credit hours)
- CPO 5334 Contemporary Politics of the Maya Region (3
credit hours)
- LAH 5937 Latin Americas Colonial Legacy (3 credit hours)
Thesis—6 Credit Hours
Students must complete an approved elective or directed research,
a minimum of 3 credit hours of thesis, and a thesis.
* To receive the Graduate Certificate in Maya Studies, an
application to the Maya Studies certificate program is required. Students in this track must be accepted into the Maya Studies certificate program.
Accelerated Undergraduate and Graduate Program in Liberal Studies
Web address: www.cas.ucf.edu/liberal_studies/
The
accelerated undergraduate and graduate program in Liberal Studies allows a
student to earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree and a master of
arts degree in as few as five years including summer sessions. Students can earn nine hours of graduate
credit toward the master’s degree while still an undergraduate, and then an
additional twenty-four credits after earning the bachelor’s degree.
Students majoring in Liberal Studies who have compiled
a superior record can apply for the program. This unique course of study
requires close advising with program advisors and approval by the Masters in Liberal Studies program. Please contact the department for more information.
Master of Science in Liberal Studies
The Master of Science in Liberal Studies degree is designed for students interested in the interdisciplinary experience of Liberal Studies who complete their concentration through courses traditionally associated with M.S. degrees. Students completing their concentration through certificates in Computer Forensics, Conservation Biology, Nonprofit Management, and others normally would be eligible for the M.S. degree. The overall credit-hour requirements are the same as for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. These requirements are detailed in the prior section.
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
- If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.
Contact Info
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Elliot Vittes, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2745
mls@mail.ucf.edu Master of Science in Liberal Studies
Elliot Vittes, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2745
mls@mail.ucf.edu Accelerated Graduate Program in Liberal Studies Track
Elliot Vittes, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2745
mls@mail.ucf.edu Maya Studies Track
Elliot Vittes, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2745
mls@mail.ucf.edu
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Graduate Catalog
