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Master of Arts
in Liberal Studies (MA/LS)
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA/LS) is an interdisciplinary
degree program that examines issues and themes in the arts and humanities,
social and behavioral sciences, and natural and applied sciences. The
program is offered primarily to working adults who seek educational
enrichment and professional development on a part-time basis, and does
not specifically serve as a prerequisite for a more advanced degree.
Courses are offered in the evening, on Saturdays, online and at various
off-campus locations on Long Island and in Manhattan.
The MA/LS degree program is also available in a completely
online learning environment. Online students never come to campus, can
take all of their courses over the Internet, and earn their master's
degrees at their convenience. The MA/LS Online program is also accredited by the New
York State Education Department.
For teachers: This degree may be used to achieve professional
certification through the New York State Education Department. Please read the Teacher Certification page before applying.
Course of Study
This degree program consists of 11 three-credit courses, distributed
among the areas listed below.
Liberal Studies Core - 12
credits
Only courses designated as "Liberal Studies" core courses
will apply toward fulfilling this requirement. Courses that have met
the University's standards for the Liberal Studies core are coded in
course descriptions and in the SPD Bulletin with an AHLS, SBLS or
NSLS.
- 3 credits - Arts and Humanities Liberal Studies (AHLS)
- 3 credits - Social and Behavioral Sciences Liberal
Studies (SBLS)
- 3 credits - Natural and Applied Sciences Liberal Studies
(NSLS)
- 3 credits - Any additional Liberal Studies course with
an AH, SB or NS designator
There are no transfer credits or substitutions permitted for the Liberal Studies Core curriculum.
» View
Liberal Studies Course Offerings (PDF)
Thematically-related Cluster - 18 credits
A cluster is a group of courses that represents a focused area of interest. Students are allowed considerable freedom
and flexibility in designing their clusters, and may choose from most of the courses offered through SPD. (Teachers must read the Teacher Certification page prior to developing their clusters.)
Students may also choose to use courses from one of Stony Brook's Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) program as their cluster. A separate application is required; restrictions may apply. See a list of SPD's AGC programs on our Graduate Programs page.
MA/LS Project Seminar (CED
595) - 3 credits
The goal of the SPD Project Seminar is to teach students to understand and conduct graduate level research. The research paper may or may not result in a project, e.g., a model curriculum for a school-based substance abuse program. Students will be guided in selecting a topic for their research paper. Methodology and resources will be reviewed as the student’s work is developed.
Prerequisite: Matriculation in MA/LS or MPS degree program; completion of 12 graduate credits within the program.
Note: S/U grading applies. No "I"/Incompletes will be given. If a "U"/Unsatisfactory grade is received, the course must be repeated. There are no transfer credits or substitutions permitted for CED 595/Project Seminar.
Please Note: Supervised Student Teaching or Educational
Leadership Internship credits are not valid to meet any MA/LS degree
requirements. (Please see individual course descriptions on the SOLAR
System: Course Catalog, School of Professional Development or Graduate
School, as applicable.)
Timeline
All degree requirements must be completed
within five (5) years from the semester date of admission as a matriculated
student.
NOTE: When a student is admitted or readmitted to an SPD degree or certificate program, students may petition SPD to have courses that are older than five (5) years, and no older than 10 years, individually evaluated by the appropriate department/faculty to determine if the credits may be applied toward current SPD degree/certificate requirements. Grades in such courses must be "B" or better. (B- grades are ineligible for review.)
Statement of Student Responsibility
Students themselves—whether new, returning, or continuing—are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and adhering to their degree and/or certificate program requirements. (SPD’s Non-matriculating (non-degree) Graduate Students [GSP] are responsible for adhering to the guidelines related to non-matriculated status.) All SPD students are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and complying with University and SPD regulations, policies, and procedures, as described in all official publications, the University website, and the SPD website, including, but not limited to, SPD’s online references, the SPD Student Handbook and SPD Academic Calendar.
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