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.

Important note for teachers: The MA/LS degree is valid toward meeting requirements for a professional license (certification), provided the degree course work contains 12 credits relevant to your area of initial certification. It does not, however, lead directly to an initial certification. 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 Stony Brook University graduate level courses that are older than five (5) years, and no older than 10 years, individually evaluated by the appropriate academic 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.) For transfer credits from external institutions, please see guidelines at: www.stonybrook.edu/spd/assets/pdf/transferform.pdf (PDF).

Tuition and Fee Information

Tuition rates are available on the Bursar's webpage.

Application Information

Students are admitted into this program three times per year.

» View admission requirements, application instructions and deadlines.

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 Bulletin and SPD Academic Calendar.

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Contact Information

School of Professional Development
Admissions and Advisement Office
N 201 SBS Building
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4310
E-mail: spd@stonybrook.edu
Tel. (631) 632-7050 (option 3)