Stay Home...Go Far. The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Online

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA/LS) Online

The MA/LS Online is a 33-credit interdisciplinary degree program that examines issues and themes in education, the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural and applied sciences. Through the SPD Online program, MA/LS Online students take the same courses, learn from the same distinguished faculty, and earn the same degree credit as their on-campus counterparts.

The MA/LS is also is a functionally-relevant master's degree for those teachers already holding an initial license (please read the Teacher Certification information listed below before applying).

The program, which has been approved by the New York State Education Department, admits new students in the fall, spring and summer.

Degree Program
This program consists of 11 three-credit courses, distributed among the three areas below, for a total of 33 graduate credits.

Liberal Studies Core - 12 credits

The liberal studies core is designed to bring breadth and depth to the MA/LS Online degree. Students are required to take 12 credits, distributed as follows, to fulfill this requirement. 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 the online 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). Note: Not all of SPD's liberal studies courses are offered online.

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 online courses offered through SPD. (Teachers must read the Teacher Certification page prior to developing their clusters.)

Since students design their own clusters, no two are alike. For illustration purposes, we have provided some possible clusters below:

» View sample MA/LS Online clusters

Students may also choose to use courses from the Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) in Human Resource Management or Coaching as their cluster. A separate application is required; restrictions may apply.

If your area of interest is not represented in the representative clusters or in our current course offerings, do not apply to this program until you contact an SPD Academic Advisor via email at spd@stonybrook.edu. If you live locally and your area of study is not represented, consider SPD's on-campus MA/LS program which offers a wider selection of course offerings on campus.

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. S/U grading applies.
Prerequisite: Matriculation in MA/LS or MPS degree program; completion of 12 graduate credits within the program.
Note: 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.

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.)

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Advantages of the MA/LS Online Program
The advantages of taking the online version of the MA/LS program over the traditional (face-to-face) MA/LS are:

• Priority registration for SPD's popular online courses
• Online students log into their courses whenever and wherever they have Internet access, 24 hours a day/7 days a week
  
• Earn a master's degree without ever traveling to or setting foot on campus
• On-campus University fees are waived

Note: Students matriculated into the MA/LS Online degree program cannot register for any face-to-face course. All courses must be taken online.

Online Student Requirements

Do you have what it takes to be an online student? Read these FAQs before you apply.

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Tuition and Fee Information

The tuition for the MA/LS Online is the same as any other Stony Brook graduate program. Tuition rates are available on the Bursar's website.

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Admission Criteria

Due to the interactivity of online classes, course enrollments are capped. Acceptance into the MA/LS Online program will be limited to maintain the small and intimate nature of online learning. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is required for admission into the program. Additional requirements apply for International Students (see Information for International Students). »Go to Application page.

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Contact Information
If you need additional information, send an email to the School of Professional Development.

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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.