Vanderbilt’s Master of Liberal Arts and Science degree program is designed for the adult learner ready to return to the collegiate classroom and experience it in a new way. Whether you are returning to the university to learn what you missed the first time, to pursue a post-graduate degree for professional development or personal achievement, or to explore more fully an academic topic of great interest, Vanderbilt’s MLAS faculty, curriculum, and schedule all have the discerning adult learner in mind.
Degree Requirements
The MLAS graduate degree program culminates in a master’s degree granted by Vanderbilt University. Students must successfully complete 30 hours of academic credit (10 courses). At least 24 of the 30 hours (or 8 courses) must be accumulated through MLAS courses, including:
Areas of Concentration (optional)
Students may elect to declare an area of concentration in one of four fields (see below), requiring the completion of four courses in that area. Note that the courses associated with the concentration area may count for more than one area, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program.
- Fine and Creative Arts
- History
- Literature and Creative Writing
- Social Science
Students may complete two areas of concentration as long as each area is fulfilled by four courses that count only for that area. Courses may not double-count between areas, and the Core and Capstone courses cannot also count for an area of concentration (unless a student has taken more than one MLAS 6700 course).
Core Course
The MLAS Core Course (MLAS 6700: Interdisciplinary Methods Seminar) is an interdisciplinary graduate seminar designed and required for MLAS students in the early phase of the program, in which students examine a topic, theme, or event from multiple perspectives within the liberal arts. New students should enroll in MLAS 6700 as one of their first three courses.
About the Course
The Core Course concentrates on the skills and information students will need to pursue graduate work at Vanderbilt: writing a critical and analytical graduate research paper, conducting library research, and contributing to the seminar discussion. By enrolling in this course early in their MLAS career, students will become familiar with graduate-level research strategies, responsible conduct of research, and the research resources central to the liberal arts. Students learn about the range of current research methods and the writing skills necessary for graduate study.
After completing the Core Course, new MLAS students will be amply prepared for the subsequent coursework in the program, both academically and practically.
Because of the interdisciplinary focus and innovative design of each Core Course, it is possible for MLAS students over the period of their studies to enroll in more than one Core Course. However, priority for enrollment will be given to MLAS students in the initial stages of their involvement in the program; others may enroll, provided there is available space in the course.
Research Component
As a premier academic and research institution, Vanderbilt University has an obligation to model, teach, and actively promote the responsible conduct of research in scholarship. Research integrity is fundamental to good research and crosses all disciplines and areas of focus. MLAS students learn about integrity in scholarship, including research misconduct (including fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism); conflicts of interest; and data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership.
Capstone Workshop
The MLAS degree concludes with a capstone project of the student's own design that builds upon previously complete coursework and suits the student's own interests. The Capstone Workshop (MLAS 7340: Interdisciplinary Capstone Workshop) encourages the integration and synthesis of coursework in the program. Students should enroll in the Capstone Workshop as one of their final three courses.
About the Course
Conducted by a faculty mentor, the Capstone Workshop is offered each spring term and meets on a weekly basis throughout the semester to review project ideas and to discuss progress on each student’s individual capstone project. Together, the faculty/mentor and the seminar participants will form a learning community who support each other's completion of their respective capstone projects. The workshop provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their academic exploration in MLAS and to share it with others in the program.
The goal of the workshop is to provide evidence of the student’s ability to conceive, organize, and produce a graduate-level scholarly or creative work for academic credit. The course culminates in a variety of submitted work, including:
- a thesis or capstone project;
- a field study or research project that synthesizes or builds from the student's coursework in the program; or
- an original work of art along with a 20-page essay detailing the background, context, and chronology of the process.
Students should start thinking about their topic or project early in the program. All MLAS coursework and research will naturally develop, improve, and refine the original concept as the program progresses.
Course Stages
For the initial assignment, each student presents a summative essay to the course instructor, discussing major lessons learned through the program. This essay may serve as the initial attempt to articulate the capstone project.
In the next stage, each student prepares a prospectus of their project. In order to ensure the Capstone Workshop is completed on time, students should have thought through many of the elements of the capstone project well in advance of the start of the course.
The purpose of the prospectus is to:
- Encourage the student to clarify the intended capstone project
- Assure that the project’s timeline for completion is mapped out
- Delineate the roles of the student, faculty/mentor, and any additional readers
- Ensure that the proposed project is possible to undertake within the student’s capabilities and the duration of the semester
The prospectus should contain a summary of the intended scope, style, and content of the project. Other elements of the prospectus include:
- Goal: Describe the topic, questions, issue, or problem explored and analyzed in this project
- Context: Explain the background important to the understanding of the topic, question, issue, or problem
- Preparation and planning: Summarize the personal, professional, and academic background that informs the preparation for this project
- Methodology: Provide an overview of the ways in which this project will be researched and developed
- Preliminary bibliography: Include some of the key sources that have been instrumental to shaping the project
- Additional faculty adviser(s): MLAS students may enlist the help of Vanderbilt faculty who have research and teaching expertise in the particular area of the capstone as additional adviser and resources
Once the project is approved, the student will work with the Capstone Workshop Faculty/Mentor to develop the timeline, additional reviewers, and other details.