Graduate Program
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) is an
interdisciplinary graduate program in the liberal arts and
sciences. An alternative to the highly specialized course of study
characteristic of most graduate programs, the MALS degree does not
provide a specific vocational or professional orientation. It is
intended for those students who wish to pursue interdisciplinary
graduate work in a flexible, individually designed program. The
MALS program therefore attracts a diverse group of bright and
intellectually curious students of varied interests, ages, and
backgrounds who are motivated to learn and who wish to pursue
learning with similarly motivated students and faculty members. In
short, the most fundamental and abiding characteristic of students
in the program is the desire to learn for its own sake.
Course Offerings
The MALS curriculum incorporates a broad spectrum of courses in
liberal studies: humanities, history and the social sciences, the
arts, mathematics, and the sciences. Graduate seminars are offered
in the evenings and summers. These seminars frequently are
interdisciplinary in nature and are offered by faculty members from
a variety of departments. Normally there are three half-unit
evening seminars each fall and spring semester, and one full-unit
course, along with an additional half-unit evening seminar, in the
summer term. With the exception of the accelerated summer term,
graduate seminars meet one and one-half hours once a week for the
duration of the semester. MALS students also may select from 300-
and 400-level undergraduate courses for their degree program, or
from 100- and 200- level courses for undergraduate background
credit and prerequisites, and thus are eligible to take courses in
any of the 23 academic departments at Reed.
Generally, at least one MALS seminar each term is designated as a
liberal studies core course. These courses are explicitly
interdisciplinary and writing intensive. We strongly encourage new
students to take at least one liberal studies core course within
the first year of the MALS program, preferably before they apply
for formal candidacy (see "MALS Student Admission"). Liberal
studies core courses scheduled for the 2005-06 academic year are
"The Soviet Experience" in fall, "Literary and Visual Culture in
Eighteenth-Century Britain" and "Railways and Modernity" in spring,
and "Cultures in Contact: The American Frontier" in the
summer.
Course Load and Progression
The program does not specify a minimum number of courses required
in a field of principal interest. The student’s total program,
however, must lead to a clearly defined objective and must be
approved by the Committee on Graduate Studies when the student
applies for admission to candidacy. (After completing two Reed
courses, all students must make application for formal candidacy to
the program.) A faculty adviser and the director of the MALS
program will assist students in designing a course of study that
meets their particular intellectual interests while providing a
broad academic base.
Most MALS students attend part time; full-time status requires
concurrent enrollment in both undergraduate courses and graduate
seminars. Full-time enrollment in a regular semester is three
units; half-time enrollment is one and one-half units. In the
accelerated summer term, one unit is considered half-time
enrollment. While most students take five or more years to finish,
it is possible to complete the program in two years. The yearly
course load for graduate students generally ranges from one to six
academic units. There is no specified minimum or maximum course
load, however, and students are not required to be enrolled each
consecutive term. With this flexibility in progression, however, is
the expectation that all MALS students meet the following
completion time frames:
1. If a student does not take a course within three consecutive
semesters, the student will be removed from the program unless the
student submits a petition to the Committee on Graduate Studies by
the last day of classes of the third term of non-enrollment. The
petition for completion must include enrollment in at least one of
the next two semesters, a statement of continued interest, and a
proposed time frame for completing the program. A student who does
not meet these criteria and who wishes to continue study at a later
date must reapply for admission to the program.
2. Students are expected to complete the MALS degree within six
years of acceptance as a degree candidate. Petitions to extend the
time for degree completion must be approved in advance by the
Committee on Graduate Studies.
Degree Requirements
The MALS degree requires the completion of nine units of
coursework. Each student designs an individual program,
incorporating the following degree requirements:
1. Eight units of courses.
A minimum of four of the eight units must be in Reed courses at the
graduate level (numbered 500 or higher).
No more than four units from 300- and 400-level undergraduate
classes may be applied to the eight required units.
2. A one-unit degree paper.
3. No more than five units (including the degree paper) in any one
department or division, or in liberal studies core courses, may be
applied to the total nine units required for graduation.
Exceptions to the above requirements must be approved in advance by
the Committee on Graduate Studies. Petitions should be addressed to
the committee no later than the first day of classes of the term
before the degree paper.
Degree Paper
A required final project, the degree paper, is a one-unit,
one-semester study of a specific topic that emerges out of the
student’s prior courses. The experience of writing the degree paper
is intended to allow the student to investigate a particular topic
in depth and to present a conclusion in the scholarly manner
appropriate to the field. A description of the degree paper topic
with an outline and a bibliography must be approved in advance by
the Committee on Graduate Studies. Candidates should submit the
degree paper proposal to the MALS office according to the following
schedule: proposals for fall papers are due the last day of classes
of the preceding spring term; proposals for spring papers are due
the last day of class of the preceding fall term; proposals for
summer papers are due April 1 of the preceding spring term.
The degree paper is due on the date specified in the academic
calendar for senior thesis submission. The schedule and deadlines
for summer degree papers is determined by the registrar and the
MALS program director. The degree paper requirement is completed
with a two-hour oral defense of the project with the student’s
paper adviser, one member of the Committee on Graduate Studies, and
at least one but usually two other faculty members in a field
closely related to the degree paper topic. The Reed library houses
copies of all degree papers and undergraduate senior theses, easily
accessible for both reference and check-out.
When necessary, MALS students may take a three-day extension for
submitting the paper, provided a $50 late fee is paid and the bound
copies are submitted to the library by the regular deadline.
Grading
MALS students are expected to perform at the graduate level and to
earn grades of B- or better in all their classes. Work completed at
a level below B- is considered unsatisfactory. The grade of C is
allowed for students who complete a course with credit, but whose
work was unsatisfactory. The F grade designates failure. Students
are eligible for an incomplete grade with the same constraints
applicable to undergraduate students. For the degree paper, B- is
the lowest passing grade.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of two of the nine units required for the degree may be
satisfied by transfer credit. Transfer credit may not be used to
meet the minimum requirement of four units of Reed courses at the
graduate level. All work submitted for transfer must be approved by
the registrar and by the Committee on Graduate Studies, preferably
before enrollment in the transfer course. The coursework must be
from a regionally accredited college or university, may not be
applied to another degree, and should represent B or better work.
Courses taken as a postbaccalaureate student should be comparable
to upper-level undergraduate or graduate coursework offered at
Reed. Normally, all courses approved for transfer must have been
completed within the past five years.
Auditors
Graduate courses are open only to students who have been admitted
to the MALS program. They are not open to general auditors or to
undergraduate Reed students. Students currently enrolled in the
MALS program are eligible to audit an undergraduate course and
should follow the guidelines outlined in the section on auditors in
the admission section of this catalog (under “Special Admission
Groups”).
The Committee on Graduate Studies will consider applications from
Reed MALS graduates who wish to audit a specific graduate course.
Graduates must submit an audit application to the committee no
later than 30 days before the start of the desired term. The
committee will consider the auditor’s statement of interest,
instructor approval, and space availability in granting admission
to the course. MALS graduates may audit no more than one course per
year.
Special Students
Those with an undergraduate degree who wish to sample a graduate
course one time only may initiate a special student application to
take one specific seminar. Credit for the seminar may be applied to
the MALS degree requirements if the student enters the
degree-seeking program within five years of taking the
course.
Admission
Reed welcomes applications from applicants who wish to pursue
interdisciplinary graduate work in a program that is both flexible
and rigorous. Those applicants are accepted who, in the view of the
Committee on Graduate Studies, are most likely to become successful
members of and contribute positively to the MALS community.
Admission decisions are based on many integrated factors. We
recognize that qualities of character-in particular, motivation,
intellectual curiosity, and openness to constructive criticism-are
important considerations in the selection process, beyond a
demonstrated commitment to academic excellence.
Students may apply to enter in the fall, spring, or summer terms.
Initial, probationary admission to the MALS program requires
submission of the following items: a completed application form,
official transcripts of all undergraduate and postbaccalaureate
work, evidence of completion of a bachelor’s degree, two letters of
recommendation, a $50 non-refundable application fee, and an
interview with the MALS director and a faculty member of the
Committee on Graduate Studies. All applications must be received
and completed no later than 30 days before the first day of class
of the expected term of entry. Applications are reviewed on a
rolling basis throughout the year, and applicants are notified of
the admission decision accordingly.
All students are admitted to the program on a provisional basis. In
order to be admitted formally as a candidate to the MALS program,
the applicant must successfully complete two successive or
concurrent Reed courses. If the student is accepted, credit for
these courses will be applied to the MALS degree. The Committee on
Graduate Studies will review the candidacy application, including
the student's self-evaluation, outline of course progression and
completion, and a class paper. Recommendations from Reed course
instructors are required for candidacy and are based in part on
their assessment of the applicant's potential to write a final
degree paper. Once the student is accepted as a candidate, he or
she should consult with the faculty adviser to plan a program of
study consistent with the goals of the program, leading to the
completion of all requirements for the MALS degree.
Costs and Financial Assistance
Tuition is calculated on a per-unit basis at a rate reduced from
that of the undergraduate program. For the 2005-06 academic year,
the semester MALS tuition rates are as follows:1/2 unit $1,465 2 units $5,860 1 unit $2,930 2 1/2 units $7,325 1 1/2 units $4,395 3 or more $8,790
Students enrolled at least half-time (1.5 units in the fall or
spring terms, one unit in the summer term) are eligible to
participate in the Federal Stafford Loan program. Students wishing
to borrow under the Federal Stafford Loan program must complete the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, for
each semester that a MALS student is interested in borrowing a
federal loan, the student should provide the financial aid office
with the following information: a letter stating the semester of
attendance (fall, spring, or summer), the course titles and the
number of units per course, and a loan request form. New borrowers
at Reed must also complete a loan entrance session.
The FAFSA is available in Reed's financial aid office, or online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Reed
College code for the FAFSA is 003217. If the student would like to
borrow through one of the college’s preferred lenders, a student
loan request form also is available in the financial aid office.
The maximum subsidized Federal Stafford Loan available to a
graduate student is $8,500 per academic year. The maximum
unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan available to a graduate student
is $10,000 per academic year. The academic year at Reed College for
financial aid purposes begins in summer, continuing through fall
and spring. The exact amount of subsidized and unsubsidized loan
eligibility is based upon the student’s determined need, calculated
from the FAFSA and the number of units enrolled at Reed each
semester.
A Reed College monthly payment option, administered by Tuition
Management Systems, offers a flexible alternative to semester
payments to the college. Participants make 10 equal monthly
payments, beginning July 15, for the academic year. (A five-month
payment option also is available for one-semester participation.)
Requests for an application and questions may be addressed to the
Reed College business office, to Tuition Management Systems at
800/722-4867, or online at www.afford.com.
The MALS program also sponsors a small scholarship each year to
help defray tuition costs for one or two MALS students. Recipients
are chosen by the Committee on Graduate Studies based on an
application process that takes into account primarily financial
need (as calculated from the FAFSA form), but also academic and
personal merit. Generally, the committee will call for scholarship
applications in the spring and make a final decision on awards no
later than fall of the new academic year.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory academic progress refers to a minimum grade point
average (GPA) expectation, the number of units completed during the
academic year, and the time it normally would take to complete the
MALS degree. For federal financial aid purposes, a student is
expected to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. Full-time status at Reed
is 3 units in a regular semester (fall or spring) and 1.5 units in
summer. Based on the degree requirement of 9 units, a student
attending full time would take a year and a half to complete the
program. Students are eligible for federal financial aid for up to
150 percent of the regular time frame to complete a degree;
therefore, MALS students may be eligible for federal aid for up to
two years of full-time study. A student who enrolls part time
during any semester may be eligible for additional semesters of
federal aid.
Reed’s institutional definition of satisfactory academic progress
for the number of completed units is the same as noted above in the
federal definition. It differs, however, from the federal
definition in minimum GPA and time frame. MALS students generally
are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. They must apply for
formal candidacy in the program after completing their first two
courses, take at least one course every three semesters, and
complete the degree within six years of acceptance as a degree
candidate.
Dropping Courses, Refunds, and Withdrawal from the
Program
MALS students who drop courses during a semester must complete an
add/drop form, available from the registrar’s office. The
signatures of the instructor, adviser, and student are required for
acceptance of the form. Deadlines for registration changes are
published in the academic calendar. The date that the completed
form is submitted to the registrar’s office is the effective date
for determining any refund.
The refund of tuition is based on the percentage of the payment
period completed by the student. The effective drop date determines
the period of completion. The method of determining the refund
percentage pertains to non-federal Title IV financial aid (for
example, alternative loans or the Menashe scholarship). The
business office has detailed information on the refund
policy.
No deviations from the refund schedule will be made except in cases
of extreme hardship, of which the college shall be the sole judge.
The Administration Committee may, upon the recommendation of the
MALS program director, approve petitions for such exceptions. Reed
College’s refund policy is based in part on the fact that it is an
institution with a semester-based program, and we are not required
to take attendance. The refund policy applies to all graduate
students who drop or withdraw from courses during a semester,
whether or not they have federal Title IV financial aid, except as
noted in the section below.
Any student who wishes to withdraw formally from the MALS program
must provide written notification to the MALS office. If the
student is enrolled at the time of withdrawal, the student must
complete the add/drop form.
Credit balances under $10 will not be refunded.
Tuition Refund for Federal Title IV Financial Aid
Recipients
Federal Title IV financial aid includes the subsidized and
unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan. For students who are recipients
of federal Title IV financial aid, additional calculations must be
made for tuition refunds.
First, the college calculates the amount of Title IV aid earned by
the student for the percentage of payment period completed. If the
percentage of payment period completed is greater than 60 percent,
the student is considered to have earned 100 percent of their Title
IV aid; otherwise, they have earned the actual percentage
calculated.
Second, the college compares the amount earned with the amount
disbursed to determine the amount that must be returned to the
Title IV programs. The amount disbursed is that aid awarded and
disbursed to the student’s account, plus the Title IV aid awarded
that could have been disbursed to the student’s account (such as
memo balances).
Third, the college determines the amount of Title IV aid that must
be returned to the Title IV programs by the college and by the
student. Aid is returned to the Title IV programs in the program
order listed above.
Health Insurance
All degree-seeking MALS students taking a half unit or more of Reed
classes continuously each term, including summers, are eligible to
enroll in the Reed College health plan. Students are allowed one
term of non-enrollment in their progression to the MALS degree; a
second term of non-enrollment would result in termination of
coverage. A student who is unable to return to classes because of
extenuating circumstances may qualify to purchase coverage for an
additional period of time.
The rates for graduate students are somewhat higher than for
undergraduates. However, MALS students may choose their own primary
care providers off campus. In addition, MALS students who join the
Reed health plan may seek medical attention from the Reed health
center, preferably by appointment but also by dropping in. The
health center requires students seeking their services to complete
a confidential health history form. Students should refer to the
Reed College health plan brochure available through the MALS office
for details.
Seminar Topics
The following graduate seminars have been offered in the past five
years:
Art 564 The Institution of Modernism
Art 590 Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo
Biology 505 The Biological Legacy of Lewis and Clark
Biology 540 Environmental Studies in the Pacific Northwest
Chinese 527 Representations of the Cultural Revolution
Creative Writing 512 The Memoir of Others
History 545 The Vietnam War
Liberal Studies 521 Exile: Literary and Theoretical
Configurations
Liberal Studies 528 Crossing Chinese Frontiers
Liberal Studies 530 Dream in Human Societies
Liberal Studies 531 Socrates and Plato
Liberal Studies 532 Statistics and Public Policy: Uses and
Abuses
Liberal Studies 535 Biblical Narrative: Literature, Art, and
History
Liberal Studies 536 Economic Success and Failure
Liberal Studies 541 The James Family
Liberal Studies 560 The Twenties in America
Liberal Studies 562 The Victorian Fin de siècle
Liberal Studies 566 Romanticism and Religion
Liberal Studies 569 The History of Women, Gender, and
Sexuality
Liberal Studies 588 Railways and Modernity
Liberal Studies 592 Jews and Others: Jewish American Literature,
Culture, and Identity, 1700–2000
Liberal Studies 593 Faulkner and Morrison
Literature 505 Fictions of Asian America
Literature 511 Form and Dissolution in the Central European Novel:
1888–1927
Literature 543 Culture and Literature of Medieval France
Literature 552 Studies in Autobiography
Literature 560 Don Quixote and Narrative Theory
Literature 569 Gender, Sexuality, and the Ancient World
Literature 573 Languages of the Imagination
Literature 584 The Beat Generation
Literature 591 Contemporary and Classical Literary Theory
Mathematics 537 The Copernican Revolution
Philosophy 545 Iris Murdoch
Philosophy 555 Tragedy and Philosophy
Physics 568 Here in the Universe
Psychology 522 Stereotyping and Prejudice
Psychology 531 Emotions
Psychology 544 The Social Construction of Disability
Theatre 519 The Birth of Modernism in the Theatre
