Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Course of Study
Course Offerings
Graduate courses are offered in the evenings and during the summer. These courses frequently are interdisciplinary in nature and are offered by faculty members from a wide variety of departments. Normally there are three half-unit evening courses each fall and spring semester, and one full-unit course, along with an additional half-unit course, in the summer term. With the exception of the accelerated summer term, graduate courses meet one and one-half hours once a week for the duration of the 15-week semester. The graduate curriculum is planned on a two-year cycle. Course offerings and faculty members change each year, reflecting the diversity of interests and fields addressed by the program. Download the MALS 2012-13 academic calendar (pdf).
Generally, at least one MALS course 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 applying for formal candidacy (see Graduate Admission). Liberal studies core courses scheduled for 2012–13 include the following: “The Bloomsbury Group" in summer 2012, “The Theory and Practice of Globalization” in fall 2012, “Sex, Gender and Political Theory” in spring 2013, and "The Fifties in the U.S." in summer 2013.
Undergraduate Course Options
MALS students also are eligible to take limited coursework in any of the 24 undergraduate departments at Reed:
| anthropology art biology chemistry Chinese literature classics dance economics English literature French literature German literature history |
linguistics mathematics music philosophy physics political science psychology religion Russian literature sociology Spanish literature theatre |
In addition, the undergraduate curriculum includes special programs in:
American studies
creative writing
environmental studies
international and comparative policy studies
general literature
Students may apply up to four units of credit from 300- and 400-level undergraduate courses to the MALS degree. While most of these courses have Reed prerequisites and enrollment limitations, interested MALS students may consult with the professor for permission to take the class. Introductory (100- and 200-level) courses may be taken for undergraduate background credit and prerequisites, but these credits cannot be used to satisfy the unit requirement for the MALS degree. Most undergraduate courses at Reed take place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, although a few courses are offered in the evenings.
Independent Study Courses
On an exceptional basis, a student may undertake an independent study course. The course must be approved in advance by the Committee on Graduate Studies, which will take into consideration the individual student’s personal and educational circumstances. A proposal for the course, signed by the instructor, must be submitted to the committee no later than the last day of classes of the preceding term.