Program Overview

Program Overview

The M.A. in Liberal Studies (MALS) program at The Graduate Center, CUNY, offers a concentration in Individualized Studies. This concentration allows students to design their own interdisciplinary course of study when an existing concentration does not align with their academic interests.

Program Description

The Individualized Studies concentration provides flexibility for students to explore emerging fields, such as digital humanities or refugee studies, by working closely with faculty to shape their coursework. This concentration is for MALS students who have identified a unique area of study that is not currently offered within the program's existing concentrations.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Individualized Studies concentration, students must:

• Be an enrolled MALS student (prospective students cannot apply).
• Combine courses across disciplines to create a unique MALS concentration.
• Work with a faculty advisor to develop an interdisciplinary concentration.

Proposal Requirements

To propose an Individualized Studies concentration, students must submit:

• A 1-2 page written proposal outlining the proposed concentration and explaining why existing MALS concentrations do not align.
• An Individualized Studies Request Form, which includes:
  • Selecting two core courses from different concentrations.
  • Listing elective courses from the last two years across GC programs.
• Faculty Advisor Approval, which requires meeting with a consulting faculty member for guidance and obtaining their signature on the form.

Submission and Approval Process

The proposal and request form must be submitted to the Assistant Program Officer. The MALS Executive Officer and Deputy Executive Officer review the request. If approved, the student follows the customized course plan.

Course Enrollment

The final coursework for the Individualized Studies concentration includes:

• A required introductory course, MALS 70000 Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credits).
• Two core courses selected from two different MALS concentrations (6 credits total).
• Electives (18 credits).
• A master's thesis/capstone project, MALS 79000 (3 credits).

Degree Requirements

To enroll in this concentration, students must be mentored by a GC faculty member, who will provide advisement on the concentration proposal. The consulting faculty member must review the proposal and sign the request form before it is submitted to the Executive Officer.

Deadlines

Proposals for an individualized study concentration for the spring semester must be submitted by March 15 by 5pm. Proposals for an individualized study concentration for the fall semester must be submitted by November 15 by 5pm.

Example of Past Proposal

An example of a past proposal is the Individualized Study: Psychoanalysis, Modern Culture, and the Media. This example includes a proposal form and a past proposal.

Library Resources

The GC Mina Rees Library's Liberal Studies Research Guide is available for students. The contact for Individualized Studies research is reference librarian Alycia Sellie.