Program Overview

Graduate Liberal Studies Program

The Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education. The program requires students to complete two core courses, LS 800 and LS 801, as well as four elective seminar courses.

Curriculum

• The two core courses, LS 800 and LS 801, constitute an extended examination of the tension between reason and passion in human experience.
• LS 800: Reflections on Reason and Passion I, emphasizes close reading and discussion of works drawn from different cultures and epochs that reflect on human passion.
• LS 801: Reflections on Reason and Passion II, examines writings by some who have insisted on the indispensability of reasoning as a guide to action and the source of truth, as well as writings by some of those who on various grounds have cast doubt on this faith in human reason.

Elective Courses

• After completing the two core courses, students have the option each semester to take elective courses toward the degree requirements.
• The GLS elective courses are offered under thematic rubrics (e.g., LS 812: Science and Human Values).
• The specific course content will vary significantly in accordance with the interest and expertise of the faculty teaching them.
• Students are encouraged to take courses from several different thematic areas in order to benefit from the interdisciplinary curriculum.
• Normally, a student will complete six seminars (including the two core courses) at the rate of two per year.

Degree Requirements

• Students have three to four years from the start of the program to complete their degree.
• Students are required to complete the core foundational courses, LS 800 and LS 801, as well as four elective seminar courses.
• Students must also complete one of the following:
  • Successfully defend two extended essays
  • Successfully defend one project
  • Complete two additional seminars
• All three options result in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree.

Travel Study

• GLS students have many opportunities to participate in full-credit field school courses organized by Simon Fraser University (SFU) or by other universities with GLS programs.

Submitting a Proposal

• If you are interested in the Extended Essay or Project options, you will need to meet with the Graduate Chair of GLS to discuss your research interest, followed by submitting a proposal.
• The proposal should include:
  • The topic to be studied and its significance
  • The methodology to be employed
  • A tentative outline of contents
  • A select bibliography
  • A timeline for completion

Grades and Deferrals

• The minimum grade point average (GPA) that must be maintained by a graduate student is 3.0.
• If, for some reason, you are unable to complete your course work in time, it is sometimes possible to negotiate a deferred grade.
• In accordance with Graduate Studies regulations, all deferred grades must be resolved by the end of the first month of the following semester, otherwise the deferred grade automatically becomes an F.