Program Overview

Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) Program

The Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) program is designed to introduce students to interdisciplinary graduate studies and cultural analysis. The program explores various topics, including cultural representations, social construction, technology, and identity.

Course Descriptions

The MLA program offers a range of courses, including:

• MLA 5011: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies: This course introduces students to interdisciplinary graduate studies and cultural analysis, focusing on American culture and exploring topics such as cultural representations, social construction, and technology.
• MLA 5082: Independent Study: Students work under the direction of a faculty member to complete an independent study project, which includes a proposal, regular meetings, and a final evaluation.
• MLA 5110: Topics in the Arts and American Culture: This course explores the relationship between the arts and American culture, examining how music, literature, and visual arts reflect social, political, and intellectual concerns.
• MLA 5120: Topics in Cultural Studies: This course examines topics relating to popular culture, media, and advertising, emphasizing how cultural representations reflect social and political interests.
• MLA 5130: Topics in Visual Culture: This course explores photography, film, television, and other visual media, considering issues such as representation, identity, and cultural interaction.
• MLA 5140: Topics in Performance Studies: This course encompasses dance, theater, and mixed media theatrical presentations, targeting specific topics ranging from historical studies to contemporary performances.
• MLA 5150: Topics in Gender Studies: This course explores the changing constructions of gender, examining topics such as representations of masculinity, feminist theory, and the sexual revolution.
• MLA 5160: Topics in Environmental Studies: This course explores environmental issues, considering physical, economic, political, demographic, and ethical factors, and examining topics such as groundwater contamination and environmental justice.
• MLA 5190: Topics in Modernism: This course explores the cultural changes involving issues of perception, identity, memory, culture, and modernity, examining the terrain of culture and the arts within the context of historical and technological change.
• MLA 5210: Topics in Political Culture: This course focuses on American political culture, including topics such as civil rights, the conservative right vs. the left, and national health care.
• MLA 5220: Topics in Urban Studies: This course explores the way cities are formed and shaped, considering the design of space, architectural form, and urban planning.
• MLA 5230: Topics in International Studies: This course examines issues of cultural identity and cultural conflict, exploring topics such as global tourism, global cooperation, and global competition.
• MLA 5250: Topics in Science, Technology, and Culture: This course examines the impact of science and technology on culture, considering changes in social life, the environment, the arts, and politics.
• MLA 9995: Master's Project: This course is designed for students to complete a qualifying paper research project under the direction of a faculty member.

Registration Restrictions and Repeatability

Each course has specific registration restrictions and repeatability rules, which are outlined in the course descriptions. Generally, students must be enrolled in the graduate level and may repeat certain courses for additional credit.