Program of Study

Students must successfully complete ten classes (30 graduate credit hours) from the following required seminars (12 graduate credit hours), electives (12 graduate credit hours) and capstone project seminars (6 graduate credit hours).

Required Interdisciplinary Seminars

Students are required to complete one semester in each of the following courses.  Seminar topics for each course change each semester.  These courses, except MLA 500, may be repeated for elective credit as topics change.  Please see this semester's Course Descriptions for full details of semester offerings.

MLA 500: Seminar on the Human Condition

(3 credit hours)
Explores the historical evolution of concepts central to the development of civilization and of the human personality, including freedom and authority, aesthetic sensibility, a sense of self and of social relationships and mastery over the physical environment. Required of all MLA students; must be taken at the first opportunity. May not be repeated for elective credit.

MLA 520: Seminar on the Human Experience

(3 credit hours)
Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised in the humanities, but drawing on insights from the natural and social sciences as well. Topics vary. Required of all MLA students. May be repeated for elective credit.

MLA 540: Seminar on the Individual and Society

(3 credit hours)
Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised in the social sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and natural sciences as well. Topics vary. Required of all MLA students. May be repeated for elective credit.

MLA 560: Seminar on Science and Human Values

(3 credit hours)
Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised by the natural sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and social sciences as well. Topics vary. Required of all MLA students. May be repeated for elective credit.

Required ONLY of students who matriculated before August 2008:

MLA 600: Contemporary Issues

(3 credit hours) 
The different perspectives developed through each student's program will be brought to bear on assessing the human condition in contemporary America. Such issues as the impact of science and technology, professional ethics, the environment, changing values and international interdependence will be discussed. Prerequisite: 18 hours of MLA coursework.

Required Capstone Project Seminars

MLA 670: Scholarly Inquiry Seminar

(3 credit hours)  Prerequisite: Successful completion of 21 credit hours in MLA
This seminar provides a forum for students to develop their individual scholarly interests into a capstone MLA project. Includes survey of techniques of inquiry in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as practical issues from finding a topic, to final presentation and defense. Students will define a topic for the project seminar and begin preliminary research. Project proposals must be approved by the project advisor, the project seminar instructor and the MLA Program Director. Grading S/U. Spring semester only.

MLA 680: Project Seminar

(3 credit hours)  Prerequisite: Successful completion of MLA 670 & 24 credit hours in MLA
Seminar dedicated to the completion of a capstone scholarly research project under the direction of a project advisor and project seminar instructor. Typically the project takes the form of a major research paper (40-50 pages), but alternatives, including creative projects in the arts or literature are permitted with the concurrence of the advisor and project seminar instructor. Drafts are presented and defended in the seminar, and final projects are due before the end of the semester. The final paper/project is approved by the instructor of 680, the project advisor and the MLA Program Director. (Grading S/U). Fall semester only.

Complete Capstone Projects are available to the public through UNC Asheville's Ramsey Library Special Collections.  Though the projects are not available online, the Special Collections Web page allows for browsing completed projects by year of completion, title, and author.  Read more about Capstone Project guidelines.

Electives

12 credit hours from ENG/MLA 520, MLA 540, CCS/MLA 560 as topics change. Students may chose a focus area from Climate Change & Society (CCS 560), Humanities (ENG/MLA 520), Globalization (MLA 540) or Science and Human Values (MLA 560) and repeat the course as the topics change each semester. Students may opt to take Tutorials (see below) for up to six elective credit hours. Special Topics courses (see below for description) may also be used for elective credit. Additionally, students may transfer up to six hours of elective credit from another accredited graduate program, provided the subject matter is relevant to the MLA Degree.  See below for requirements for transferring credit.

MLA 610: Tutorial (1-3 credit hours)

Students may take up to 6 credit hours of tutorials for elective credit.
Individual study supervised by a faculty member. Topics are chosen after consultation between student, graduate advisor and faculty member. Course may be repeated as subject matter changes for a total of 6 hours of credit. Requires permission of program director - please submit a Tutorial Request Form. Tutorials may only be used for elective credit and will appear on the academic transcript as MLA 610.

MLA 571-3, 671-3: Special Topics in Master of Liberal Arts

(1-3 credit hours)
Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as subject matter changes. Elective credit only. See program director.

MLA courses through UNC Asheville's Office of Distance Education
Policy on Transfer Credit