Segment Availability

All segments are not available each semester. However, students may transfer between campuses (in-person and online) to enroll in segments that meet their desired learning. Below you will find the planned segment availability for each campus.

*Segment availability ultimately depends on enrollment and cannot be guaranteed.

Optional Master’s Essay

Students who have completed at least two segments in the Liberal Arts Program and have demonstrated considerable facility in writing and class conversation may petition the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs for permission to write an optional Master’s essay. The essay may replace one Liberal Arts preceptorial or may be written in addition to the full program. The content and goal of the Master’s essay should be the thoughtful examination of a text or several texts. The essay is not intended to be a piece of specialized research, but rather a sustained performance in the liberal arts. Essays are evaluated by a specially selected committee of three college tutors, including a committee chairperson appointed by the Associate Dean. A public oral examination is scheduled at the time the committee approves the essay. Essays are graded satisfactory or unsatisfactory; oral examinations are graded pass with honors, pass, or fail.

Optional Focus

The Master of Arts in Liberal Arts is designed to give students broad exposure to a range of foundational texts. Students may, however, choose a focus in one of the five segments by grouping all of their preceptorials under one of the five segment areas. For example, a student might pursue a focus in Politics & Society and, to do so, would enroll in preceptorials related to that segment, capaciously construed. The Associate Dean and Assistant Director for Graduate Student Services will gladly provide guidance to students pursuing a focus, which can often be valuable for those continuing on to further academic study or for teachers whose school districts have particular requirements. The focus does not appear on the transcript, but an official letter, signed by the Associate Dean, is included in the student’s file. A focus in Pedagogy & Education is also available to students who have completed the “Pedagogy & Education” preceptorial. Any student seeking a focus should contact the Assistant Director for Graduate Student Services for further information and to receive a copy of the form that is to be submitted to the Associate Dean.