PDF reflects print version of the catalogue (beginning to French and Italian)Liberal Studies
(213) 740-1349
FAX: (213) 740-5002
Email: mls@college.usc.edu
www.usc.edu/schools/college/mls
Director: Susan H. Kamei, Associate Dean of Advanced and Professional Programs
Master of Liberal Studies
A multidisciplinary degree program, the Master of Liberal Studies (M.L.S.) is designed for motivated, college-educated individuals who wish to further their intellectual growth and pursue graduate work part-time in the evenings.The program centers on the major forces that are revolutionizing the way we conduct our professional lives, rather than on the individual liberal arts disciplines. In this way, subjects covered in the program’s courses have immediate relevance to the problems and challenges of contemporary society. In particular, the program emphasizes some of the most fundamental dynamics shaping the contemporary world: urbanization and globalization, changing cultural landscape, and technological and environmental transformations.
The M.L.S. is a year-round program consisting of nine 3-unit courses. The degree requires an introductory course and a summative project. Seven elective courses are chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor and/or M.L.S. program director.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is based upon possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. When possible, interviews will be conducted with applicants. Two letters of recommendation, a writing sample and a statement of purpose are required.
Degree Requirements
Course and Summative Project Requirements
Nine courses (27 units), including the introductory interdisciplinary research course, MLS 500 (3), and the summative project, MLS 585 (3), are required.
Continuous Enrollment/Leave of Absence/Withdrawal/Reinstatement
Once admitted to a graduate degree program, the student must enroll at USC each fall and spring semester and summer session each year until he or she has satisfactorily completed all degree requirements.If for military, medical, religious or job-related reasons a student must skip a semester, the student must petition for a leave of absence. The petition should be submitted to the student’s program advisor no later than the first day of class for the semester of the leave. Leave of absence request forms are available by electronic mail, fax or hard copy.
If granted, the period of leave is not counted in the time allowed for the completion of degree requirements, and the student is allowed to complete the degree requirements in effect when he or she was originally admitted.
Once a leave is approved, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from any classes for which the student has already enrolled. An approved leave may not exceed one academic year. A student whose leave exceeds one academic year or who fails to maintain continuous enrollment without obtaining an approved leave must, when ready to return to school, apply for readmission to the program. Applications for readmission are available by email, fax or hard copy.
Students who must completely withdraw from a program must notify their program office of their withdrawal from the program. Students should contact their program office for more information or assistance.
Courses of Instruction
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
MASTER OF LIBERAL STUDIES (MLS)
500 Introduction to Liberal Studies: Methods of Knowing (3, FaSp) Introduction to research methods in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences; then methods for applied interdisciplinary research. Graded CR/NC.
510 Cities and Globalization (3, FaSp) Contemporary urban theory and comparative urban analysis. Emphasis on the role of globalization in shaping urban form and problems. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
512 Language in a Globalizing World (3, FaSp) Examination of the relationship between language and geopolitical change, endangered and minority languages, and the public policy implications of multilingualism and multiculturalism. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
540 Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise: Dante’s Divine Comedy (3, FaSp) In-depth reading and analysis of Divine Comedy, in order to develop appreciation for changing values from medieval to Renaissance and contemporary culture. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
542 The Culture of Comedy (3, FaSp) Historical and synchronic ideas of comedy. Ways in which philosophers, artists, and everyday individuals adapt in our ever-changing world. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
544 Representations of Los Angeles (3, max 9, FaSp) Study of literary, artistic and/or dramatic expressions of Los Angeles and its inhabitants in modern and historical literature, art, photography, film, television, and architecture. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
570 Ecology of Night (3, FaSp) Explore the world of night. Human perception of the stars and the role of night in history. Impact of artificial lighting on non-human species and habitat. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
572 Controversies in Science, Medicine and Ethics (3, FaSp) Focus on how scientific developments drive ethical issues in medicine. Exploration of ethical dimensions of issues such as stem cells, genetic engineering and reproductive technology. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
574 Advances in Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (3, FaSp) How DNA directs an organism’s development and how our DNA can be “read” to understand human diversity, diseases, defects, and evolution. Prerequisite: MLS 500.
585abz Master’s Project (3-3-0, FaSpSm) A summative research project completed in consultation with the student’s committee. Departmental approval. Graded IP/CR/NC.