Why Liberal Studies?

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Why Liberal Studies?

What kind of students enroll in the Master of Liberal Studies program?

IPFW Liberal Studies majors are very diverse in their backgrounds and interests. Some of the students attracted to this program include:

  • Recent college graduates who miss the classroom and intellectual stimulation of a university environment.
  • Teachers, taking this program in addition to or in place of a Master in Education degree.
  • Individuals with very narrowly focused careers, like jobs in medicine and law, who enjoy the ability to read, write, and think in areas outside their professional expertise.
  • Individuals who want to learn to read more perceptively, write more clearly, and think more creatively; thus, enabling them to be better, more productive employees.
  • Individuals who now have time to explore areas in which they have always been interested in but never had the time to pursue while they were raising families and establishing their careers.

Presently, M.L.S. students at IPFW range from 25 to 70, and are involved in occupations ranging from counselor to administrator to public relations.

What can I do with a Master of Liberal Studies degree?

The Master of Liberal Studies program enables students to study the liberal arts beyond the baccalaureate degree.

In terms of job advancement, it is most useful for those already in a position who might benefit from having a Master's degree. Indiana teachers, for instance, can use it to fulfill their Master's degree requirements, as long as they have the requisite Education courses.

After earning an undergraduate education that was primarily professional, students can broaden their general education by building upon their life experience and skills. If students regard the liberal arts as subjects for lifetime learning, the M.L.S. provides a coherent, challenging program of graduate study. The program is not intended as preparation for doctoral study.

History of the Liberal Studies Program

The Master of Liberal Studies program was approved for IPFW by the Indiana Higher Education Commission and by Bloomington in the summer of 1989. The faculty come from programs in Arts and Sciences at IPFW who have developed specialized courses for the M.L.S. degree.

The first Liberal Studies seminar was offered in Fall 1990. IPFW is the second IU campus to have a Master of Liberal Studies program. South Bend introduced theirs in 1988 and IUS followed us in 1991.Over one hundred colleges and universities around the country have similar programs, some dating back to the 1960s. Thus, this is a program with a long tradition, even though it is relatively new to the IU system.

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