Liberal Studies, M.A.

Major Code: 5690

Students who have completed a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies will be expected to exhibit enhanced capacities for both “analytic” and “synthetic” thought, particularly in the areas of critical inquiry and aesthetic analysis. In addition to the “who, what, where, and when” or the content of their educational experience, students will focus on the more important issues of “why and how”. These cognitive skills will be particularly evidenced in the analysis of diverse civilizations and their creative and philosophic contributions to the global community.

The objectives of the Liberal Studies program are:

Students will think and write critically about the major traditions of civilizations around the globe;
Students will comprehend the fundamental systems of analysis for a multitude of cultural disciplines, such as architecture, art, history, literature, music philosophy, and religion, while understanding the interrelatedness of these subsets of the humanities;
Students will apply these critical skills toward analysis of global cultures and cultural products;
Students will learn to identify the core creative processes used in the construction of products of human cultures, such as architecture, art, history, literature, music, philosophy, and religion;
Students will synthesize the fundamental components of citizenship by engaging the various civilizations and creative traditions of the globe, with an emphasis on the Western tradition.

Contacts

Graduate Advisor: Dr. Syd Morrow
Email: smorrow11@uco.edu
Office: LAN 205F
Phone: 405 - 974 - 5621

Admission Requirements

Submit the following items to:

Jackson College of Graduate Studies

100 N. University Drive, NUC 404
Edmond, OK 73034

Online application for admission (www.uco.edu/graduate/).
Official copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts from each institution attended with all degrees posted. All transcripts must be from an accredited institution. Transcripts must show a minimum 2.75 GPA overall or 3.00 GPA in the last 60 hours attempted.
Completion of 18 hours in one or more disciplines of the Liberal Arts with a minimum GPA of 3.00
The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) may be used for admission if the undergraduate GPA does not meet the minimum requirement. A score of 153 (500 on the unrevised score scale) on the verbal portion and a 4.0 on the writing assessment is required.
Students with a native language other than English must submit evidence of English language proficiency. SeeAdmission to Graduate Studies - English Language Proficiency.

Other Requirements

Plan of Study. Each student must develop a Plan of Study with his/her graduate program advisor and file it with the Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) by the end of his/her first semester of graduate work. The plan must be signed and dated by the student and the graduate program advisor before it can be considered official.
Academic Standards. Meet the following coursework standards:
- Overall GPA of 3.00 or higher;
- No more than six (6) hours of “C”; and
- No more than six (6) advisor-approved hours from traditional correspondence courses (i.e., S.P.O.C. courses).
Thesis or Comprehensive Examination Options:
- Thesis Option:
  - Complete a thesis (with a minimum of three hours and a maximum of six);
  - Successfully defend it in a public and preannounced oral defense;
  - Provide two paper copies of the thesis and one electronic copy to the library through Proquest, and the title page, original signature page, and abstract page to the JCGS.
- Comprehensive Examination Option
  - Write a four- to six-hour examination on the designated examination day. The examination may be done either by hand or on a laptop provided by the department.
  - Upon satisfactory completion of the written exam, the student will take a one-hour oral examination administered by his or her advisory committee.
- In the event of unsatisfactory performance on either the defense of the thesis or the comprehensive examination, the student may petition to be re-examined at later date determined by the Graduate Advisor. Re-examination or re-defending a thesis will be allowed only twice.

Graduation Requirements

Required Courses: 13 Hours

Guided Electives: 21 Hours

All students must select either the thesis or comprehensive examination option. Up to six hours taken in other UCO programs, with approval from Graduate Advisor.