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LIBERAL ARTS

College of Arts and Letters

• MASTER OF ARTS
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

California State University, Sacramento offers an interdisciplinary program of graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. The graduate program is designed to give students an opportunity to study broad areas of human experience at an advanced level without requiring them to specialize in a particular discipline. Many graduates may find the program enhances their understanding and effectiveness in their chosen fields of work. It requires a commitment to serious reading, thinking, and writing and the willingness to journey at times in uncharted academic regions where disciplines cross, whether to meet amicably or to join battle. Faculty from various disciplines who teach the courses are carefully chosen for their outstanding teaching and scholarship, and their interest in interdisciplinary approaches to learning.

With this program, California State University, Sacramento joins a nationwide effort to redress the imbalance that exists between the decreasing study of the liberal arts, particularly in undergraduate general education requirements, and increasing pursuit of specialized vocational training. It provides a second chance for graduates who feel that their bachelor's degree may have left them with an incomplete education in the liberal arts.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in Liberal Arts requires:

• an undergraduate degree from an accredited four year college or university (or equivalent preparation if the student has done undergraduate work outside the U.S.) with a minimum 3.00 GPA in the last 60 units attempted;
• competence in the English language, as demonstrated by academic achievement;
• three letters of reference pertaining to academic potential to be sent to the Program Coordinator by the application deadline;
• statement of purpose of at least 500 words (typed) in response to the following question: How does the Liberal Arts Master's Program fit with your talents, interests, and aspirations?

Students with deficiencies in Admission Requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Any deficiencies will be noted on a response to the admission application.

Admission Procedures

Persons interested in applying should first contact the Office of Graduate Studies for information and application materials, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470, www.csus.edu/grad studies. Applications are due by March 15. (Those interested in beginning graduate studies in spring semester should contact the Program Coordinator). All students must complete an online application for admission. International visa students must submit the appropriate international student application form which is available at the Global Education Office, Lassen Hall 2304, (916) 278-7471. All other application materials are filed with the Office of Graduate Studies and will be forwarded to the Liberal Arts Program Coordinator for appropriate action.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This should be initiated by the student as soon as the student has:

• removed any deficiencies in Admission Requirements;
• completed at least 15 units of 200-level courses in the graduate program with a "B-" or better in each of the required courses;
• maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA overall in the program's electives and core requirements; and
• taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.

Requirements - Master of Arts Degree

Units required for MA: 30

A. Required Courses (9 units)

(3) LIBA 200A Culture and Expression: Prehistory to the Late Antiquity

(3) LIBA 200B Culture and Expression: Middle Ages and Renaissance (LIBA 200A or instructor permission)

(3) LIBA 200C Culture and Expression: The Modern Period (LIBA 200A and LIBA 200B or instructor permission)

B. Electives (18 units)

At least 9 units must be earned through Liberal Arts courses.

For the remaining 9 units, students are encouraged to take courses from other departments, but such courses must be approved by the Program Coordinator. Up to 6 of these remaining 9 units may be earned through upper division undergraduate courses, also with the approval of the Program Coordinator.

C. Culminating Requirement (3 units)

(3) LIBA 500 Culminating Experience (Advanced to candidacy and permission of the Program Coordinator)

Note: Before advancing to candidacy, the student must have an approved prospectus on file in the Program Office.

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