Master of Arts in Liberal Arts

Students earning the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA) degree ask and respond to fundamental questions about themselves and the world by reading and discussing great books. Whether you are right out of college, concluding a successful career, or somewhere in between, this program welcomes sustained reflection and discussion with a community of enthusiastic learners. The program is offered on both the Annapolis and Santa Fe campuses, as well as online through the low-residency program, and can be started during the fall, spring, or summer semester.

From Aristotle to Aquinas, Wordsworth to Woolf, Herodotus to Hegel, Montaigne to Morrison, students pursuing the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts explore some of the greatest thinkers of all time. While texts are organized into segments, including history, philosophy & theology, politics & society, mathematics & natural science, and literature, the program is a truly interdisciplinary and coherent academic program that transcends disciplinary boundaries. In small, discussion-based classes, students analyze and explore the timeless texts of the past 3,000 years, providing a common ground for inquiry and conversation. The books studied throughout the program have important things to say about many different aspects of our lives and provide insight into timeless questions of humanity. The readings of the program provide a chain of thoughts that connect the entire program into one comprehensive learning experience.

Transcripts are required from every institution where applicants have earned college credit. These can be mailed directly from the registrar’s office in a sealed envelope or can be sent electronically.