Liberal Studies M.A.L.S.
A current student, alumnae, and members of the faculty and administration discuss the benefits of this interdisciplinary graduate program.
Hollins’ Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (M.A.L.S.) degree offers flexible class scheduling with online options and numerous approved courses to allow students the chance to design their own degree to best fit their needs. The M.A.L.S. degree is designed for the adult learner who is seeking a career-enhancing master’s degree in liberal studies, who desires a strong liberal educational grounding in preparation for professional school, or who simply loves to learn. This degree is customizable, emphasizing liberal arts hallmark strengths in writing, critical thinking, and creativity and is built on Hollins University’s tradition of excellence in these areas.
Advantages of the Hollins University M.A.L.S.:
- You’ll be taught by world-class faculty, many with years of applied knowledge.
- It is possible to complete the entire program online, so that you don’t have to put your life on hold to get your degree.
- It is customizable, to best support your needs for your life.
- It is cost-effective. At just $425 per credit, the M.A.L.S. at Hollins University is one of the most affordable M.A.L.S. degrees available.
Learn What our alumni are Doing
Listen to a M.A.L.S. graduate tell how this master’s degree made a difference.
Degree Offered
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Students must complete 10 courses. All students are required to complete a social sciences and humanities core course. The final requirement is a capstone experience, which brings together the theoretical concepts learned through coursework in an applied project.
In addition to the core courses, students must take an additional seven courses to build an area of focus. Working together with a faculty advisor, students can design their own program of study that will help them develop their skills in the following three areas.
- Writing: Assignments throughout the curriculum will foster the development of scholarly writing. Whether a short essay, a critique or a policy statement, writing assignments will help the learner move beyond the classroom to the realm of impact and influence.
- Critical Thinking: Faculty will challenge students to discern fact from opinion, challenge assumptions, and evaluate evidence using examples and cases from a variety of disciplines.
- Creativity: Whether it’s a poem or painting that inspires feeling and thought, or a brilliant concept that fundamentally changes the way we work, creativity fuels innovation by looking at things differently, through unique and unexpected combinations and connections. We will explore the creative process through both traditional and nontraditional examples.
Scheduling Options
Hollins offers courses fall, spring, and summer; faculty teach in the evenings. Students may take classes part time or full time. They have eight years from matriculation in which to complete the degree requirements.
Hollins offers even more flexible scheduling with online course offerings.
online dual enrollment certification
Teachers, do you need to be ready to offer dual enrollment courses in English, history, or mathematics? If so, Hollins University can help! We offer online graduate level courses in each of these disciplines. For those of you without a master’s degree, the courses you take in your discipline can then be counted toward a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree. Already have a master’s? Then you just need the graduate credits (18 hours) in order to teach dual enrollment. Hollins has received $428,000 in federal government funding to enhance dual enrollment offerings for high school students in Roanoke City Public Schools, Roanoke County Public Schools, and Botetourt County Public Schools. The initiative will be coordinated with Roanoke’s Virginia Western Community College. For more information, call (540) 362-MALS (6257) or email hugrad@hollins.edu.
hollins’ commitment
Hollins University is committed to creating opportunities for adult students to join our graduate programs. We recognize that online and hybrid learning options can make it more convenient to enroll in our courses and we are dedicated to enhancing your online learning experiences. If you have questions about your program or need assistance, please contact the Graduate Programs Office. We may be able to help you with questions about teaching licensure or other concerns or complaints.
What Students Say
“Hollins and the M.A.L.S. program provided me with a wonderful opportunity. The classes were taught by engaging experts in the field. The structure of the program was both flexible and rigorous. I was able to learn, engage with the specific areas I was most passionate about, and balance the classwork with my job. It is a wonderful program for anyone seeking to increase their professional capacity or their own intellectual curiosity.”
August Chien
“No single choice in the past 20 years has impacted my life more than the decision to participate in the graduate program at Hollins. The program gave me confidence in my own ability…the confidence to take risk beyond my capability.”
Ken Dupin
“I earned my undergraduate degree from a large research university. I never had small classes or the opportunity to build close, personal relationships with my professors until I entered the Hollins M.A.L.S. program. The stimulating environment, in addition to rigorous graduate classes and plenty of writing, prepared me for the demands of law school. The Hollins program has been a real asset in my educational journey.”
Malik Shareef
Meet the Director
Steven E. Laymon is vice president for graduate programs and continuing studies.
Steve has held prior leadership and teaching positions at the University of Virginia, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University. Steve holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago, where he also earned an M.A. in international relations. He completed his B.A. in international history and political science at Miami University. His teaching and research focus has been on nations and nationalism.