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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Master of Liberal Arts? Are you interested in Beethoven or the teachings of Plato. Do you want to study the films of Stanley Kubrick, or explore bio-ethical issues raised in stem cell research? Have you ever wanted to study the works of Shakespeare or Faulkner, or learn more about the "big bang" theory? MLA students, in consultation with an advisor, tailor the program to their own professional and intellectual interests through exploration of different curricular fields including history, literature, philosophy, political science, the humanities, music, art history and the performing arts. The program of study is ten courses including either a thesis or graduate project. The focus of the program is on allowing students to explore the world of knowledge taking their own path. MLA students take a ten course program beginning with the core requirement "Exploring the Liberal Art." After taking the requisite number of seminars, the student can then opt to do a graduate project (worth one course) or a master's thesis (worth 2 courses) for a total of ten courses. Who should be interested in the MLA? Adult students return to school for a variety of reasons. Some students want to broaden their intellectual horizons, while others pursue the MLA for professional reasons. The program provides teachers with a strong content area in world culture, literature, and science, technology and society. We currently have secondary educators, primary school teachers, and community college teachers. The MLA offers breadth to highly specialized professionals who want to explore the diversity of knowledge. Lawyers, medical students, nurses, and independent business men and women who are intellectually curious see a strong connection between their life work and the program of study the MLA offers. The program also exists for those who simply want to learn more about the world and who want to challenge themselves. Are you interested in the types of courses offered by the program? Do you want to be challenged by some of the top scholars and teachers at Johns Hopkins University? Does a small seminar setting with students all interested in the serious discussion of ideas appeal to you. Then you should be interested in the MLA. We have students for a variety of different backgrounds. Current students include lawyers, medical students, nurses, physicians, housewives, retirees, military personnel, Hopkins employees, health professions, educators (including pre-school, 2nd Grade, and secondary educators), office workers, editors, writers and independent business people. The age range is 20 to 90. 10 Total. Requirements include one core course (Exploring the Liberal Arts); eight or seven electives (seven for thesis option; eight for graduate project option); either graduate project (one term) or thesis (generally two terms). Are there any required core courses? "Exploring the Liberal Arts" is required of all students enrolled in the Homewood Program. DC based students should contact the Associate Chair for requirements. The "Exploring the Liberal Arts" course offers a strong introduction to the breadth and scope of the liberal arts. Each week during the semester a different Hopkins professor comes to the class to share his or her "way of knowing." This semester we have professors from history, literature, physics, writing, philosophy, history of medicine, and music, visiting the class. How long do I have to complete the requirements of the program? Five years from the time you enroll in your first course through the completion of the graduate project or thesis. What are the requirements for admission into the program?
Can students concentrate in a particular field or area of study? Yes. Most students select a wide variety of courses, but it is possible to cluster courses in world culture, literature, science, technology and society, and the Visual Arts. In the Visual Arts for example we offer courses in art, photography, and film. How do I decide what courses to take? The MLA is tailored to student's needs and priorities. Advising is always available. If you have questions about specific courses or want to put together a concentration cluster please contact the Associate Chair. Courses described in the catalog are representative of the broad range of MLA offerings. The same courses are rarely offered two years in a row unless they are held at the other campus. For descriptions of the courses listed in Course Schedules that do not appear in the catalog, please contact the MLA Associate Program Chair. Who teaches the courses in the MLA? Courses are taught by regular Johns Hopkins faculty and specialists in specific fields of study. We have faculty from the Peabody Institute, the U.S. State Department, the Maryland State Archives, museum and special archival collections. Can I take a course from another program and have it count towards my requirements? Students are allowed to take up to two courses in any of the other part-time programs with permission. The MLA also cross-lists courses with the other programs. For example, this year we cross-listed a Bioethics class with the Biotechnology Program and a course on the American Presidency with the Government Program. There are eight Advanced Academic programs: Applied Economics, Biotechnology, Communication in Contemporary Society, Developmental Psychology, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Government, and Writing. Since 1992, MLA students have had the option of taking one summer course at the University of Cambridge in England to transfer as an MLA elective. For the exact courses to be offered at Cambridge in summer 2002, as well as details about registration, please contact the MLA Associate Program Chair. Is there any scholarship money available? The MLA Program does offer some scholarship money to students currently enrolled in the program who have taken at least two courses and have an outstanding academic record. Contact the Associate Chair for an application form. You should also check with your employer to see if funding for education is available. The MLA Associate Chair would be happy to send materials to an employer defining the scope of the program. How do I apply to the MLA Program? Contact the Office of Advanced Academic Programs for an application form and packet, or download the pdf version of the form.
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