Master of Arts in Liberal Studies  

Introduction

Though not even remotely as eloquent, let alone famous (outside my immediate family, of course) as the author of the above quote, since assuming the directorship of the new Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, I've come across countless sources, some quite by accident, that have reconfirmed my longstanding commitment to the humanistic and humanizing enterprise of liberal arts education in the fullest, most comprehensive, and integrative sense of the term.  So, preliminaries aside, welcome to the web-page for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington which began offering classes in the fall of 1999 (by the way, I'm Mike Wentworth, though if we ever have occasion to talk and visit and I hope we do, you can just call me Mike).  A sophisticated and highly integrated exploration of the liberal arts, the MALS program at UNCW adheres to the traditional values of broad liberal arts education and is designed for highly motivated adult learners (like yourselves, no doubt, or you wouldn't have read this far) who wish to deepen their understanding of the social, scientific, and humanistic dimensions of today's world from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Special features of the program include:

• The opportunity to be part of the only MALS program in the eastern part of North Carolina and to study at one of the   premier regional universities in the South as frequently acknowledged by annual surveys of U.S. News and World Report
• An innovative curriculum, including three broad areas of concentration: social concerns and cultural systems; environment, science, and society; and arts, literature, and society
• The opportunity for students to create and pursue an individualized course of study that best meets their personal interests and needs
• Stimulating contact with a mature, enthusiastic community of life-long learners
• Late afternoon and evening seminar classes that meet once a week to accommodate the special needs of MALS students
• A personal, truly student-oriented touch, both in terms of academic counseling and a teaching faculty fully committed to teaching excellence
• Access to first-rate academic library and state-of-the-art computing resources
• The opportunity for students to refine their communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills

More Information on UNCW's Liberal Studies Program

Based on the innovation, diversity, and interdisciplinary focus of its curriculum, the philosophical rationale that informs the program, the quality of supporting resources, and its demonstrated potential for growth, the MALS program at UNCW has just recently been awarded associate membership in the Association for Graduate Liberal Studies Programs, an international organization devoted exclusively to representing the interests of masters programs in the liberal arts directed to adult, part-time learners.

Though only in its fourth semester of operation, the MALS program at UNCW has already exceeded projected enrollment figures for the first year.  Ranging in age from 28 to 87 (with an average of 40-45, students currently enrolled in the program represent a fascinating demographic mix, with disciplinary backgrounds in psychology, English, history, sociology, medicine,  

Bridge in Campus Common Area Photo by Jennifer Bradford

primary and secondary education, recreation, business, communications, drama, film, and philosophy and religion and current or former professional careers in education, military service, medicine, film production, advertising, arts administration (one student even served as an administrative assistant in one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's federal relief agencies during the Great Depression, though hers is merely one of many equally remarkable life histories I've come to admire and respect).  Though still a young program, students have already established a strong sense of community both inside and outside the classroom, often meeting for lunch or dinner, attending public lectures or local cultural events, and maintaining informal contact through an on-line MALS newsletter.  They are simply a splendid group, a joy to teach and work with.  One of the advantages of program growth is the opportunity to offer a greater number and variety of courses over any given semester.  Upcoming courses include: "Shamanism", "Atheism and Unbelief", Art in Social Science Perspective", "The Search for Historical Jesus", "Cultural Images of America in the 1950's",  "The Historical Geography of Capitalism", and "Affirmative Action and Social Justice".  But I sense I'm getting ahead of myself here, so let me back up and establish an historical and philosophical frame of reference for the Graduate Liberal Studies movement in America before focusing more fully and specifically upon our own MALS program at UNCW.

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