Curriculum

Liberal Studies Seminars

Each semester, Graduate Liberal Studies offers four to six seminars developed exclusively for its students. LS seminars are designed to stimulate the ability to think clearly, analyze problems thoroughly and view issues in their wider contexts. In addition, LS courses share the following essential characteristics:

  • In content, each cuts across boundaries of academic disciplines of the humanities, social sciences and physical sciences. While organized around a topic or issue from one discipline, each course is general enough to demand consideration from other perspectives.
  • LS courses are seminars with a maximum enrollment of 15, structured to facilitate participation and discussion.
  • LS seminars require significant amounts of reading and regular written assignments.
  • LS seminars are taught by Duke University graduate faculty.

LS Core Course

The LS core course is required of all entering MALS degree students. Designed to equip students for graduate-level study in an interdisciplinary environment, the course is both a methods course (addressing crucial skills of academic work including critical reading, analysis and effective writing, and how these vary from discipline to discipline) and a course exploring issues and ideas.

Non-LS Courses

  • Graduate-level courses

Courses in the Graduate School are open to MALS students. Course offerings and description for graduate-level courses can be found online through ACES. However, the following conditions apply:

  • Students must have the appropriate background to fulfill course pre-requisites.
  • The course must be graded (i.e., may not be pass/fail).
  • Student must have the consent of the course professor.
  • The course must be approved by the GLS director.
  • Undergraduate-level Courses

Students may take two undergraduate courses for credit toward the MALS degree, with the following conditions:

  • The course must be approved by the GLS director.
  • The course must be numbered 100 or higher.
  • Permission to take a non-LS course

To request permission to take a non-LS course, submit the appropriate form, along with a course outline that includes units of credit and proof of the instructor's approval (signature or email).

N.B. Students should be aware that units of credit for non-LS courses may vary. It is the student's responsibility to confirm that the course constitutes three units of credit. In addition, courses graded as pass/fail will not be credited towards the MALS degree. Courses in schools other than the Graduate School (e.g., Divinity School, Fuqua School of Business, Law School, Medical School, Nicholas School of the Environment, Pratt School of Engineering and Sanford School of Public Policy) may have registration restrictions or special registration procedures and limited availability to MALS students.

Final Project

The Final Project is the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills acquired over the course of the program.

  • It may involve academic research, applied research, or a creative project. All projects must include written analysis. Applied research and creative projects must include a short written analysis that provides context for the work.
  • The completed project should be approximately 50 to 60 pages in length if a Master's thesis, or an equivalent effort if a creative project.
  • The project must be analytical and interdisciplinary.
  • Final Projects are considered one-semester efforts, i.e., the time typically required of a demanding three-credit graduate course.