Master of Arts
in Liberal Studies

Ohio Dominican University’s commitment “to contemplate the truth and to share the fruits of this contemplation” is realized in all of its programs. But it is especially apparent in the University's liberal arts programs, which historically prize the study of knowledge for its own sake. As the late Pope John Paul II wrote, students at a Catholic university “are challenged to pursue an education that combines excellence in humanistic and cultural development with specialized professional training.” The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program envisions the formation of the whole person as a thinking and self-aware individual, with a dignity and value not based on economic utility but on the individual’s capacity to reason, analyze and wonder.

MALS courses are grouped into four categories that reflect the University’s Dominican heritage: the contemplative life, the commitment to community and social justice, and the pursuit of truth.

Self

Socrates believed, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” These courses help students appreciate the diverse experiences represented by the humanistic tradition while remaining mindful of the elements common to all human experience.

Community

Herman Melville wrote, “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow man.” These courses explore connections that help students situate predominant forces, ideas and movements in terms of their cultural and intellectual influences.

Justice

In her diary, Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before waiting to improve the world.” These courses guide students in making ethical judgments based upon a heightened awareness of moral considerations.

Truth

Courses in this group examine the means by which we come to understand truth since, according to Plato, “Truth is the beginning of every good to the gods and of every good to man.”

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree (liberal arts preferred) from a regionally accredited institution
• Undergraduate grade point average of 3.000 or higher
• Completed graduate application with $25 application fee
• Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• Application essay

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Students must complete all courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Students must complete their program within seven (7) years of acceptance.
• Students must take at least 33 hours of graduate credit.