Choosing a graduate degree is about more than earning a credential. It’s about finding a program that aligns with how you think, what you value, and the impact you want to make. If you’re drawn to big questions about culture, leadership, ethics, and the human experience, a Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) or Doctor of Liberal Studies (DLS) degree may offer the intellectual depth and flexibility you’re looking for.
In This Blog:
What is a Liberal Studies Degree Program?
A liberal studies program offers an interdisciplinary education for exploring the human condition. Students examine connections between diverse fields of study, including the humanities, social sciences, arts and culture, and organizational dynamics, in order to ask deeper questions and address today’s most pressing challenges.
In short, a liberal studies program doesn’t teach adult learners what to think, but how to think.
What Can You Do with a Liberal Studies Degree?
Every organization, regardless of industry, needs professionals who can think critically and communicate effectively. This means graduates can pursue diverse liberal studies jobs across a wide range of fields, including but not limited to:
- Civic Leader
- Development and Fundraising Professional
- Organizational Consultant
- Sports Coach
- University Administrator
- Healthcare Practitioner
- Writer, Performer in the Arts
- Spiritual Leader
- Non-Profit Founder, Director
- College Readiness Educator
Whether you’d like to advance in your current field, break into a new industry, or explore an intellectual interest, you’ll have the flexibility and skills to pursue various liberal studies careers and deepen your impact.
How Does a Master of Liberal Studies Program Work?
An interdisciplinary MLS program is designed to help students explore the human experience and think creatively and critically to solve complex issues. Specifically, MLS courses span the humanities, arts and culture, and social sciences to explore how the connections between human behavior, history, and creative expression influence the systems and structures that shape our world.
Students curate their own curriculum by taking classes across disciplines that align with their interests and professional goals. Below are some examples of the many courses MLS students can explore:
Course Example |
Course Description |
|
The Human Experience: An Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies |
Examines issues of human existence using interdisciplinary perspectives, primary readings, large-group presentations, and discussion groups. Includes a close look at the human condition and human creations such as social institutions, art, literature, and science. |
|
Responding and Coping with Public Tragedy |
Discusses healthy responses to coping with the risks of death in the modern world. Examines various types of public tragedies, including accidents, natural disasters, homicide, violence, and terrorism. Explores factors influencing public perceptions, the role of the media, and first responders. Identifies strategies for survivors and how different cultures and faith traditions respond. |
|
Intercultural Communication |
An overview of how differing worldviews, values, attitudes, and behaviors can affect the professional communication process as well as individual and organizational success. Students gain the skills (practical knowledge) and understanding (theoretical knowledge) needed to succeed in an increasingly international environment. Through a series of readings, reading responses, activities, class discussions, and formal papers, students experiment with and apply different concepts related to the intercultural communication process. |
|
Human-Centered Leadership |
Examines the human-centered dimensions associated with the process and consequences of leadership. Explores the theories, communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership in teams and in the twenty-first century. |
|
The Languages of Advertising |
Examines the structure and mechanisms of contemporary consumer culture through the history of print advertising. Using student-led presentations and theoretical readings, students analyze how advertising creates a manipulative world that privileges certain readings over others in order to attract potential spectator-buyers. |
How Does a Doctor of Liberal Studies Program Work?
A doctoral degree in liberal studies is designed for adult learners interested in rigorous, research-driven study that culminates in a dissertation. Through a DLS program, graduates are prepared to contribute new insights that serve their professions, communities, and beyond.
DLS courses include foundational seminars in the humanities, art, literature, philosophy, and the social sciences to strengthen students’ analytical thinking and writing skills. To build community, doctoral students progress through the first two years of the program as a cohort, allowing them to learn from each other’s diverse experiences and perspectives.
Below are examples of foundational seminars students can take in their first year:
Year 1 - Fall Semester |
|
DLS Research and Writing |
|
Critical Methods and Cultural Theory |
Year 1 - Spring Semester |
|
To Be Human: The Art of Creativity and Expression |
|
To Be Human: East Meets West - Intelligence, History, Culture, and Society |
After completing their comprehensive exams, students advance to the dissertation phase to conduct research grounded in the liberal arts and social sciences.
Lead with Insight: SMU’s Master and Doctor of Liberal Studies Programs
Whether you’re looking to explore an intellectual interest, switch careers, or lead with purpose, an interdisciplinary liberal studies graduate program provides both the academic rigor and flexibility to help you achieve what matters most to you.
At SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development, we offer two graduate programs designed for curious and values-driven professionals, community leaders, and individuals looking to deepen their impact:
Master of Liberal Studies |
Doctor of Liberal Studies |
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For a deeper dive, download our free source: Exploring the Human Condition: A Guide to Pursuing Your Master or Doctor of Liberal Studies Degree.
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