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Last updated:
November 10, 2006

Graduate liberal studies is designed for adults who wish to create a coherent framework for their scholarly experience while deepening their understanding of the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Students are encouraged to pursue their own interests in a subject or topic through differing historical periods or across disciplinary boundaries. Prerequisites for admission include (1) a baccalaureate degree; (2) at least a B cumulative grade-point average in undergraduate studies; (3) a written essay; and (4) an interview in which the candidate’s needs, achievements, and study goals are evaluated. No entrance examinations are required.

The master of arts in liberal studies program requires 30 credits. Of the total, 12 credits are earned in core courses, 12 credits are taken in electives, and 6 credits are awarded for a final project. Elective credits may represent a concentration of courses chosen from the graduate school’s offerings to prepare students for the final project. At the discretion of the program director, students may transfer after matriculation a limited number of credits from undergraduate courses to meet the advanced-degree requirements. Study plans and final projects are designed in consultation with program faculty members. Non-matriculated study also is available on a part-time basis, and all courses are open to graduate students in other programs.

Rutgers has excellent facilities for liberal studies. The John Cotton Dana Library, located on the Newark campus, houses a strong collection of books, periodicals, and items in microformat that are relevant to all areas of the program. Librarians can also assist with such specialized services as computerized bibliographic searches and interlibrary loans. In addition to the university facilities, the nearby Newark Museum, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the cultural resources of New York City, including art galleries, concert halls, and libraries, greatly enrich the classroom experience.