Indiana University Northwest Master of Liberal Studies

The Master of Liberal Studies program is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed for students who wish to pursue multiple academic areas by allowing them the flexibility to fashion a course of study that blends their interests, talents, and experiences. It is an ideal program for those who wish to explore questions of enduring concern and contemporary urgency in the arts, humanities, behavioral sciences, social sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: MLS students will gain fresh perspectives in various fields of study and will develop the critical thinking, decision making, and communication skills that are so valued in today’s workplace. Unique among graduate programs, the MLS program helps students understand the broader context of their ideas, paths of study, and possible fields of work. As students learn to analyze problems from a variety of perspectives, they will begin to make connections between their studies and their personal and professional lives, encouraging a lifelong commitment to learning, free inquiry and the life of the mind.

There are ample opportunities for students to work with faculty mentors in the discipline or interdisciplinary topic of their choosing to complete optional independent studies and thesis.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: A MLS degree, by design, is not meant to prepare a student for a particular career. Rather, it prepares students for lives as educated, critical, and inquiring citizens in a world of rapid change. There are many fields, however, in which a master’s degree of any kind is preferred and more sought after than a more specialized degree. MLS graduates often find careers in education, social services, and business fields, particularly in marketing and educational administration. Many students use their preparation to go on to doctorate programs or law school.