THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE ________ Senate Document Number _1988S__ __________ Date of Senate Approval __1-28-88_ _________________________ Signature of Senate Chair _________________________ Action of Vice Chancellor: ________________________ ______________ Approval ________________________ Date ______________ ________________________ ______________ Denied ________________________ Date ______________ Reasons for denial and suggested modifications: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Statement of Faculty Senate Action: __________ APC Action __________ __________ Senate App _1-28-88__ __________ Approved __________ APC Document #8 _______ ____ ___ ___ _______ Catalog Copy for MLA Program (see attached) UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM To be implemented August 1988 CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF MLA PROGRAM The Master of Liberal Arts degree (MLA) is a broadly interdisciplinary, part-time program designed for a broad spectrum of adults. It provides a challenging, structured liberal arts curriculum at the graduate level. The objectives of the MLA degree are to cultivate appreciation of the dimensions of the human spirit and condition; sensitivity to problems concerning values; ability in critical analysis; appreciation of the interrelationships among disciplines as they relate to our humanity; and greater awareness of the importance of viewing contemporary problems from a variety of perspectives. The program is not specifically intended to train students for a particular vocation, to provide accreditation for a profession, or to prepare students for further graduate study. The Master of Liberal Arts degree is designed around the theme "The Human Condition." The program explores human nature, human values, and the quality of human life. The theme integrates studies ranging from the humanities and the arts to the natural and social sciences. ADMISSION The University of North Carolina at Asheville welcomes applications for admission into the Master of Liberal Arts program from all persons interested in post-baccalaureate education in the liberal arts. The requirements and procedures are explained below. Those interested may inquire by mail, telephone or in person to the Master of Liberal Arts Program Director, University of North Carolina at Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, N.C. 28804-3299. Telephone (704) 251-6415. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Admission to the University of North Carolina at Asheville Master of Liberal Arts Program is based upon the applicant's possession of a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, in any field and demonstrated interested in pursuing advanced study in the liberal arts. All applicants for admission as MLA degree candidates must submit: 1. A completed MLA application form; Page 2 2. An application fee of $15.00. This is a non- refundable processing charge and does not apply to any other University fee; 3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work previously undertaken; 4. Three letters of recommendation; 5. A statement of purpose for seeking a Master of Liberal Arts degree. This brief autobiographical essay should describe the applicant's pertinent personal and professional experience and education, as well as his or her interests and goals in pursuing the MLA degree. In addition to these requirements, each applicant will also be interviewed on campus by members of the Graduate Council. Candidates for admission may submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination, or other standardized tests, but that is not required. All applicants will be informed by the Program Director of their admission status as soon as possible after all of their credentials have been received. The notice of admission may include mention of any academic condition under which a student is offered admission. Unless otherwise indicated, failure to meet those conditions will result in the student's dismissal. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Each student will complete thirty-three (33) semester hours of MLA course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. At least twenty-one (21) of these credits must be taken at UNCA. Of these, the five required courses include two in the Humanities core: Hum. 500, The Human Condition (3), which should be taken in the first year of graduate study, and Hum. 600, Contemporary Issues (3). Three Humanities interdisciplinary seminars are required: Hum. 520, The Human Experience (3), Hum. 540, The Individual and Society (3), and Hum. 560 Science and Human Values (3). The remaining four to five courses may be selected from graduate-level liberal studies electives and tutorials. The final requirement is a master's thesis (Hum. 690, 6 credits) or a master's project (Hum. 680, 3 credits). Students who choose the 3-hour project option take an additional three credit MLA elective course to complete the 33 hours. Courses offered through the Asheville Graduate Center may be taken as MLA electives with the prior approval of the Graduate Council. Summary Degree Requirements: 33 graduate credits 6 credits in Humanities core 9 credits in Humanities interdisciplinary seminars 12-15 credits in graduate liberal studies electives 3-6 credits in final thesis or project Page 3 ADVISING AND THESIS/PROJECT COMMITTEE: Each student will consult with the Program Director for orientation and advising before beginning graduate course work. Students are expected to maintain contact with a designated graduate advisor to insure progress through the program. A Thesis/Project Committee, composed of the Thesis Director, the Graduate Advisor, and one or more additional faculty members selected by the student and approved by the Graduate Council will supervise the final thesis or project. The thesis or project topic must be approved by the Graduate Council and any subsequent changes must be sanctioned by the Program Director. The student will present the thesis or project for approval by the Thesis/Project Committee and by the Graduate Council. TRANSFER CREDIT Students may transfer up to 12 semester hours from other accredited graduate programs, provided that the work is relevant to the MLA program. The Graduate Council will review requests for transfer credit to determine the relevance of the previous course work. PROGRESS It is expected that a student will need no more than five years to complete the MLA degree. Permission of the Graduate Council is necessary in order to remain a candidate for the degree beyond this time limit. Students must complete at least one MLA course per year and maintain regular contact with their assigned graduate advisors in order to remain candidates for the degree. WITHDRAWAL A student may withdraw officially from the program at any time, following consultation with his or her graduate advisor. If a student has not been in attendance for one full calendar year, he or she will be dismissed automatically from the program. Reinstatement requires permission of the Graduate Council. GRADUATE SPECIAL STUDENTS Persons with a baccalaureate degree who wish to take graduate courses, but have no clear intention of obtaining a degree, may be admitted to the University as Graduate Special Students. At the discretion of the Program Director graduate special students may take up to six credit hours of graduate courses each semester for credit. The usual Program admissions requirements are waived for students in this classification and Page 4 no application processing fee is required. Admission as a graduate special student does not of itself constitute regular admission to the MLA Program. COURSES: ___ _____ _________ Humanities 500 -- The Human Condition 3 credits Explores the historical evolution of concepts central to the development of civilization and of the human personality, including freedom and authority, aesthetic sensibility, a sense of self and of social relationships, and mastery over the physical environment. (Required of all MLA students.) _______ __ ___ _____ __________ Humanities 520 -- Seminar on the Human Experience 3 credits Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised in the humanities, but drawing on insights from the natural and social sciences as well. Topics vary. (Required of all MLA students.) _______ __ ___ __________ ___ _______ Humanities 540 -- Seminar on the Individual and Society 3 credits Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised in the social sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and natural sciences as well. Topics vary. (Required of all MLA students.) _______ __ _______ ___ _____ ______ Humanities 560 -- Seminar on Science and Human Values 3 credits Interdisciplinary seminars on questions of human nature and human values raised by the natural sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and social sciences as well. Topics vary. (Required of all MLA students.) ____________ ______ Humanities 600 -- Contemporary Issues 3 credits The different perspectives developed through each student's program will be brought to bear on assessing the human condition in contemporary America. Such issues as the impact of science and technology, professional ethics, the environment, changing values, and international interdependence will be discussed. (Required of all MLA students.) ________ Humanities 610 -- Tutorial 1-3 credits Individual study under the supervision of a faculty member. Topics chosen in consultation between student and faculty member. May be repeated for credit with permission of Program Director. Page 5 _______ ______ __ ___ _____ __________ Humanities 620 -- Special Topics in The Human Experience 3 credits. Philosophical, historical, literary and artistic perspectives on human nature and human values. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of Program Director. _______ ______ __ ___ __________ ___ _______ Humanities 640 -- Special Topics in the Individual and Society 3 credits Exploring human nature and values through the social sciences. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of Program Director. _______ ______ __ _______ ___ _____ ______ Humanities 660 -- Special Topics in Science and Human Values 3 credits Exploring human nature and values through the natural sciences. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of Program Director. ________ _______ Humanities 680 -- Master's Project 3 credits A scholarly research project or an original interpretive essay or a creative project in the arts or literature. Project to be chosen in consultation with the faculty member who will serve as its supervisor and approved by the Graduate Council. (Either Hum. 590 or Hum. 600 is required of all MLA candidates.) ________ ______ Humanities 690 -- Master's Thesis 6 credits A substantial research project and resulting original thesis, with topic chosen in consultation with the faculty member who will serve as the Thesis Director and approved by the Graduate Council. Thesis must be publicly defended by the candidate and accepted by the Thesis Committee and Graduate Council. (Either Hum. 590 or Hum. 600 is required of all MLA candidates.) ACCREDITATION STATEMENT FOR PUBLICATIONS The University of North Carolina at Asheville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees and is a Candidate for Accreditation to award master's degrees. UNCA is also an associate member of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs. Page 6 ________ __ ___ ________ __ ADDENDUM TO APC DOCUMENT #8 ___ _______ ____ MLA CATALOG COPY The following policy accompanies the MLA Catalog Copy, but is not intended to appear in the catalog. The APC offers this _____________ addendum as clarification of policy on cross-listing graduate and undergraduate courses. ----------------------- Undergraduate courses cross-listed with graduate courses will carry a 400-level number and may carry a prefix or title different from the concurrent 500-level graduate course. In all cases, graduate students will do work beyond that assigned for undergraduates, and in some cases graduate students will have an additional class meeting or a separate discussion section. Courses to be cross-listed may originate in either the graduate or the undergraduate program. Graduate courses must be approved by the UNCA Graduate Council. Undergraduate courses seeking approval for cross-listing as graduate courses must be approved by the UNCA Graduate Council and the APC. Undergraduate courses judged to be suitable bases may be adjusted for graduate credit by, for example, adding a research project or adding additional material and discussion to impart an interdisciplinary quality appropriate to the graduate program. If undergraduates are admitted to a graduate course or if an undergraduate listing is offered for a primarily graduate course, the assignments for undergraduates will be reduced. With the instructor's consent, a graduate student may take a suitable undergraduate course and do additional graduate-level work on a tutorial basis. Such a student would formally enroll for individual study under a graduate course number with the approval of the UNCA Graduate Council.