Master's of Liberal Arts offers unique grad. program

It is the best kept secret at the University, according to Eileen Elkan. Elkan, who is currently working towards her Master's of Liberal Arts, said last week that the MLA program is successful since it is expansive. "I like the idea of the interdisciplinary approach," Elkan said. "It's more well-rounded." The two-year-old College of General Studies' MLA program serves over 100 students who are taking graduate level courses. The program consists of seven courses in the CGS and graduate Arts and Sciences departments. It also includes an in-depth seminar called "pro-seminar" and a "capstone course" where students write a final project examining a single issue which synthesizes the array of their course work. "It's the most flexible program," Elkan said. "The MLA used to be seen negatively . . . [it's] really a very specialized degree. [There's] no tunnel vision, we're seeing a topic from all ends. The MLA is beginning to get real recognition in other institutions." "[I've done] lots of interdisciplinary writing that I wouldn't have been able to do if I just stayed in the English department," she said. Classes are offered days and evenings and are taught by Arts and Sciences faculty. The MLA can require up to five years to complete. The degree is administered by CGS and then awarded by an Arts and Sciences faculty committee. Students in the program range in age from 22 to 72, providing an "intergenerational setting," according to Janet Theophanos, the associate director for graduate studies. "It makes the subject matter much more vital." The "pro-seminars," which serve as an introduction to interdisciplinary study, include topics such as "America in the 1930s," "Work and the Human Condition," multiculturalism and oral history. Julie LeBaron, 52, a student in the program, quit working to return to school and said she does not plan to work again. "I'm doing it just because I love learning," she said. Charlene Mires, one of the first five students to graduate from the program, said she worked as the Assistant National Editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer. "As a journalist, I went into the program to establish contacts and to gain a broader understanding of American history," she added. During her coursework, Mires said she became "interested in history" and is currently a full-time history graduate student at Temple University. Mires said she is planning to remain in academia after she earns her degree. "The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn," Mires added. Theophano added that the faculty enjoy the students' enthusiasm. "I've been struck by the motivation and insightfulness of the students," Theophano said. "They're here because they love learning." Students said the program's only problem is a lack of publicity within the University. "Professors find out about the program when you enter their classes," Mires said.

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