Academics
Graduate Program in Liberal Studies > Requirements
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Liberal Studies M/LS students are not required to take any minimum number of courses a year to remain in the program. Part-time students are encouraged.
Students may also choose to complete the M/LS degree in a single academic year through a special accelerated program.
An overall average of B or higher is a requirement for the master's degree. Course work given a grade of incomplete by the instructor for appropriate reasons must be cleared within one year; after that, the grade will be recorded permanently as NC (No Credit), without affecting the student's grade point average. For more information, please contact Carol Gayle at gayle@lakeforest.edu or call 1-847-735-5083.
For the Master of Liberal Studies (M/LS) degree, a student must complete eight graduate courses, each of which carries four hours of graduate credit. At least three of these courses should be the M/LS interdisciplinary seminars and/or colloquia. To complete the program, students may enroll in more M/LS seminars or in advanced undergraduate courses in which they will be expected to do extra work. Students may also choose to write a one or two course master's thesis.
Transfer Credit
Once a student is admitted to candidacy, the M/LS Committee may approve the transfer of graduate courses from an accredited university. Only courses in which the student has earned a grade of B or higher and that fit into the liberal arts definition of the M/LS program can be considered for acceptance in transfer. Normally, the Committee will accept in transfer no more than the equivalent of two Lake Forest College graduate courses.