MLA-MLA - Master of Liberal Arts (MLA)

The purpose of the Master of Liberal Arts Program is to address subjects that cross disciplinary boundaries; to develop an understanding of the strength and shortcomings of disciplinary evaluation; to help students refine their writing, research, critical thinking, collaborative work, and collegial discussion skills. While students are not being groomed for academic careers, graduates of the program have used their experience to gain acceptance into PhD programs at Stanford and elsewhere. Students who complete the MLA program are well-positioned to advance in careers that require the careful analytical and rhetorical training they receive. This training is achieved through the completion of four foundations courses, which together emphasize the program’s goals as stated above; seven seminars that offer a more specific engagement with the interdisciplinary subject matter; and a master’s thesis, accomplished under the direction of a Stanford faculty member who is expert in the subject of the thesis.