Graduate Liberal Studies Program Accelerated MALS degree for Wesleyan undergraduates
A flexible solution for students interested in beginning a Wesleyan MALS degree during their final term as an undergraduate
Who: Students who will enter their spring term senior year needing only 1, 2 or 3 credits to graduate.
What: Students accorded provisional admission to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree may begin taking Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) courses during their 8th term of undergraduate study.
When: Students must apply for this program prior to the MALS degree application deadline for whichever will be their 7th or 8th term as an undergraduate (Spring 2021 deadline: Thursday, December 10, 2020)
How: If provisionally admitted as an MALS candidate, students get approval to take GLS courses in fall or spring term of their senior year (approval required from class dean, advisor, faculty member and GLS director). After graduation, they may then petition to have courses count toward their MALS if they were not applied to any of the credit, major, Gen Ed, or other requirements for the BA degree.
Why: The purpose of the Accelerated MALS degree is to enable students to begin earning a Master’s Degree while completing their undergraduate degree. In addition, GLS courses taken in the senior year as part of full-time enrollment will be included in undergraduate tuition and financial aid packages and residential credit count requirements.
Cost: Tuition and fees for GLS courses taken during the fall or spring term while the student is an undergraduate are included in the undergraduate tuition for those terms. Once a student has graduated with a BA and has been formally admitted to the MALS program, GLS course tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. Limited need-based financial aid is available to MALS students. Aid for students who are continuing their Wesleyan academic career for a 5th year will be based on parental financial information. Details are in the aid application.
Benefits
- Students can get a head start on earning their MALS while finishing their undergraduate degree. This may allow the student to complete a Master’s Degree in one year after completing their undergraduate degree.
- Students who complete three Graduate Liberal Studies courses while an undergraduate will save approximately $9,000 in tuition for their MALS degree.
- Students who are entering their 8th term at 31 credits may take MALS courses to maintain full enrollment. – See important Considerations about credit values.
- The degree can be completed in 4 terms (summer/fall/spring/summer).
Important Considerations:
- Courses may not be counted toward more than one degree. If an MALS course is used to satisfy ANY undergraduate degree requirement, it cannot also count toward your MALS.
- GLS courses are worth .75 credits (3 credit hours), not 1 Wesleyan credit (4 credit hours) as Wes undergraduate courses are.
More Information
A virtual information sessions for the accelerated MALS degree will be held on Thursday, December 3, at 7pm EST. To register, go to https://continue.wesleyan.edu/register/MALSinfo.