Working adults have new degree option

Working adults have new degree option

BY MARGOT DIMOND
Rice News staff

Working adults in Houston will have a new educational opportunity this fall, when Rice University begins offering a master of liberal studies degree through its School of Continuing Studies.

The MLS degree program, which is the first of its kind at Rice, has benefited greatly from the strong leadership and involvement provided by the Rice faculty, said Mary McIntire, dean of Continuing Studies. “Faculty throughout campus have helped shape the program and have formed a steering committee to continue guiding it,” she said, adding that the program’s courses will be taught primarily by Rice faculty.

Richard Stoll, professor of political science and associate dean of social sciences, chairs the steering committee. “We believe that this will be a truly exciting program,” Stoll said. “It will attract students who are eager to expand their intellectual horizons; these students will enroll for the sheer joy of learning.”

The program does not follow the traditional university schedule of fall and spring semesters. Fall classes begin in September and end before Thanksgiving; winter classes begin in January and end in March; and spring classes begin in April and end in early June. Classes will be held in the evenings and on some Saturday mornings.

The curriculum will begin with three required courses — one each in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences — followed by seven other elective courses. The final course will be a capstone course, designed to help students integrate their knowledge through writing an extended paper or completing a project to be presented to the class orally. A thesis is not part of the degree program.

The total course of study is 33 credit hours and can be completed in less than four years if a student takes one class every session.

Students seeking admission to the MLS program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, have significant life experiences and be able to communicate effectively. Because it is a stand-alone program, similar to the executive MBA offered by the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, there will be no tuition waivers for Rice employees.

“The program continues our commitment to providing a rich, broad educational experience for our students, while allowing us to reach out to the community with a unique educational opportunity,” McIntire said. “The master of liberal studies degree will allow students to further their formal education in the liberal arts while still maintaining the schedules of their busy lives.”

The School of Continuing Studies has scheduled open houses Monday, Feb. 28, and Tuesday, March 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more about the MLS program. Fall enrollment applications must be received by May 13.

For more information, visit <http://mls.rice.edu> or call the School of Continuing Studies at 713-348-4803.