An introduction to the process, method, and style of graduate research in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MLS program or instructor consent.

A team-taught seminar on a special topic in the humanities as it relates to either the social or natural sciences; the course will be cross-listed with either LS 602 or LS 603. Variable, but interdisciplinary subject matter. A student may repeat the course when it is offered on a different topic. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MLS program or consent of the instructors.

A team-taught seminar on a special topic in the social sciences as it relates to either the humanities or the natural sciences; the course will be cross-listed with either LS 601 or LS 603. Variable, but interdisciplinary subject matter. A student may repeat the course when it is offered on a different topic. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MLS program or consent of the instructors.

Team-taught seminar on a special topic in the natural sciences as it relates to either the humanities or the social sciences; the course will be cross-listed with either LS 601 or LS 602. Variable, but interdisciplinary subject matter. A student may repeat the course when it is offered on a different topic. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MLS program or consent of the instructors.

A team-taught seminar on a special topic in creative and performing arts as it relates to the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences; the course will be cross-listed with LS 601, LS 602, or LS 603. Variable, but interdisciplinary subject matter. A student may repeat the course when it is offered on a different topic. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MLS program or consent of instructors.

With the consent of the advisory committee, students may arrange with a member of the graduate faculty a special topics course in Liberal Studies. Prerequisites: Admission to the MLS program or consent of instructor.

Students apprentice themselves to one faculty member to pursue one theme developed in the core interdisciplinary program or individualized study program. The expectation is a research paper of 30 pages or an approved equivalent. Students are strongly encouraged to develop creative alternatives. Regardless of the form the project takes, it must in some significant way, reflect both an in-depth understanding of a specific subject matter and the interdisciplinary nature of learning. Papers or projects are defended before a three- to five-person committee consisting of the advisor and 2-4 other faculty members chosen by the student and approved by the advisor. The capstone course provides the final opportunity to evaluate the student's mastery of the liberal studies curriculum. Prerequisites: Admission into the MLS program and approval of the course instructor.

Students will apprentice themselves to one faculty member to pursue a theme developed in the core interdisciplinary program or individualized study program. The expectation is a research paper of thirty pages or an approved equivalent. Students will be strongly encouraged to develop creative alternatives. Regardless of the form the project takes, it must in some significant way reflect both an in-depth understanding of a specific subject matter and the interdisciplinary nature of learning. Papers or projects are defended before a three- to five-person committee consisting of the advisor and two to four other faculty members chosen by the student and approved by the advisor and the MLS director. The capstone course provides the final opportunity to evaluate the student's mastery of the liberal studies curriculum. The final project should reflect the student's appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of learning.