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2010 Graduation Ceremony

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies graduates (July 2009 - May 2010) and Doctor of Liberal Studies are invited to participate in two celebrations during Commencement Weekend. The School of Continuing Studies Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 22, at 5 PM in Gaston Hall . The Commencement will be followed by a reception in the Leo O'Donovan Hall, SW Quad .

The Baccalaureate Mass for all Georgetown University graduates is on Sunday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m. on the Healy Lawn and will be followed by a buffet breakfast in the Grand Ballroom of the Leavey Center.

Graduation invitations will be mailed in mid-March or given to students upon completion of their thesis. Students are allowed to bring up to 10 guests to the ceremonies. Caps and gowns will be on sale in the Georgetown University Bookstore the week prior to Commencement, and will cost approximately $55. More information regarding degree completion and commencement will be sent to students in the Spring.

Credits

In order to earn a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree, students must complete 30 credit hours, including a 3-credit thesis.

The Thesis Requirements

Thesis Proposal

Upon completing the course work or in the final semester of courses for their degree program, all candidates must register for the Thesis Proposal Workshop, LSHV 497 (0 credit, 0 tuition). This 0-credit course taken in conjunction with a 3-credit course in the fall or spring terms constitutes half-time enrollment status. The Workshop consists of four two-hour class sessions during which each student is guided through the creation and approval of a thesis proposal.

Thesis Proposal Approval Form

Thesis Proposal Outline

Thesis Completion

After successfully completing the Thesis Proposal Workshop, students must register for the Thesis Research/Writing course (3 credits) with two course numbers LSHV 498- and LSHV 499. If the thesis is not completed in the semester in which the student is registered he/she must enroll in Continuous Registration, for one semester. Students have two semesters (not counting summer) to complete the thesis.

MALS Graduation Application Form

MALS Thesis Approval Form

Electronic Thesis Release Form

For detailed information on thesis writing and requirements, please download the Liberal Studies Thesis Writing Guide

Grading System and GPA Requirements

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Students will not be allowed to register for additional courses beyond the 27 required course credits in order to raise their GPA.

The Liberal Studies Program does not allow students to audit classes; therefore students must be officially registered in order to attend class. Registered students will receive one of the following letter grades:

A	4.00
A-	3.67
B+	3.33
B	3.00
B-	2.67
C	2.00
F	0.00
I	Incomplete (Graduate notation)
W	Withdrawal
S	Satisfactory (A grade of B or better in a pass/fail course)
U	Unsatisfactory (Any grade below a B in a pass/fail course)

Please note that while the grades of S and U are not included in the calculation of a student's GPA, a U is treated as an F for the purpose of reviewing academic performance leading to academic dismissal.

Academic Ineligibility

Master's Degree Candidates earning grades of two "C's" or lower are academically dismissed.  All grades, including "F's," are calcualated in determining the cumulative GPA.  An "F"=0.  At the completion of 8 courses (24 credits attempted), a student must have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA.  If the student's GPA is below a 3.0, he/she is dismissed from the Program and further course registration or enrollment in the Thesis Proposal Workshop is canceled.

For more information on grades, grade changes, and grade appeals, please refer to the Liberal Studies Degree Handbook

Posting of Grades

Faculty members post grades directly to MyAccess. Therefore students are able to access their grades before or as soon as the administrative office. Grades are not due until several weeks after the term ends. Students who need to know their grade sooner (for employee reimbursement, for example) should contact their professor directly.

Final Paper/Test Pick-Up

While some professors return papers in class or via email, many prefer to drop final papers off at the Liberal Studies office where they are stored for two semesters. Students may pick up their paper during office hours at Suite 225, ICC.

Graduation

Master's degrees are posted in August, December, and May. MALS students follow the schedule and procedures for degree application and clearance provided by the Liberal Studies Program in conjunction with the Graduate School.

Advising

The Core Faculty is comprised of a faculty member from each of the curricular fields, who will be available as an advisor to students needing guidance in a curricular field. Students are also encouraged to request academic guidance and counseling as needed from the Director or Associate Director of of the Liberal Studies Degree Program, the core faculty or other faculty members.