Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

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The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to build skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. By taking a range of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences within the context of larger global connections, students gain varied insights into the relationship between individuals and larger social structures in regard to topics such as religion, government, and gender in societies both past and present. To do so, the curriculum introduces and expands student knowledge in methods and substantive study of broad disciplines such as the humanities, ethics, and social sciences.  

Students will study, analyze, and interpret compelling texts that will enrich their knowledge of and provide fresh perspectives on historical, political, social, normative, scientific, religious, and cultural issues. These critical, interpretive, analytical, and communication skills are both vital to leadership skills and establish long-term analysis and thinking. Our program offers an opportunity for students to attain a degree for career advancement, to clarify the next career move, to prepare for further graduate study, and/or for personal enrichment. 

Ideal for working professionals, our program is designed to fit your schedule. We offer options for full- or part-time participation and classes are held on weekday evenings, so you can earn your degree at a pace that suits your needs—without interrupting your career. No GMAT or GRE is required.

Liberal Studies at Georgetown

The liberal studies programs have been a staple of Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies for over 50 years.

In 1974, the interdisciplinary program welcomed its first class. Undergraduate and graduate degrees were initially housed together until 1983, when degree designations were officially given for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. In 2005, the Doctor of Liberal Studies was officially launched.

Today, there are nearly 3,000 alumni with a liberal studies degree from Georgetown—over 800 undergraduate, 2,000 master's, and 100 doctoral students. We are incredibly proud to have students from across the world representing different backgrounds, ages, cultures, and faith traditions. Our graduates have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers across sectors, applying their education in fields from public service and business to education, healthcare, technology, and the arts. As we like to say, there are as many paths toa liberal studies degree as there are students, and the paths our students pursue after graduation are just as diverse.

A liberal studies degree from Georgetown is much more than an academic achievement. Grounded in the belief that human life and human action have meaning, our programs challenge students to examine ideas, people, and events from a perspective wider than their own. By engaging the moral, social, political, and economic dimensions of human experience, students are prepared to navigate a complex, rapidly changing world as thoughtful and ethical leaders. They graduate equipped not just to succeed in the world, but to engage it with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to the common good.

*Tuition rates for each term are published annually, typically in February. Total tuition listed here reflects Fall semester of entry.

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