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Degrees and Certificates
Liberal Arts – MLA
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Expand Your Knowledge
Master of Liberal Arts
Need a versatile degree for a dynamic career? An MLA offers a broad education that prepares you for leadership roles in various fields.
Flexible Learning Options
Our MLA program offers flexibility to fit your lifestyle. Choose to learn online, in-person, or through a hybrid approach. However, please note that our core courses are exclusively online.
Why AUM?
Affordable, Career-Focused Education
At AUM, you’ll find small class sizes, personalized learning, and valuable professional networks. Our programs are practical and designed to help you advance your career.
We Have the Answers
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To be accepted into the program, prospective students need to submit the application, the $25 application fee, and official transcripts from all previous universities. Students may begin the program in Fall (August), Spring (January), or Summer (early June) semesters. Students with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher in their undergraduate studies or last 60 credit hours are automatically accepted. Tests (such as the GRE or MAT) and letters of recommendation are not needed. However, a student with a GPA under 2.75 can take the test to gain admission to the MLA program. Students receive an admissions decision a few days after their official transcripts arrive.
MLA students compete for the AUM Graduate Merit Scholarship. Graduate research assistantships, which pay $1,500 a semester for about 8 hours per week, are also available.
To graduate, students take 3 interdisciplinary core classes and 9 electives of their choice. Students, however, can instead pass 6 electives and write a thesis to earn their master’s degree. The thesis is optional but is encouraged for those students intending to earn a Ph.D.
Previous graduates of the program have had an excellent track record of finding full-time jobs in community colleges, government jobs, the business world, and nonprofit organizations. The success rate of MLA graduates being accepted into doctoral programs or law school is well over 90%.
Degree Options
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
With this master’s degree, you have many career possibilities. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (or another source, if noted).
| Career/Job Title | Entry-Level Education Requirements | Job Growth 2020 - 2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resource Manager | Bachelors degree | 9% (As fast as average) | $121,220 |
| Education administrator | Masters degree | 8% (As fast as average) | $96,910 |
| Technical writer | Bachelors degree | 12% (Faster than average) | $78,060 |
| Mediator | Bachelors degree | 10% (As fast as average) | $49,410 |
| High school teacher | Bachelors degree | 8% (As fast as average) | $61,820 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Available data represents job titles across industries and may not be specific to your job category.
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Quick Facts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts, History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Degree Name
Master of Liberal Arts
Eric Sterling
Distinguished Research Professor, MLA Program Director | College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Modality
Students may complete this degree on campus or online. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
