The Doctor of Liberal Studies (DLS) degree is designed for adult learners who are interested in rigorous advanced study in a variety of topics with the goal of benefitting their workplace, professions and society. To earn the 51°µÍø Doctor of Liberal Studies degree, a student must complete:
- DLS students must complete 36 credit hours of coursework, 24 credits of which are required core courses and 12 credits of which are chosen based on the student’s declared focal area of study.
- Students must complete comprehensive exams, a dissertation (totaling 9 credit hours, additional hours may be needed), and defenses at the proposal and final dissertation stages.
- Up to six hours of transfer credit related to the student's area of focus for the DLS degree may be awarded as determined by the Department of Graduate Liberal Studies. Such credits must be from graduate-level academic work earned at 51°µÍø or other approved universities but require the approval of the Department Chair.
- Students must complete comprehensive exams, a dissertation (totaling 9 credit hours, additional hours may be needed), and defenses at the proposal and final dissertation stages.
- Completion of the 45-credit-hour program may be completed in as few as 3 years and up to 7 years with the average at 4 to 5 years of study.
- The full-time, 3-course track per semester is available for international students or those wishing to pursue their studies at an accelerated pace.
- Students enroll in the foundational, required courses for the fall and spring terms of their first two years as a cohort.
- Students propose dissertation committee members in consultation with the Department Chair and subject to the consent of the proposed faculty member. The committee includes a DLS foundational faculty member and two additional members. Students may request committee members external to DLS if they hold a particular expertise subject to Department Chair approval.
- A DLS dissertation is expected to demonstrate a level of mastery and academic rigor in the field of interdisciplinary studies comparable to, though distinct from, the equivalent level of mastery and rigor expected of a Ph.D. dissertation in a disciplinary field. Topics/Issues are limited to the liberal arts and social sciences and must be approved by the DLS Chair and/or Director. The dissertation represents the creative synthesis and critical interpretation of primary sources and secondary materials.