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Home College of Professional & Liberal Studies Graduate Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies

Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies is intended to present graduate background material for those seeking personal enrichment provided by liberal learning and the development of those intellectual skills necessary to lifelong learning—critical reading, scholarly writing, and the art of interpersonal communication. The program consists of four courses: (1) Foundations of Liberal Studies; (2) Research in Liberal Studies; (3) Liberal Studies Seminar; and (4) one elective course.

Foundations, Research, and Seminar are core courses in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree program. Those who successfully complete the certificate program will be offered entry to the MALS degree program as well as the opportunity to apply those courses towards graduate degree programs in other departments in consultation with that department's graduate advisor.

Program Requirements

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies requires twelve (12) credit hours:

Applying for Admission to the Program

Applications for the Fall semester must be received by August 1; Spring semester by December 1; and Summer term by May 1.

All applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university. It should be noted that as applicants are selected on a competitive basis, admission is not granted to all applicants who meet only the minimum requirements.

To apply for this program, you will need to complete an application, which will require the following documents:

  • Resumé: The applicant's resumé should include the applicant's employment history, academic history, current contact information, and any additional relevant information, such as professional skills, training, presentations, publications, etc.
  • Recommendation Letter: Applicants must submit at least one official letter of recommendation, preferably from a previous or current instructor who can attest to the student's capacity for graduate work. All recommendation letters must meet College of Professional & Liberal Studies requirements or they will not be accepted.
  • Personal Essay: Applicants must submit a brief, original essay (approximately 500-600 words) that addresses the following points:
    • How will the Liberal Studies certificate help you attain your personal and intellectual goals?
    • How have your academic and professional experiences made you a good candidate for the Liberal Studies program?

For technical questions regarding the application, please contact UM Graduate School Customer Support with the following information:

  • Your name
  • Current program or program of interest
  • Your UID from UofM and/or UniCAS ID number if available

Phone: 901.678.3685
Email: graduateadmissions@memphis.edu 

For questions regarding admission requirements, please contact the College of Professional & Liberal Studies Graduate Programs: cplsgrad@memphis.edu 

Only after your application is completed and all required documents are submitted will a final decision be made on the application. Please note that the Graduate School will notify applicants once a decision has been reached.