We Invite You to Apply

Stanford University's Master of Liberal Arts program will begin accepting applications for the 2009-2010 incoming class in the fall of this year, and an Information Session for prospective applicants will be held in October. Please check back for more information. All application materials will be due by noon, January 31, 2009.

Criteria for Admission

We are seeking a diverse, energetic group of students who look forward to a rigorous program of broad exposure and intellectual growth. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university. A minimum GPA of 3.0 from the student’s undergraduate institution is expected; however, the admissions committee also gives consideration to applicants’ postgraduate experiences and to their recent accomplishments. The MLA program offers a graduate degree in the liberal arts, which requires of its entering students significant background, coursework, and accomplishment in this field of study.

The Admissions Committee meets once a year in the winter to review applications. A personal interview is not required but may be suggested by the Admissions Committee. Applicants for admission may be asked to submit the following for consideration:

  • Application forms and application fee.
  • Curriculum vitae (including academic background, professional and volunteer activities, and relevant experience).
  • Official transcripts of all college work toward degree and all other academic coursework completed since college.
  • Two letters of recommendation that shed light on the candidate’s academic ability, promise, and motivation, ideally from people who have taught the applicant and are thus able to comment directly on his or her intellectual capacity and academic potential.
  • Essay 1: a brief written response to a question on the application regarding your intellectual interests.
  • Essay 2: a brief description of how your background would contribute to the diverse points of view in the classroom.
  • Essay 3: a critical response to a written piece we will send you by email as soon as we receive your completed application form and fee. Examples of previous pieces to which applicants were asked to respond include Failed Prophecies, Glorious Hopes by Richard Rorty, The American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and "The Wilderness Letter" from The Sound of Mountain Water by Wallace Stegner.
  • All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. To be eligible for admission, applicants must present a score of at least 650 (on the paper form), 280 (on the computer form), or 114 (on the internet test). The test must have been taken within the past two years. This requirement cannot be waived. The TOEFL process can be time consuming, so plan accordingly.

No GREs are required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions regarding the MLA program and the admissions process.

Recommended Courses

Students who have been out of school for a while are encouraged to take some Stanford Continuing Studies courses prior to applying to the Master of Liberal Arts. Taking Continuing Studies courses will help the student get back into the academic mode, will give the student a sense of what it will be like to take classes at night, and it may also provide an opportunity for a possible academic letter of recommendation. Following is a list of liberal studies courses with an emphasis on the humanities that will be offered by Stanford Continuing Studies this Summer:

Plundered Art

Brian Friel's Human Comedy

Dicken's Bleak House: From the Slums of London to the Haunted Parks of Lincolnshire

Politics in China: A Primer

Introduction to Islam

 

Registration begins Monday, May 19, and classes will start the week of June 23. Stanford Continuing Studies courses are open to anyone with a high school diploma. Find out more information about Stanford Continuing Studies at continuingstudies.stanford.edu.

Commitment to Diversity

The MLA program is committed to the idea that diversity in our student body enhances the educational experience. By challenging our most fundamental assumptions, diversity in the classroom broadens perspectives and sharpens critical thinking skills. For these reasons, the MLA program seeks to admit students of various backgrounds. Our broad idea of diversity includes, but is not limited to, diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, age, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, work and life experiences, socioeconomic status, and personal interests.

 

 



   

last updated: May 16, 2008

 

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