After completing the core curriculum, students schedule their own course of study, depending on their own calendar and obligations.
- Students are not required to take a seminar every quarter; students can take quarters off when they know they will be busy with other obligations.
- With prior approval, students may take a Leave of Absence for up to one year. This leave does not count toward the five-year maximum allowed to degree.
- Students may take a maximum of two seminars per quarter, and a total of three seminars in two consecutive quarters.
- Due to the structure of the curriculum and policies on maximum number of units per quarter, the MLA degree cannot be completed in fewer than four years.
Sample Timelines
These are sample timelines; they are intended to give a general idea of what the path to degree could look like.
Sample Timeline I: Degree in Four Years |
Sample Timeline II: Degree in Five Years |
|
| Quarter | Coursework | |
| Autumn - Year 1 | Foundations I | Foundations I |
| Winter - Year 1 | Foundations II | Foundations II |
| Spring - Year 1 | Foundations III | Foundations III |
| Summer - Year 1 | ||
| Autumn - Year 2 | Core Introductory Seminar | Core Introductory Seminar |
| Winter - Year 2 | 1st Seminar | 1st Seminar |
| Spring - Year 2 | 2nd Seminar | 2nd Seminar |
| Summer - Year 2 | 3rd Seminar | |
| Autumn - Year 3 | 4th and 5th Seminar | 3rd Seminar |
| Winter - Year 3 | 6th Seminar | 4th Seminar |
| Spring - Year 3 | 7th Seminar and file prospectus | 5th Seminar |
| Summer - Year 3 | Begin working on Thesis | |
| Autumn - Year 4 | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress | 6th Seminar |
| Winter - Year 4 | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress | 7th Seminar and file prospectus |
| Spring - Year 4 | Final Quarter and June Graduation | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress |
| Summer - Year 4 | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress | |
| Autumn - Year 5 | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress | |
| Winter - Year 5 | Enroll in Thesis-in-Progress | |
| Spring - Year 5 | Final Quarter and June Graduation | |
