Director's Welcome

Back in 1999, the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program had only 13 students and offered two courses. Now, we are one of the largest graduate programs at UNCW and in spring 2009 offered ten courses at UNCW and three more at UNCW's Onslow County Extension Program (at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville). Also, we offer one of only several post-Master’s certificate options in the U.S. and the only post-Master's certificate option among the currently existing seven graduate liberal studies programs in the state of North Carolina. Although we aim to serve primarily the local community, we have drawn many out-of-state students and several foreign students.  To this point the program has graduated 189 MALS students and awarded 6 post-Master's certificates in liberal studies. Representative final project titles from this past spring include: "Heroism at 200 mph: A Study of Athletic Heroes in Formula 1 Racing," "The Role High School Athletics Plays in Closing the Achievement Gap for Underpriviliged Males," "Medicare Part D Outreach," "Remembering the Geraniums," "Creating Oral Histories: From the Lower Palatinate to Virginia - A Family History," "The Rock, Iron Mike, and Golden Boy: Three Boxing Heroes and the Influences They've Had."

This list of final projects highlights what is for me one of the most gratifying aspects of the program this year and every year: the graduation of students who, in spite of daunting professional, social, family, and service responsibilities, have, through their perseverance, determination, and academic commitment, completed degree and certificate requirements.

A recent development was the receipt of a named and endowed scholarship for GLS: The Loretta Schwartz-Noble Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Fellowship.Together with the teaching assistantships, scholarships, and awards, this fellowship will help us fund (a few) deserving GLS students.

The coming year promises to be exciting. The third annual GLS conference is being planned for spring 2010 and promises to be a rousing success. GLS students and alumni state-wide should consider offering a presentation at this conference. Mika and I have also put together what we feel will be an exciting, diverse, and thought-provoking line-up of courses for this academic year. Further, this year the GLS program expanded to include the capability of completing the MALS degree in a fully online mode. Fall 2009 will start the process with three online courses.

Finally, then, welcome to the GLS web-page, in regard to which I would like to credit Perry Campbell, GLS program assistant and web-master. Thanks to Perry's assiduous vigilance, the GLS web-page provides a thorough and comprehensive overview of the GLS program at UNCW whereby you can conveniently access everything from admissions and degree requirements, Graduate School and GLS-related forms, descriptions of upcoming courses, student news and profiles, faculty web links, and a link to various campus event calendars. So I’d encourage you to browse through the web-page for further detailed information about the GLS program at UNCW and if you have any comments or suggestions feel free to contact Perry at campbell AT uncw DOT edu. I also invite and welcome any inquiries about the GLS program, the special quality of which is matched by the commitment, enthusiasm, and intellectual engagement of the students it enrolls.

 

Cordially,

Herbert Berg

GLS Program Director
Bear 105 B
Tel: 910.962.3299
Fax: 910.962.3542
bergh AT uncw DOT edu

 

Last Update:  July 10, 2009