Liberal Studies

Policies & Procedures

Department of Liberal Studies

 Dean and chair, MLS Academic Council:  David Chard

 MLS Academic Council Members, 2007-08: David Freidel, University Distinguished Professor of Anthropology; Dianne Goode, Adjunct Professor in Art History; Jack Myers, Professor of English; Donald Niewyk, Professor of History; Robert Rasberry, Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations; Bill Barnard, Associate Professor of Religious Studies; Dennis Simon, Associate Professor of Political Science; Sara Romersberger, Associate Professor of Theatre; John Ubelaker, Professor of Biology

 Director of Graduate Liberal Studies: Michele Niese Mrak, 214-768-1016

 I.  Admission Requirements

 The Master of Liberal Studies degree is open to persons holding a bachelor’s degree or higher professional degree from an accredited university or college.  An official transcript from the school that awarded the degree is required along with a completed application form, application fee, and personal essay. 

 Applications will be considered for the fall, summer, and spring semesters.  Applications for MLS admission must be completed and on file in the MLS office at least two weeks before the beginning of the term.  A student must receive official acceptance into the program before enrolling in classes.  In some cases, a provisional acceptance may be tendered for one semester while awaiting the arrival of an official transcript or in other situations in which it is deemed appropriate by the Director of the program and/or the Dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

 The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission.  However, admission to the program, based solely on the previous completion of a bachelor’s degree, is not guaranteed.  Admission decisions are made by the Dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development based on the applicant’s previous academic record, the level of writing ability demonstrated in the personal essay, and, upon request, an interview with the MLS Director and/or the Dean regarding the applicant’s academic goals and expectations. 

 II. Degree Requirements

  • Thirty-six (36) credit hours of approved graduate study normally are completed within six years after beginning the program. 
  • Students must take two foundational courses within the first 12 hours of their course work:  HUMN 6370/The Literate Mind at Work, and HUMN 7104/Research Methods.  It is highly recommended that students take these as their initial courses in the program.  These courses may not be waived. 
  • Students must complete their coursework with at least a B (3.0 GPA) average.  All courses attempted for credit on a student’s graduate program must average B (3.0) or better, with no grade less than C (2.0) applying toward the degree. 
  • Within the 36 hours, students may include up to six hours of transfer graduate credit from another accredited institution or another academic department at SMU (see below).
  • Within the 36 hours, students may also include up to six hours of Independent Study (see below).
  • Students may not take more than three one-credit-hour classes unless special permission is given by the Director/Dean

Transfer credit:  The student must file a Petition for Transfer Credit, accompanied by a course description and official transcript, with the MLS office.  Transfer credit will be accepted by the Dean under the following regulations:

  • The course must be compatible with the overall curriculum of liberal studies.
  • The course must be graduate level (6000 or above).
  • The course must have earned a grade of A or B.
  • The course may not have been used in attaining a previous degree.
  • The course must have been taken within the past six years.
  • Courses taken prior to matriculation must be approved within one year of beginning the MLS program.
  • Transfer credit will be considered for study by correspondence or online study on a case-by-case basis

Independent Study:  Students may earn up to 6 credit hours through Independent Study in a subject area relevant to the MLS Curriculum. Students must first complete the two required courses and must be in good academic standing to be eligible to undertake an independent study.  To enroll in an Independent Study, students must work with an MLS faculty member to define specific course requirements and complete an Independent Study Contract subject to the approval of the Director and/or Dean.  Independent Study courses may be taken for one, two, or three credit hours. The deadline to submit proposals to the MLS office is at least two weeks before the beginning of the term for which the study is requested.  The form is available online in the MLS Forms Library.

 III.   University Enrollment and Academic Records Standards

 Confidentiality of Education Records:  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law that grants to students the right to inspect, to obtain copies, to challenge, and to a degree control the release of information contained in their education records. The Act and Regulations are very lengthy, and for that reason SMU has issued guidelines that are available to students in the Division of Enrollment Services. Policy 1.18 of the University Policy Manual, accessible on SMU's Intranet, also discusses this law.

In general, no personally identifiable information from a student's education record will be disclosed to any third party without written consent from the student. Several exceptions exist, including information defined by SMU as Directory information, which may be released unless the student sends a written request to the Registrar that it be withheld.

 Student File Number:  A student's SMU identification number is an eight-digit number assigned by the University. Students also are asked to provide their Social Security numbers. The SMU ID number or Social Security number should be furnished on all forms when requested, as they are the primary means for identifying the student's academic records and transactions related to the records.

 Name Change:  A student who has a change in name after his or her last enrollment at SMU, or a change from the name submitted on his or her application for admission, must provide his or her Social Security card or the form issued by the Social Security Administration. Enrollment or records services for the student under a name different from the last enrollment cannot be accomplished without the above documents. All grade reports, transcripts, and diplomas are issued only under the person's legal name as recorded by the University Registrar.

 Mailing addresses, Telephone, and E-mail Address:  All students are to provide the University Registrar a current home address and telephone number, a current local mailing address and telephone number, and a current billing address and telephone number.

Students who have a change in any of their addresses or telephone numbers should update this information using SMU's web-based self-services, Access.SMU, or report the change in writing to the University Registrar.  Students can be deemed ineligible to enroll or be administratively withdrawn from the University for providing insufficient or improper address and telephone number information.

 

The University issues all students an e-mail address. Students may have other e-mail addresses, but the University assigned e-mail address is the official address for University electronic correspondence, including related communications with faculty members and academic units.

 

University official correspondence may be sent to any of the student's mailing addresses or the SMU e-mail address. It is the student's responsibility to provide updates to all of their mailing addresses and to regularly check both their mailing and e-mail addresses, which are used for official correspondence from the University. Students are responsible for complying with requests, deadlines and other requirements sent to any of their mailing addresses on file or to their SMU e-mail address.

 Transcript Service:* A transcript is an official copy of a student’s official permanent academic record maintained by the University Registrar. The permanent academic record includes all SMU courses attempted, all grades assigned, degrees received, and a summary of transfer hours accepted. Official transcripts and certifications of student academic records are issued by the University Registrar for all students of the University. Copies of transfer transcripts from other schools must be requested from the institutions where the course work was taken.

Transcripts should be requested in person, or online at http://smu.edu/registrar/transcripts.asp. No partial or incomplete transcripts including only certain courses or grades are issued. Transcripts cannot be released unless the student has satisfied all financial and other obligations to the University.

*Chapter 675, S.B. 302. Acts of the 61st Texas Legislature, 1969 Regular Session, provides: Section I. No person may buy, sell, create, duplicate, alter, give, or obtain; or attempt to buy, sell, create, duplicate, alter, give, or obtain a diploma, certificate, academic record, certificate of enrollment, or other instrument which purports to signify merit or achievement conferred by an institution of education in this state with the intent to use fraudulently such document or to allow the fraudulent use of such document.

Section II. A person who violates this act or who aids another in violating this act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or confinement in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year.

 

Enrollment:  Preceding each session of the University, there is an enrollment period during which the formal process of enrollment in classes is completed. Prior to each enrollment period, the University Registrar publishes instructions for the completion of enrollment. Students are responsible for complying with enrollment procedures and for the accuracy and completeness of their enrollment.  Please see current enrollment procedures at: http://www.smu.edu/registrar.

 Academic Advising:  The academic advisor for students in the MLS program is the program Director.  The Director/Advisor is available to consult with students about developing an MLS curriculum to suit individual interests and needs; to discuss appropriate class selections, independent study proposals, thesis proposals, or eligibility of transfer work; to evaluate progress toward graduation and help solve academic problems; or to help resolve other academic or administrative issues.  Students are not required to meet with the academic advisor at any time, but are strongly encouraged to do so if they are placed on academic probation.  Academic advising is available by appointment; call the MLS office to arrange a time for advising.

 Class Availability:  Class size is set by the course instructor and the MLS staff. Small class size (12-20) is an integral part of the program’s educational philosophy. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting lists will not be kept for classes that are full. Students should not contact a professor directly to ask permission to be added to a course that is full.

 Term-hour Loads:  The unit of measure for the valuation of courses is the term-hour; i.e., one lecture hour or three laboratory hours per week for a term of approximately 16 weeks (including final examinations).

Students in the MLS program are part-time students.  This means MLS students may not enroll in more than six term-hours per semester without written permission from the Director and/or Dean of the program. 

 

Readmission and Schedule Changes:  Continuing students who do not enroll for two consecutive regular semesters will be considered inactive and must be readmitted to the program.  Please consult the MLS office to initiate this procedure.

 

The deadline for adding courses, dropping courses without grade record, and changing sections for each enrollment period is listed in the University Calendar.  A student may drop a course with a grade of W (withdrawal passing) through the deadline listed.  After the deadline, the student may not drop a class. All schedule changes must be processed by the deadline date specified in the University Calendar. Schedule changes are not complete for official University record purposes unless finalized in the Office of the University Registrar.

 

Audit Enrollment (Course Visitor):  Students desiring to audit (visit) a class, whether or not concurrently enrolled for regular course work, are required to process an Audit Enrollment Request form and pay the audit fee established by the Registrar’s office. Forms are available in the MLS office, the Registrar’s office or on the MLS or Registrar’s website in the forms library. Space must be available in the class, and the auditor must obtain permission from the course instructor and the MLS Director. The following regulations are applicable:

  • No grade is assigned and no credit is recorded; no laboratory privileges are included.
  • If credit is desired, the course must be enrolled for and repeated as a regular course, and the regular tuition must be paid.
  • The student's name does not appear on class rosters or grade sheets.
  • Regular admission and enrollment procedures are not conducted for auditors.
  • The audit fee is nonrefundable.

 

 Drops and Withdrawals:  Please be aware of the difference between a drop and a withdrawal. They have different deadlines and separate financial policies. The deadlines are posted each term on the Official University Calendar at www.smu.edu/registrar. A drop occurs when a student removes one or more courses from his/her schedule and remains enrolled in at least one credit hour for the term. A withdrawal occurs when removing the course or courses will result in the student being enrolled in ZERO hours for the term. If a student removes all courses from his or her schedule PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT DUE DATE, the transaction is considered a Cancellation and does not result in financial penalty or impact the student’s transcript. Reduction of tuition and fees is based on the schedule listed in the publication Financial Information: Southern Methodist University and is determined by the effective date of the withdrawal. Students receiving financial aid should refer to the Financial Information section of the catalog.   

A student who wishes to withdraw must contact the MLS office to initiate a Student Petition for Withdrawal form and obtain approval from his or her academic advisor (the director of the MLS program). The effective date of the withdrawal is the date on which the Student Petition for Withdrawal is processed in the Registrar's Office.  Drops can usually be done by the student through his or her ACCESS account. 

 Discontinuance of class attendance or notification to the instructor of intention to withdraw does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. At the discretion of the instructor, Director, and/or Dean, any student who has not attended a class for three class meetings may be dropped administratively.

 Medical withdrawals provide a daily pro rata refund of tuition and fees, and have conditions that must be met prior to re-enrollment at SMU. Medical withdrawals must be authorized by the Medical Director, Psychiatric Director, Counseling and Testing Director, Dean of Student Life, or Vice President for Student Affairs. Authorization may be obtained prior to or after the withdrawal, but no later than six months after the withdrawal.

 Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal:  Failure to meet established minimum acceptable standards of academic or disciplinary performance can result in probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00. If in any term the student falls below this GPA, the student will be placed on probation for one term. If at the end of the term of probation the cumulative GPA is not up to 3.00, the student may be removed from the program at the discretion of the Director and/or Dean.   

 

The status of academic probation is a stern warning to the student that satisfactory progress toward graduation is not being made. A student on probation is considered in "good standing" for certification purposes and is eligible to enroll. No entry is made on the permanent academic record. Students who are notified of probationary status are strongly urged to contact their academic advisor (the Director of the MLS program).

 

Suspension and Dismissal are involuntary separations of the student from the MLS program. Suspension is for a set period of time. Dismissal is permanent. A suspended or dismissed student is not in good standing and is not eligible to enroll as a student during the suspension period. "Academic Suspension (or Dismissal)" is recorded on the permanent academic record.

 

Grades:  The grade of a student in any course is determined by the instructor of the course. The following grades are authorized for recording on the student's official graduate academic record maintained by the University Registrar.

 

 

GRADE-POINTS PER

GRADES

DESCRIPTION

TERM HOUR

A

Excellent Scholarship

4.00

A-

Excellent Scholarship

3.70

B+

Good Scholarship

3.30

B

Good Scholarship

3.00

B-

Good Scholarship

2.70

C+

Fair Scholarship

2.30

C

Fair Scholarship

2.00

C-

Fair Scholarship

1.70

D+

Poor Scholarship

1.30

D

Poor Scholarship

1.00

D-

Poor Scholarship

0.70

F

Failure

0.00

P, CR

Pass, Credit

*

I

Incomplete

*

NC

No Credit Received

*

WP/W

Withdrawal Passing

*

X

No Grade Received in Registrar's Office

*

*Grades not included in grade-point average.

 

Grade of Incomplete:  A student may receive a grade of Incomplete (I) if the majority of the course requirements have been completed with passing grades but for some justifiable reason, acceptable to the instructor, the student has been unable to complete the full requirements of the course. At the time an I is given, the instructor must stipulate in writing to the student and to the University Registrar the requirements and completion date that are to be met and the grade that will be given if the requirements are not met by the completion date. The maximum period of time allowed to clear the Incomplete grade normally is 12 months. If the Incomplete grade is not cleared by the date set by the instructor or by the end of the 12-month deadline, the I will be changed to the grade provided by the instructor at the time the Incomplete was assigned or to an F if no alternate grade was provided. In special circumstances, the student may request an extension of that deadline.  The grade of I is not given in lieu of an F or W, or other grade, each of which is prescribed for other specific circumstances. If the student's work is incomplete and the quality has not been passing, an F will be given.

 

The grade of I does not authorize a student to attend the course during a later term. Graduation candidates must clear all Incompletes prior to the deadline in the Official University Calendar, which may allow less time than 12 months. Failure to do so can result in removal from the degree candidacy list and/or conversion of the I to the grade indicated by the instructor at the time the I was given.

 

For graduate students, a maximum of two (six hours) concurrently held grades of Incomplete in courses other than thesis is allowed.  If this maximum is reached the student will be allowed to take only one three-hour course per term until the Incomplete total is reduced.  Students who accumulate a total of three grades of Incomplete in courses other than thesis will be put on probation and not allowed to enroll further until the total is reduced. 

 

Grade-point Average:  This average is computed by multiplying the term hours of each course attempted by the grade points earned in the particular course and then dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of hours attempted, excluding those hours for which grades are shown with an asterisk (above).

 

Pass/Fail Option:  Taking courses pass/fail is not an allowable option in the MLS program.

 

Changes of Grades:  Changes of grades, including change of the grade of I, are initiated by the course instructor and authorized by the program Director and/or Dean.  If a student requests a grade change, the instructor may ask the student to provide a written petition requesting the change of grade which may become an official part of any further process at the instructor's discretion. Changes of grades may be made only for the following authorized reasons: to clear a grade of I; to correct a processing error; or, to reflect a reevaluation of the student's original work. A change of grade will not be based on additional work options beyond those originally made available to the entire class.

 

Changes of grades of I should be processed within a calendar year of the original grade assignment. Other changes in grade must be processed by the end of the next regular term. No grade will be changed after 12 months or after a student's graduation except a grade successfully appealed, provided that written notice of appeal is given within six months following graduation, and in extenuating circumstances authorized by the academic dean and approved by the Registrar.

 

Appeal of Grades:  A student who feels that an assigned grade is other than the grade earned must first discuss the matter with the course instructor to determine if the discrepancy is caused by error or misunderstanding. At the time of the initial discussion, the student may be asked to provide a written petition requesting the change of grade.

 

A student who is not satisfied by the instructor's denial of a request for a grade change, and who maintains that the original grade was capriciously or unfairly determined, may appeal to the Director of the MLS program. After discussing the matter with the student, and bearing in mind that the final authority in matters of academic judgment in the determination of a grade rests with the course instructor, the Director will consult with the course instructor, who will subsequently report to the student the disposition of the appeal.

 

A student who is not satisfied by the disposition of the appeal may appeal the decision to the Dean. The Dean will take action as he or she deems appropriate. A student may appeal the Dean's decision to the Provost.  In their actions, the Dean and the Provost must respect the principle that the determination of a grade rests with the course instructor.

 

IV. Thesis Option for MLS Students

 

MLS students are not required to produce a thesis to complete the program, but may choose that option in their last six hours of study.  Students who wish to take the thesis option should consult with the Director/Advisor as early as possible in their MLS curriculum to plan a course of study that will lead to the thesis, and to select a faculty advisor for the thesis project.  More information about the thesis option is available on the MLS website or by contacting the MLS office.

 

V. Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies

 

MLS graduates or others holding master’s degrees in the Humanities/Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies disciplines may apply for admission to a further 18 hours of graduate study, under the direction of a faculty advisor to be named by the program Director and/or Dean, leading to the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies.  For more details on this program, see the CAGS information on the MLS website, or contact the MLS office for materials describing the requirements of the CAGS program.

 

VI. Academic Integrity

 

The Honor Code of Southern Methodist University:  Intellectual integrity and academic honesty are concepts fundamental to the processes of learning and evaluating academic performance; without them, the process of inquiry is dismantled at its base and further positive educational progress is almost certainly prevented. The maintenance of the highest level of academic integrity is the responsibility of all members of an educational institution. The inculcation of personal standards of honesty and integrity is a goal of education in all disciplines of the University.

 

University faculty members serve as the gatekeepers of academic integrity in a university setting. Through direct interaction with the student in the classroom, they witness firsthand the state of inquiry exhibited by the student and the process utilized by that student. Through their own actions, they represent the standard of inquiry in American higher education. Faculty bear the responsibility of encouraging and maintaining an atmosphere of academic honesty by being certain that students are aware of the value of it, that they understand the regulations defining it, and that they know the penalties for departing from it. The faculty should assist students in avoiding the temptation to cheat. An instructor who is unwilling to act upon discovering an offense assumes the role of accessory to the student offender in facilitating the corrosion of integrity of the University and the individual's character.

 

The student, however, bears the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining an atmosphere of honesty and integrity. Students should be aware that personal experience in completing assigned work is essential to learning. Permitting others to prepare one's work, using published or unpublished summaries as a substitute for studying required materials, and giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in the preparation of work to be submitted for credit are directly contrary to the legitimate process of learning.

 

Students and faculty must mutually share the knowledge that any dishonest practices permitted will make the legitimate evaluation of honest students almost impossible and will cheapen the integrity of the entire University. Students must recognize that their own interests, and their integrity as individuals, suffer if they condone dishonesty in others.

 

The Honor System:  MLS students are subject to the jurisdiction of the Honor Code of Southern Methodist University.  The Honor Council is composed of approximately 27 students selected through an application and interview process by the Honor Council Executive Board and five faculty members nominated by the Faculty Senate. The council's responsibility is to maintain and promote academic honesty.

 

Academic dishonesty is defined broadly as a student's misrepresentation of his or her academic work or of the circumstances under which that work is done. This includes plagiarism in all papers, projects, take-home exams, or any other assignments in which the student submits another's work as being his or her own. It also includes cheating on examinations, unauthorized access to test materials, and/or assisting another student in gaining any unfair academic advantage. Failure to prevent or report academic dishonesty by another may be considered participation in a dishonest act.

 

Suspected cases of academic dishonesty may be handled administratively by the appropriate faculty member in whose class the alleged infraction occurred, in conjunction with the Director and/or Dean over the MLS program.  At the discretion of the instructor, Director, and/or Dean, some cases may be referred to the Honor Council for resolution. The normal penalty for a first offense of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty is the assignment of a grade of  F in the class in which the case occurred.  Further suspected violations may be reported to the Honor Council, investigated and, if the evidence warrants, a hearing will be held by a Board composed of at least five members of the Honor Council. Second offenses will result in the student’s permanent dismissal from the program.

 

Any appeal of an action taken by the Honor Council shall be submitted to the University Judicial Council in writing no later than 96 hours after notification of the Honor Council's decision. Any appeal of an action taken by instructors independently of the Honor Council may be made through the traditional academic routes.

 

VII. Financial Information

 A bulletin supplement, Financial Information: Southern Methodist University, is issued each academic year.  It provides the general authority and reference for SMU financial regulations and obligations, as well as detailed information concerning tuition and fees.  The supplement is available on the Bursar’s page on the main SMU website.

Students registering in the Continuing Student Enrollment period must ensure that payment is received by the payment due date given to students at the time of registration (and available on the registrar’s website).  No confirmation of receipt of payment will be sent.  If an invoice has not been received two weeks prior to the due date, Enrollment Services should be contacted.  The registration of a student whose account remains unpaid after the due date may be cancelled at the discretion of the University.  Students registering after the due date in the New Student Enrollment and/or Late Enrollment periods must pay at the time of registration.

Limited University based grants, scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships are available to students in the MLS program.  Grants and loans for Texas residents and/or private and federal loans may be available by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, contact the SMU Financial Aid office.