Title:Interdisciplinarity shines in graduate liberal studies

Two graduate programs at Georgetown have been offering interdisciplinary study for 50 years at the masters level and 20 years at the doctorate level. 

In 1974, Georgetown launched the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree, offering graduate interdisciplinary courses in the evenings to meet rising interest in advanced education for the Washington, DC, area workforce. Designed as continuing study to explore philosophical questions about ethics and human values, the innovative curriculum allows students to think through issues in a self-directed approach and learn frameworks of research, study, and thought from different disciplines. The Doctorate in Liberal Studies began in 2005. Today both degree programs are housed in the School of Continuing Studies and involve faculty from departments across the university.

“When students are exposed to scholars from fields that they’re not familiar with in their core classes, that interdisciplinarity opens up new windows and perspectives,” says Charles McNelis, faculty director of graduate liberal studies and professor of classics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “To use a farming metaphor, it’s like cross fertilization.”

The variety of thesis topics is rich, he adds, ranging from transracial adoption to stakeholder capitalism and moral behavior.

“Georgetown’s liberal studies program helps students participate in the conversation about humanistic scholarship and research, and find their voice to help people better understand politics, technology, law, religion, family—any number of things. It’s a great program for people who want to expand their sense of the world.”