Academic Policies
Unless an extension is granted, all work toward the MLS degree must be completed within seven years of the student’s matriculation date. Students must file an “Intent to Graduate” form at the beginning of their final year. This form can be found by logging into the Rollins College Foxlink. Once in Foxlink, click on “Holt Student” tab. The form is the last item in the middle column. There is a $75 graduation fee.
To be eligible for graduation, students must successfully complete all academic requirements for the degree. The minimum requirements are a total of 48 credit hours and a “B” average for all coursework consisting of:
- Six core courses, including a thesis project
- Six elective courses (or their equivalent) for a total of 24 credits.
Core courses and elective courses are each worth 4.00 credit hours. Masterworks courses are worth 2 credit hours.
Commencement is held once each year in the spring. All degrees are awarded pursuant to the policies of the Board of Trustees of Rollins College.
Each matriculated student who has completed two courses may take one elective as an independent study. Under the close supervision of faculty sponsors, students read primary or secondary writings or work in a laboratory or studio setting. Evaluation usually focuses on a completed paper or project, although an examination may also be appropriate. An independent study cannot duplicate a course regularly offered.
The proposed study must be compatible with the philosophy of the MLS curriculum. Preliminary proposals for independent study must be submitted to a Holt Student Services no later than two weeks before the start of the term or session in which the study is to be carried out. Students are notified prior to the close of the registration period whether their studies have been approved. Students must register for an independent study within one week of the approval. Independent study courses are: MLS 580M - Masterworks Independent Study [2]; MLS 582M - Masterworks Independent Study Abroad [2]; MLS 680 - Independent Study [4]; or MLS 682 - Independent Study Abroad [4].
Each matriculated student who has completed two core courses may complete one internship as an elective course. Under the close supervision of faculty sponsors, students read primary or secondary writings or works related to the internship. Students will also work for a required number of hours with an approved organization. Evaluation will focus on a completed paper or project and the organization’s written report. An internship cannot duplicate a course regularly offered.
The proposed internship must be compatible with the philosophy of the MLS curriculum. Preliminary proposals for internship must be submitted to the Holt Student Services no later than two weeks before the start of the term or session of the internship. Students are notified prior to the close of the registration period whether the internship has been approved. Students must register for an internship within one week of the approval. Internships (MLS 681 ) may be taken for two (2), four (4), or six (6) credits.
Students may enroll in MLS 690 - Thesis Project after they have completed 10 courses (40 semester hours).
The thesis project focuses on a significant question which integrates ideas studied during the course of the MLS program. Projects may take the form of traditional research studies that utilize primary and secondary sources, or they may be nontraditional studies, such as creative or applied works. Studies of a nontraditional nature must be supplemented by an essay that sets forth their critical bases and connects them with a concept or argument developed in the program.
All matriculated students must complete a thesis project prior to graduation. The exact nature of that project is determined by the student in consultation with the director and a faculty mentor. The thesis project must be carefully designed and researched, and it must reflect the philosophy of the MLS program and relate to the courses the student has taken.
Because the thesis project is a time-consuming enterprise, students should consider selecting their topics and consulting with prospective mentors well in advance of the term in which they intend to graduate. Each summer, the director meets with all students who are eligible to graduate during the coming academic year, and together they identify an appropriate thesis project and a faculty member who might serve as a mentor.
The student and the faculty mentor work together to design a detailed thesis project proposal and to select a second faculty reader for the thesis. After the mentor and student have completed the thesis proposal, the second reader reviews it. He or she may suggest changes to the proposal and must sign the final proposal to indicate approval. The second reader has an initial meeting with the student and mentor, reviews the student’s progress on the first two chapters (or equivalent), reads the final draft, and joins the student and mentor for a final meeting that is called the thesis defense.
Thesis project proposals must be submitted to the director by August 1 for fall term or October 15 for spring term. Students and their mentors will be notified prior to the beginning of the term if the thesis project proposal is acceptable or if changes are required. After a proposal has been approved, substantive changes can be made only if the director consents.
Students who finish all classes but who have not completed the thesis requirement by the end of the summer after taking MLS 690 must register and pay for MLS 691 - Thesis Extension (at the billing rate of two credits) in the fall. Continuous enrollment in MLS 691 , during the fall and spring terms only, is expected until the thesis is completed. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the required registration and payment for MLS 691 , as applicable, each term. Thesis students seeking an exception to the continuous-enrollment policy may request up to a one-year leave of absence from the program. This appeal must be submitted in writing and approved by the director of the MLS program in order to be in effect. The director reserves the right to have students who prolong the thesis requirement to reregister for Thesis Project and resubmit a thesis proposal. In all cases, students must complete the thesis requirement by the seventh year in the MLS program.
For matriculated students in the Master of Liberal Studies program, the faculty advisory committee evaluates all graduate work completed with grades of “B” or better at regionally accredited colleges and universities. No transfer credit will be given for courses used to complete requirements for another degree. No transfer credit will be given for internships, practica, or life-experience courses at the graduate level. With the committee’s approval, up to eight (8) semester hours (or two transfer courses consistent with the mission of the MLS program) may be counted toward the graduation requirement of 48 semester hours for the Master of Liberal Studies degree. Transfer courses may be substituted only for electives and not for any of the required core courses. The number of semester hours awarded for transfer courses is determined by the transcript submitted from the college or university where the course was completed. Students who transfer course credit into the MLS program are advised that they will have to take a sufficient number of courses at Rollins College in order to earn the 48 semester hours required for completion of the Master of Liberal Studies degree.
Students requesting transfer credit need to send a copy of the course description, a syllabus, and an official transcript with their request to the MLS director.
Students who desire to withdraw temporarily from the program must submit a letter to the director, explaining the reasons for the request and indicating when they propose to resume their studies. Students who wish to return to the program must petition the director for readmission.
Only graduates of the Rollins College Master of Liberal Studies program are permitted to audit MLS courses. Tuition for Rollins College MLS alumni auditing courses is $50 per credit hour. Requests to audit courses are granted only when space is available.
Masterworks courses may be audited, on a space available basis, by graduates holding a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Additional Information
Scholarships and Grants
A number of scholarships and grants are available for each new entering class of matriculated students. These awards are based on academic merit and financial need. Scholarships can be renewed for up to three years as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing. In order to be considered for renewal of scholarships, students must submit a completed scholarship renewal form during the spring term.
Matriculated students in the Master of Liberal Studies program may also apply for a need-based scholarship offered by Rollins College. Students must submit the MLS Scholarship Application form and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) online.
Other financial assistance is available through a variety of state and federal programs. For further information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 407-646-2395 or the Holt School financial aid facilitator at 407-646-2232 or email finaid@rollins.edu.
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