Interdisciplinary Graduate Education From UChicago
Grow your skills in strategy, leadership, and synthetic thinking
To lead an organization responsibly, to develop a new product or service, or to make a difference in your community, you need a strong foundation in the principles and practices of reasoned inquiry.
The University of Chicago online Master of Liberal Arts will allow you to engage with fresh perspectives in a transformative educational environment that’s driven by intellectual curiosity and open dialogue.
At a Glance: MLA Quick Facts
Exchange ideas with highly accomplished peers and eminent faculty in a program where nearly a third of students work in executive leadership positions.
Build valuable skills in synthetic thinking, critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and adaptability.
Pursue a general course of study or specialize through a concentration in Ethics and Leadership, Literary Studies, or Tech and Society.
Attend an optional, one-week residency on our storied Hyde Park campus.
Advance your education and career while working full-time with online class sessions in evenings and on weekends.
Access career support resources and our worldwide network of more than 193,000 alumni.
As a pioneer in distance learning at one of the world’s foremost higher education institutions, the UChicago MLA program brings together accomplished individuals from a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds. In MLA courses, you’ll exchange ideas with thought leaders and sharpen your arguments in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
18
Average years of professional experience
30 %
of students work in executive leadership roles
59 %
of students already hold at least one graduate degree
To get answers to your questions about the program and hear directly from an MLA student, sign up for a virtual information session.
Student Stories
The program more than met expectations. It taught me to ask better questions, dig deeper for answers, challenged me to consider perspectives outside my expertise, and connected me to a community of talented and curious individuals.
Sarah Hope Marshall
Meet Sarah
Founder and Principal, Profound Hope Industries
The MLA program helps you develop skills to better organize your thoughts, sharpen your points, and deliver a strong argument.
The UChicago MLA program allows me to transfer my real-world experience in scaling startups to the realm of academic thought and beyond, all while being a part of an exciting learning community that challenges my current notions and helps me grow as an individual and executive.
Waking up early in the morning here in Shanghai and immediately diving into the prescient geniuses of Weber or Kant, I am able to discover time-tested insights that help me think more clearly and make better decisions in this time of unpredictability.
Each deep conversation with my professors, each vivid discussion with my classmates, and each page of the books I read, help me to better articulate my worldview, and paint a vivid picture of the future destinations that I want to explore.
Fabiola Delgado
Meet Fabiola
Assistant VP for Finance and Chief of Staff for National Laboratories, University of Chicago
The liberal arts encompass both broad opportunities for personal development and avenues to gain expertise in specific areas that fit your interests or professional objectives. You can complete a general course of study or focus on the topics that you’re passionate about by selecting from these concentrations:
Take an interdisciplinary look at leaders and leadership strategies, interrogating the ethical implications of our choices and reflecting on your own leadership style.
Read some of the best writing that humanity has produced as you learn from faculty members who approach literature from a wide range of disciplinary standpoints.
We designed the online Master of Liberal Arts program to welcome individuals with a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds. We build diverse cohorts of students who bring a wealth of lived experiences and unique points of view into class discussions. You do not need to have earned a previous liberal arts degree to succeed in this program.
Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of your application materials. To be considered for admission, an applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with any major. Standardized test scores (e.g., GRE or GMAT) are not required.
The online MLA features a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that centers around open discussion of big ideas, led by the renowned faculty at one of the world’s premier research institutions.
Take core courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Prepare to apply concepts and methodological approaches from multiple disciplines to real-world problems.
Complete a thesis or special project on a topic of your choosing.
learning experience
The Online MLA Learning Experience
The UChicago MLA is not driven by traditional lectures or exams. Instead, you’ll engage in Socratic seminar-style discussions, sharing your thoughts in a respectful atmosphere dedicated to open inquiry.
Each course consists of weekly, synchronous sessions—scheduled on weekday evenings and Saturdays— in which you’ll talk in detail about the topics raised in the assigned reading. You’ll analyze ideas from a variety of sources, make persuasive arguments, and synthesize information in unique ways.
“Our Master of Liberal Arts students are accomplished professionals who refuse to rest on their laurels.
They’re dedicated to self-improvement and pushing their careers to even higher levels of achievement. They enter our program seeking to add layers of complexity and nuance to their thinking.”
Tim Murphy
Master of Liberal Arts Program Director
“Interdisciplinary collaboration opens up remarkable possibilities for confronting complex social
problems and building a better future. In our MLA courses, students gain a deeper understanding of the
world around them and the intellectual tools to make a meaningful impact.”
Omar McRoberts
Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Chicago
“MLA students have found direct career benefits from this program. Learning to think in more creative, analytical and critical ways opened up their imaginations, taught them problem-solving skills, and nurtured an intellectual creativity that they were then able to bring back to their work.”
Mark Miller
Associate Professor of English, University of Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about our master’s degree in liberal arts that aren’t answered here? Find answers on our FAQ page
What’s it like to take an online course in a Socratic seminar format?
You’ll sign into the Zoom meeting for each MLA class prepared to engage in lively, respectful discussions about the assigned reading. With a small group of peers, averaging 15 students per course, and your professor, you’ll examine fundamental questions through the lenses of multiple disciplines and varied lived experiences. Our most successful students come to every class session confident they have valuable ideas to contribute, but also eager to have their views challenged and improved upon through open dialogue.
Will I be able to succeed as a UChicago student?
The MLA offers rich intellectual engagement in a format that’s designed specifically for busy professionals and ambitious lifelong learners. Many of our students have been out of school for years or decades, and our admissions team conducts a holistic review of application materials to seek individuals with a variety of work and life experiences.
We provide extensive resources to support our students. A dedicated writing advisor is available to review essays and assignments, giving expert feedback to sharpen your arguments and refine your prose. Our faculty members regularly hold virtual office hours, and we offer specialized workshops on the skills necessary to excel in your graduate courses.
How long does it take to complete the online MLA program?
You can finish the MLA in one year on a full-time schedule or take courses part-time at your own pace for up to five years.
I already have a graduate degree. Does an MLA make sense for me?
The MLA is an ideal complement to other master’s degrees. An MBA, JD, MD, or graduate program in another professional field often teaches the specialized knowledge that’s necessary to advance in a specific industry. The MLA connects you to the big picture, addressing overarching questions about why organizations and communities function the way they do. You’ll gain the intellectual tools to think deeper, lead smarter, question conventional wisdom, and collaborate with others in complex environments.
What career resources are available to MLA students?
MLA students have full access to UChicago career resources. Career advisors are available to review resumes, connect you with networking opportunities, conduct mock interviews, and answer your questions. You can also attend virtual or on-campus career events to meet with top employers who are actively recruiting UChicago alumni.
Join us for a conversation with Lucy Kellaway, former Financial Times columnist turned teacher, as she discusses the transformative power of starting over in midlife.
Mary Jo Griesenauer has built a successful career as a financial analyst, specializing in IT financial planning and analysis. While she has dedicated her professional life to quantitative problem-solving and leadership, she has also maintained her interest in exploring questions about life and spirituality.
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Is an MLA Right for You?
Take a short quiz to find out how the UChicago MLA fits your goals and which of our optional concentrations could be the best choice for you.
