Master of Liberal Arts Concentrations

Concentrations are optional and not required to complete the MLA program. Nearly half of all students opt to pursue a concentration. Some students choose one of the three concentrations, while others prefer to pursue a general course of study that draws from multiple disciplines. Many students prefer the flexible general pathway if they want breadth rather than a single thematic focus.

The MLA can deepen how you think about leadership by giving you the opportunity to examine different leadership traditions, approaches, and dilemmas through literature, philosophy, history, and politics. In the Ethics & Leadership concentration, students explore questions of judgment, responsibility, practical wisdom, organizational life, and the ways leaders respond to complexity.

Recent courses include Foundations of Leadership, Aristotle and Confucius on Leadership, and Leading with Practical Wisdom. Through seminar discussion and close engagement with ideas and examples, students reflect on different leadership styles and frameworks alongside classmates who bring their own professional and leadership experience to the conversation.

You can select a concentration either after beginning coursework and discerning which subjects you find most engaging or at the start of your studies by speaking to an enrollment counselor during the application who can help map your background and interests to the concentration that best fits your goals.

Schedule an appointment with our enrollment counselor >

Concentrations help students shape the MLA around the questions, interests, and goals that matter most to them. Any student can pursue any concentration that interests them, regardless of professional background. For some, a concentration deepens an area connected to their work; for others, it offers the chance to explore something entirely different from their field.

Ethics & Leadership invites students to examine questions of judgment, responsibility, leadership, and organizational life. It may be especially relevant to professionals working with teams, institutions, policy, or complex decision making, but it is open to anyone interested in these questions.

Literary Studies offers sustained engagement with literature, writing, interpretation, and the humanities. It may appeal to students in writing, communications, teaching, editing, or publishing, as well as to professionals in fields such as technology, science, or analytics who want to explore human creativity, culture, and meaning.

Tech & Society examines the social, ethical, political, and cultural implications of technology. It may be especially compelling for students working in technology, policy, education, or analysis, but it is equally suited to anyone curious about how technology is reshaping contemporary life.

A master’s in organizational leadership is a business-oriented program focused on management strategy and team performance. The University of Chicago Master of Liberal Arts approaches leadership differently—through the humanities, social sciences, and sciences—developing the judgment, critical thinking, and adaptability that leaders draw on in times of change. Its Ethics & Leadership concentration makes it an alternative for professionals who want a broader intellectual foundation rather than a purely business degree.

For students who want to engage deeply with ethical questions without pursuing a doctoral research path, the MLA’s Ethics & Leadership concentration offers an interdisciplinary approach to graduate study. Students examine ethics through philosophy, literature, history, and politics, exploring questions of judgment, responsibility, leadership, and public life.

The MLA offers a different kind of graduate experience. Rather than focusing primarily on business administration or management practice, it develops the ability to examine complex questions from multiple perspectives through sustained study in the liberal arts.

For students in the Ethics & Leadership concentration, that includes exploring leadership through literature, philosophy, history, and politics. The emphasis is on questions of judgment, responsibility, human behavior, and decision-making, giving students a broader intellectual framework for thinking about leadership and organizational life.

Each concentration requires students to take three courses in its thematic area, in addition to completing their thesis on a related topic. All MLA students complete nine courses total, including the thesis or special project.

No. Students have time to decide which concentration is right for them. Most MLA students begin by taking courses from the core curriculum while they consider whether to pursue the general course of study or focus on a specific concentration.

Many MLA students take courses across multiple concentrations. These students typically pursue the general course of study so they can explore a variety of courses across concentration tracks.

There are no formal prerequisites outside of being admitted to the MLA program. All concentrations are designed for motivated adult learners from varied backgrounds.

Your thesis or special project will also be rooted in your chosen concentration. You’ll work with a writing advisor and faculty supervisor to shape a project aligned with your goals.

The courses students take as a part of their concentration will appear on your transcript but not on the diploma itself. The transcript serves as an academic record of a student’s chosen focus area.