Master of Liberal Arts Residential Seminar

Master of Liberal Arts students have the option to participate in the University of Chicago Residential Seminar, which takes place twice yearly in the Spring and Summer Quarters.

During these experiences, you’ll complete an accelerated course on campus and earn credit toward your degree.

You’ll spend a week immersed in studying a fascinating topic and working face-to-face with many of the peers you’ve met in the virtual classroom. The seminars are also open to students in other programs, giving you a chance to meet and interact with members of the wider UChicago community.

The residential experience is optional. If you prefer, you can complete all requirements for the MLA online.

Summer 2026: Homer in Hyde Park: The Odyssey

This seminar will offer you the unique opportunity to navigate the depths of Homer’s Odyssey while engaging in respectful, Socratic dialogue. You will explore this seminal work, regarded as canonical and foundational through the ages. You will also visit the University’s Regenstein library to see its world-renowned Homer collection.

This Residential Seminar will take place from Sunday, September 13, through Friday, September 18, and will be taught by David Wray, associate professor in the Department of Classics, the Department of Comparative Literature, and the College at the University of Chicago 

Experience UChicago in Person

When you attend a residential seminar, you’ll enjoy the historic buildings, intellectual atmosphere, and cultural richness of UChicago’s beautiful campus firsthand. You’ll have ample opportunities to network, beginning when you meet with your peers for an opening reception dinner, as well as explore the diverse and historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Most importantly, you’ll have illuminating conversations and discover valuable insights in an immersive one-week course.

Students wishing to stay in Hyde Park are encouraged to consider The Study at the University of Chicago, which is located on campus, or The Sophy Hyde Park, which is adjacent to campus on 53rd street.

Each day, residential seminar students attend both morning and afternoon class sessions. These classes follow the same Socratic seminar format as your online courses, emphasizing open, respectful dialogue in response to assigned texts. A member of our distinguished faculty will guide a group of students with widely varied professional and educational backgrounds as they engage with one another’s viewpoints and think their way through complex issues.

When you’re not in class, available activities include:

• Lunch and learns with guest speakers who are respected experts in a range of fields.
• Guided campus tours to enjoy our beautiful architecture and botanic garden.
• Dinner groups to socialize, network, and build community with fellow classmates.