Requirements

A photo of the Shalala Student Center at night on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus. A photo of the Shalala Student Center at night on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus.
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program accepts rolling admissions. Interested students may apply to the program at any time. The admissions requirements below applies to all applicants. International students interested in applying to the MAIA program should visit our International Students webpage for additional admissions requirements.

Admissions Requirements

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  • Online Application

    Please complete the online application by clicking here.

    Application Deadlines
    Intended Starting Semester Deadline
    Summer A 2021 March 1, 2021
    Summer B 2021 April 1, 2021
    Fall 2021 May 15, 2021

  • Application Fee

    An $85.00 non-refundable application fee is paid online upon submission of the application.

  • Statement of Purpose

    The statement of purpose is the most important element of your application packet. This letter should explain why you are interested in pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree. It should describe what academic and professional qualities you posses which could help you excel in this program. The personal statement should also describe the goals you hope to achieve and any qualities you feel would make you an ideal candidate.

    The personal statement should be approximately 1-2 typed pages in length. The document should be double spaced and size 12 Times New Roman font. This essay should maintain 1-inch margins and should be proofed for errors prior to submission. 

    Below is a link to help you get started:

    OWL Statement of Purpose Guidelines

  • Personal Admissions Essay

    The personal admissions essay requires candidates to choose a book, play or movie and explain why the piece is interesting to them. The essay should be approximately 2-3 pages in length. It should be typed, double spaced, and size 12 Times New Roman font. This essay should maintain 1-inch margins and should be proofed for errors prior to submission.

  • Letters of Recommendation

    Three letters of recommendation must be provided. These letters should be from an employer, colleague, or other professional source.

    *If you are currently taking classes, or if you are a recent graduate (within two years), you must submit at least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

  • Official Transcripts

    You must provide official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. Official transcripts in languages other than English must also be submitted with a certified English translation.

  • Grade Point Average (GPA)

    A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Document Submission

All documents being sent via a special courier service (UPS, FedEx, etc.) should be sent to the following address:

University of Miami
Office of Interdisciplinary and Professional Studies
1300 Campo Sano Avenue
Suite #215
Coral Gables, FL 33146-4420