M.A. Liberal Studies Rationale Essay and Literature Review

Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Study provides the structure and support, not only to design your degree program, but to produce the rationale essay. You will also develop a review of literature for your degree program as part of an individualized elective.

It is important to note that this rationale essay should reflect a level of writing and research that is appropriate to graduate-level study. In addition to being well written, your rationale essay should also meet the following objectives:

• It must set a comprehensive framework for your degree program. What is the focus of your area of study? What is its context? Why is it important to you?
• It should explain the interdisciplinary nature of your program and show how these various courses fit together as an integrative whole.
• It should show where and how you have incorporated the historical and theoretical dimensions of your field of study into the program.
• It should contain your reflections upon the contribution of the three required courses to your total degree program.
• It is expected to contain a specific discussion of the remaining courses, showing how they relate to one another, make sense in relation to the selected field of study, and prepare you for final project. This discussion is required for courses you may have transferred from other institutions as well as for those you propose to cross register for or enroll in at the college. Indeed, you should provide an explicit justification for transferring in or cross registering for courses at other institutions.
• The degree program and rational must be accompanied by a literature review of one topic of central importance to your degree.
• You should follow appropriate academic conventions in your bibliography, documentation and citations.