Master of Liberal Arts

The Master of Liberal Arts degree is designed to meet the needs of the student who wants a flexible, multifaceted graduate education with variable content options rather than specialization in a single discipline. This flexibility is appealing to a wide range of people who want an expanded liberal arts education and an enhanced understanding of their heritage. Students may take a combination of courses in the Arts, Humanities, and Christian Ministry.

The Master of Liberal Arts is an approved member of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Curriculum Overview

The 30-credit-hour curriculum is comprised of a three-credit-hour interdisciplinary core with two options available for the completion of the remaining 27 hours.

course	Credit hours
Core Courses MALA 5302 - Servant Leadership and Worldviews (S-L)	3
Interdisciplinary Track Complete any combination of DBU graduate courses	27
Single Discipline Track Concentration (18 hours) Electives (9 hours)	27
Single Discipline Track (INSTRUCTIONAL) Core courses (6 hours) Concentration courses (18 hours) Designated Electives (6 hours)	30

Concentrations available to the MLA student in the Single Discipline track are:

course
Art Choose 6 classes from the following: ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts MALA 5329 - Color and Composition MALA 5333 - Fine Arts in East Asia MALA 5336 - Illustration I (Requisite: ART 5376) MALA 5337 - Illustration II (Requisite: MALA 5336) MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II MALA 5363 - Advertising Design (S-L) MALA 5369 - History of Modern Art MALA 5370 - Western Culture through the Arts MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art MALA 6382 - Travel Study in Fine Arts Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. Art Theory Choose 6 classes from the following: COMA 6300 - Introduction to Graduate Communication Studies MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II MALA 5369 - History of Modern Art MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art MALA 6378 - Graduate Internship in Publishing MRKT 5301 - Advanced Marketing Strategies (S-L) MRKT 6357 - Digital Storytelling and Branding (Participation in Internship is dependent upon successful completion of qualifying courses). Christian Studies Choose 6 classes from the following: HIST 5301 - Western Church History HIST 5302 - History of Religion in America HIST 5303 - Baptist History HIST 5357 - History of the Reformation MALA 5358 - Teaching Ministry of the Church MALA 5361 - Children’s Ministry in the Church MALA 5362 - Student Ministry in the Church MALA 5380 - Ethnomusicology in Cross-Cultural Service MALA 6384 - Travel Study in Religion THEO 5310 - The Gospels THEO 5321 - The Early Life and Letters of Paul THEO 5322 - The Later Life and Letters of Paul THEO 5336 - The General Epistles THEO 5345 - Christianity in a Pluralistic World THEO 5360 - Special Topics in Religion Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. English Choose 6 classes from the following: ENGL 5302 - Introduction to Linguistics ENGL 5319 - Introduction to Literary Theory ENGL 5340 - Studies in Global Literature ENGL 5341 - Modern Christian Authors ENGL 5344 - Studies in Fiction ENGL 5346 - Special Topics in English ENGL 5347 - Studies in Drama ENGL 5348 - Studies in Poetry ENGL 5349 - Shakespeare ENGL 6305 - Master's Thesis I ENGL 6306 - Master's Thesis II MALA 5342 - Select Topics in Linguistics MALA 5345 - Studies in Nonfiction Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. English as a Second Language Choose 6 classes from the following: ESLS 5301 - Second Language Acquisition ESLS 5304 - Methods in Teaching ESL ESLS 5306 - Content Area Language Proficiency Skills ESLS 5308 - Multicultural and Multilingual Learning Environments ESLS 5310 - Administration of ESL Programs ESLS 5314 - Practicum in ESL/EFL Settings (S-L) ESLS 5320 - Assessing English Language Learners ESLS 5321 - Linguistics for Reading and ESL Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. Fine Arts Choose 6 classes from the following: ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts ENGL 5347 - Studies in Drama MALA 5321 - Readers Theater (S-L) MALA 5322 - Communication Styles: A Key to Business Success MALA 5325 - Communication in the Digital Age MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process MALA 5380 - Ethnomusicology in Cross-Cultural Service MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art MALA 6382 - Travel Study in Fine Arts Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. Graphic Design (Required concentration courses - 27 hours) ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts MALA 5336 - Illustration I (Requisite: ART 5376) MALA 5337 - Illustration II (Requisite: MALA 5336) MALA 5363 - Advertising Design (S-L) MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I or MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art MALA 6376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts II (Requisite: ART 5376) MALA 6378 - Graduate Internship in Publishing MALA 6079 - Graduate Show (0-hour course) NOTE: Requisites must be met before a student can register for a specific course. Portfolio evaluation by the Program Director for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from another institution. History Choose 6 classes from the following: HIST 5301 - Western Church History HIST 5302 - History of Religion in America HIST 5303 - Baptist History HIST 5304 - American Diplomatic History HIST 5305 - History of Texas HIST 5308 - Medieval History HIST 5312 - The Twentieth Century HIST 5354 - Ancient Civilizations HIST 5357 - History of the Reformation HIST 5388 - Foundations of the American Republic HIST 6305 - Master's Thesis I HIST 6306 - Master's Thesis II MALA 5328 - Topics in Latin American History MALA 5371 - U.S. Intellectual and Social History MALA 5389 - The American Civil War Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. Missions Choose 6 classes from the following: MAGL 5330 - Introduction to Missiology MAGL 5331 - Cross-Cultural Living and Ministry MAGL 5332 - Strategies for Missionary Work MAGL 5333 - Local Church on Mission MAGL 5334 - Chronological Bible Storying MAGL 5335 - Biographies of Outstanding Missionaries MAGL 5340 - Integrating Faith and Cultures MAGL 5341 - Global Christianity MAGL 5342 - Ethnography, Cultures, and Worldviews MAGL 5343 - Understanding Islam MAGL 5344 - Strategies for Urban Ministries Other classes may be approved by the Program Director. Political Science Choose 6 classes from the following: POLS 5304 - American Diplomatic History POLS 5311 - Political Communication POLS 5313 - Religion and Politics in the United States POLS 5314 - International Relations POLS 5315 - Municipal Government and Urban Development POLS 5316 - Study of Public Administration POLS 5317 - Comparing Government Structures and Political Systems POLS 5318 - American Political Tradition Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

course

Art
Choose 6 classes from the following:
ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I
ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts
MALA 5329 - Color and Composition
MALA 5333 - Fine Arts in East Asia
MALA 5336 - Illustration I (Requisite: ART 5376)
MALA 5337 - Illustration II (Requisite: MALA 5336)
MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I
MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II
MALA 5363 - Advertising Design (S-L)
MALA 5369 - History of Modern Art
MALA 5370 - Western Culture through the Arts
MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process
MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art
MALA 6382 - Travel Study in Fine Arts
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Art Theory

Choose 6 classes from the following:

COMA 6300 - Introduction to Graduate Communication Studies

MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I

MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II

MALA 5369 - History of Modern Art

MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process

MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art

MALA 6378 - Graduate Internship in Publishing

MRKT 5301 - Advanced Marketing Strategies (S-L)

MRKT 6357 - Digital Storytelling and Branding

(Participation in Internship is dependent upon successful completion of qualifying courses).

Christian Studies
Choose 6 classes from the following:
HIST 5301 - Western Church History
HIST 5302 - History of Religion in America
HIST 5303 - Baptist History
HIST 5357 - History of the Reformation
MALA 5358 - Teaching Ministry of the Church
MALA 5361 - Children’s Ministry in the Church
MALA 5362 - Student Ministry in the Church
MALA 5380 - Ethnomusicology in Cross-Cultural Service
MALA 6384 - Travel Study in Religion
THEO 5310 - The Gospels
THEO 5321 - The Early Life and Letters of Paul
THEO 5322 - The Later Life and Letters of Paul
THEO 5336 - The General Epistles
THEO 5345 - Christianity in a Pluralistic World
THEO 5360 - Special Topics in Religion
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

English
Choose 6 classes from the following:
ENGL 5302 - Introduction to Linguistics
ENGL 5319 - Introduction to Literary Theory
ENGL 5340 - Studies in Global Literature
ENGL 5341 - Modern Christian Authors
ENGL 5344 - Studies in Fiction
ENGL 5346 - Special Topics in English
ENGL 5347 - Studies in Drama
ENGL 5348 - Studies in Poetry
ENGL 5349 - Shakespeare
ENGL 6305 - Master's Thesis I

ENGL 6306 - Master's Thesis II

MALA 5342 - Select Topics in Linguistics
MALA 5345 - Studies in Nonfiction
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

English as a Second Language

Choose 6 classes from the following:
ESLS 5301 - Second Language Acquisition
ESLS 5304 - Methods in Teaching ESL
ESLS 5306 - Content Area Language Proficiency Skills
ESLS 5308 - Multicultural and Multilingual Learning Environments
ESLS 5310 - Administration of ESL Programs
ESLS 5314 - Practicum in ESL/EFL Settings (S-L)
ESLS 5320 - Assessing English Language Learners
ESLS 5321 - Linguistics for Reading and ESL

Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Fine Arts
Choose 6 classes from the following:
ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I
ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts
ENGL 5347 - Studies in Drama
MALA 5321 - Readers Theater (S-L)
MALA 5322 - Communication Styles: A Key to Business Success
MALA 5325 - Communication in the Digital Age

MALA 5372 - The Arts and the Creative Process
MALA 5380 - Ethnomusicology in Cross-Cultural Service
MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art
MALA 6382 - Travel Study in Fine Arts
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Graphic Design (Required concentration courses - 27 hours)
ART 5376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts I
ART 5377 - Painting and the Liberal Arts
MALA 5336 - Illustration I (Requisite: ART 5376)
MALA 5337 - Illustration II (Requisite: MALA 5336)
MALA 5363 - Advertising Design (S-L)

MALA 5359 - History of Graphic Design I
or
MALA 5360 - History of Graphic Design II

MALA 5385 - Special Topics in Art
MALA 6376 - Drawing and the Liberal Arts II (Requisite: ART 5376)
MALA 6378 - Graduate Internship in Publishing
MALA 6079 - Graduate Show (0-hour course)
NOTE: Requisites must be met before a student can register for a specific course. Portfolio evaluation by the Program Director for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from another institution.

History
Choose 6 classes from the following:
HIST 5301 - Western Church History
HIST 5302 - History of Religion in America
HIST 5303 - Baptist History
HIST 5304 - American Diplomatic History
HIST 5305 - History of Texas
HIST 5308 - Medieval History
HIST 5312 - The Twentieth Century
HIST 5354 - Ancient Civilizations
HIST 5357 - History of the Reformation
HIST 5388 - Foundations of the American Republic
HIST 6305 - Master's Thesis I

HIST 6306 - Master's Thesis II

MALA 5328 - Topics in Latin American History
MALA 5371 - U.S. Intellectual and Social History
MALA 5389 - The American Civil War
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Missions
Choose 6 classes from the following:
MAGL 5330 - Introduction to Missiology
MAGL 5331 - Cross-Cultural Living and Ministry
MAGL 5332 - Strategies for Missionary Work
MAGL 5333 - Local Church on Mission
MAGL 5334 - Chronological Bible Storying
MAGL 5335 - Biographies of Outstanding Missionaries
MAGL 5340 - Integrating Faith and Cultures
MAGL 5341 - Global Christianity
MAGL 5342 - Ethnography, Cultures, and Worldviews
MAGL 5343 - Understanding Islam
MAGL 5344 - Strategies for Urban Ministries
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Political Science
Choose 6 classes from the following:
POLS 5304 - American Diplomatic History
POLS 5311 - Political Communication
POLS 5313 - Religion and Politics in the United States
POLS 5314 - International Relations
POLS 5315 - Municipal Government and Urban Development
POLS 5316 - Study of Public Administration
POLS 5317 - Comparing Government Structures and Political Systems
POLS 5318 - American Political Tradition
Other classes may be approved by the Program Director.

Single-Discipline Tracks (INSTRUCTIONAL)

course	Credit hours
ENGLISH INSTRUCTION
Core Courses	6
ENGL 5340 - Studies in Global Literature MALA 5302 - Servant Leadership and Worldviews (S-L)
Concentration Courses	18
*Choose 6 courses* ENGL 5302 - Introduction to Linguistics ENGL 5319 - Introduction to Literary Theory ENGL 5341 - Modern Christian Authors ENGL 5344 - Studies in Fiction ENGL 5346 - Special Topics in English ENGL 5347 - Studies in Drama ENGL 5348 - Studies in Poetry ENGL 5349 - Shakespeare MALA 5342 - Select Topics in Linguistics MALA 5345 - Studies in Nonfiction
Concentration Specific Electives	6
EDUC 6302 - Research in Education (S-L) EDUC 6304 - Improvement of Instruction
HISTORY INSTRUCTION
Core Courses	6
HIST 5301 - Western Church History MALA 5302 - Servant Leadership and Worldviews (S-L)
Concentration Courses	18
*Choose 6 courses* HIST 5302 - History of Religion in America HIST 5303 - Baptist History HIST 5304 - American Diplomatic History HIST 5305 - History of Texas HIST 5308 - Medieval History HIST 5312 - The Twentieth Century HIST 5354 - Ancient Civilizations HIST 5357 - History of the Reformation HIST 5388 - Foundations of the American Republic MALA 5328 - Topics in Latin American History MALA 5335 - American Republic: 1800-1850’s MALA 5371 - U.S. Intellectual and Social History MALA 5389 - The American Civil War
Concentration Specific Electives	6
EDUC 6302 - Research in Education (S-L) LTEC 6303 - Technology Tools for Learning
Total Credit Hours Required	30

(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.