Sarah Bertucci, on the Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand, reading for an independent study in the "Historical and Philosophical Roots of American Education."

Especially designed for working adults, the Master’s program offers students a wide range of ways to pursue their course of study:

• One-on-one independent studies (with faculty from Skidmore and other institutions)

• In-class courses at other universities

• Study abroad

• Internships

• Online/correspondence courses

• Transfer of prior graduate credit

• Experiential learning

Independent Studies

Independent studies give students the chance to work with faculty to design courses focused on their particular areas of interest. Together, the student and professor develop the independent study’s content and form, agreeing on the course’s materials, requirements, and dynamics. Most often, students take these courses at a distance from Skidmore’s campus and conduct their studies by e-mail, surface mail, or phone. Independent studies are not tied to the semester schedule of the academic year: they can begin or end at any time; they can be intensive courses that cover a great deal of ground in a short time, or they can move more slowly and last longer. This flexibility enables students to balance their coursework with the rest of their lives, and to shape the pace of their studies to match the way they learn best.

Although usually directed by members of the Skidmore faculty, independent studies may also be led by non-Skidmore faculty whose credentials have been approved by the student’s advisors. These instructors range from faculty affiliated with other colleges and universities, to independent scholars, to accomplished professionals in the visual and performing arts.

In-class graduate courses

In order to enrich their experience of intellectual community, MALS students take at least six semester hours of in-class, graduate coursework as part of their programs of study. With the guidance of their faculty advisors, students may enroll in courses at regionally accredited universities near their home, or travel to others in America or abroad during the regular school year or the summer.

Study Abroad

Master’s students may take courses at universities throughout the world, so long as those courses are approved by their advisors. The expanding number of high-quality summer programs offer students the chance to take a wide range of different kinds of courses—to study history or drama at Oxford University, for example, or painting, photography, art history, or creative writing in Florence.

Internships

Some Master’s students pursue their theoretical explorations through practical experiences as well as academic coursework. Internships are designed by the student in collaboration with his or her advisors and the internship supervisor. The student’s faculty advisor oversees the student’s work and reviews the award of academic credit.


Online/Correspondence courses

Students may also fulfill the course requirements specified in their academic plans through online or correspondence coursework at regionally-accredited universities. Guidance toward high-quality course offerings is available from the MALS office.

Prior Graduate Coursework

Many of our students enter the program having already completed graduate coursework at other universities. In cases when this prior coursework contributes significantly to the focus of their program of study, students may petition to have this coursework incorporated into their program. There is no limit to the number of semester hours that students may transfer into their program; however, students must complete 24 or more semester hours of work while enrolled at Skidmore.

Prior Experiential Learning

Many Master’s students bring to Skidmore a deep, experiential knowledge of the subjects they plan to study, learned through their experience outside of formal academic settings. Students may petition to have this prior experiential learning evaluated for incorporation into their program of study by describing, documenting, and analyzing their experience in a way that explores its underlying theoretical understandings. Students may earn a maximum of six semester hours of credit through prior experiential learning; and must complete 24 or more semester hours of work while enrolled at Skidmore.