
Liberal Studies

The Master’s in Liberal Studies (MALS) at the CUNY Graduate Center combines the challenge of graduate work with the freedom to explore new fields of knowledge across a wide array of diverse concentrations.
Request InformationDegree Offered
M.A. in Liberal Studies
Full-time/Part-time
20 concentrations
Admissions Deadlines
June 1 for fall enrollment
November 1 for spring enrollment
Join an active, engaged learning community of students and faculty, embracing an interdisciplinary approach and flexible curricula to understand more about the world — and yourself. Whether you’re a working professional, a returning student, or a recent graduate, the Master’s in Liberal Studies (MALS) combines the challenge of graduate work with the freedom to explore new fields of knowledge.
Quick links for current students: Registration | Courses

Life of the Mind in the Heart of the City
Study in the world’s most remarkable classroom. Besides The Graduate Center’s vibrant academic community — based in midtown, a short walk from Penn Station and Grand Central as well as most offices — students can tap into the vast cultural, intellectual, and scholarly resources of New York City and the entire CUNY system. And because New York is the center of so many industries — media, fashion, finance, and art, to name a few — students will gain access to unparalleled internship and employment opportunities while they work toward their degrees and after they complete them.

Pursue Your Interests
Learn alongside master’s and doctoral candidates in small seminar courses led by accomplished and charismatic faculty. Engage in wide-ranging, challenging discussions and develop advanced analytic, critical thinking, and communications skills. Then, complete a final thesis or capstone project that reflects your passions, whether it’s a film, digital portfolio, website, or traditional paper.
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Invest in Your Future
The best way to judge an academic program is by looking at the success of its graduates. Our alumni use their degrees to pursue a range of opportunities. Some go on to pursue doctoral degrees, including at Yale; the University of California, Berkeley; and here at The Graduate Center. Other alumni have gone on to careers in digital publishing, technology, politics, and fashion at organizations like Sesame Street Workshop, HarperCollins Publishers, and the Rubin Museum as well as at the New York City mayor’s office. Our program’s focus on rigorous, cross-disciplinary study gives students the tools to pursue careers that spark their passion and curiosity.
Get the latest alumni newsRecent News
May 2, 2023
Tributes to a Professor’s Work and Wide Influence
Alumni reflect on the profound impact of Professor Thomas G. Weiss, who is retiring this year.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
- Alumni News
Apr 24, 2023
Professor Thomas G. Weiss on the U.N. and a Career Studying It
A longtime, esteemed scholar of the U.N. reflects on the organization and his own career as he moves toward retirement.
- Podcast
- Faculty News
Apr 24, 2023
Professor Thomas G. Weiss, Influential U.N. Scholar, Is Retiring
He reflects on his 25 years at the Graduate Center and the prospects for multilateralism at a time of rising nationalism.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
Apr 1, 2023
Reasons to Love Poetry This Poetry Month
Graduate Center poets and authors name their favorite poems and say what draws them to poetry.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
- Alumni News
- Student News
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Note: Prof. Macaulay is currently on leave, returning Fall 2023.
The MALS concentration in Social and Environmental Justice Studies frames these issues ecologically to illuminate pathways and processes for justice. The goal is to address both the environmental and the social in tandem, as they exist in the world.
Concentration details and requirements