Overview

Through the Liberal Studies program, you will critically explore and intensively examine the core issues of our time.

The program

Every MA in Liberal Studies from The New School has core courses that will ground you in the history of ideas and in the practice of sustained writing, while you develop an intellectual peer community. From there, you can branch out, taking advantage of the rich offerings and distinguished faculty of The New School. Work with both a faculty advisor and a student advisor to create a robust pathway tailored to your individual needs and academic ambitions. We offer a rich selection of courses with world-class professors who can extend your command of critical theory, the history of ideas, aesthetics, philosophy, politics, anthropology, media theory - wherever your curiosity takes you. Courses are available in both the daytime and the evening to fit into even the busiest schedule.

At the heart of the program are two core courses. The first - The Making of the Modern World - considers the origins and fate of modern societies as understood by key thinkers who have explained and championed modern social developments, as well as those who have harbored grave anxieties about the shape of modern life. We cover significant currents in the arts, social history, cultural theory, literature, politics, and philosophy. Our second core course - the Master's Critical Writing Seminar - helps students work on nonfiction writing and criticism, so that they can better express their own views with clarity and force. Students often use this course to write the required MA thesis, exploring a topic of their choice in-depth and producing a substantive and polished work of prose.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Literature, the Arts, and Aesthetics

Intellectual History and Modern Thought

Criticism and Publishing

Media and Culture

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-27 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-21 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-04 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

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IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

30 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

New York City, United States

Disciplines

Liberal Arts View 416 other Masters in Liberal Arts in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Our programs welcome applicants from all walks of life, from recent college graduates to graduate students, working professionals to career changers. We engage in a holistic review of each application.
Complete Application
Submit Your Application Fee
Submit Required Essays
Submit Your Résumé or CV
Submit Two Letters of Recommendation
Submit Official Transcripts
Our Mailing Address
Submit an Academic Writing Sample

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

38025 USD / year

≈ 38025 USD / year
Out-of-State

38025 USD / year

≈ 38025 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

38025 USD / year

≈ 38025 USD / year

Living costs

New York City

United States

1819 - 3968 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

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Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Liberal Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

The program

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

New York City

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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