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Degree Requirements

Humanities Degree Requirements 

The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts offers both the Master of Arts in Humanities and the Master of Humanities. Several courses can be completed online.

Master of Arts in Humanities: 36 credit hours 

Coursework

Students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework at the 5000 level or above.

Great Works

Humanities students must take three of the four Great Works Courses.

Thesis

The thesis requirement comprises 6 credit hours.

Foreign Language

Before beginning the M.A. thesis, the candidate must demonstrate a reading competency in Greek, Latin, French, German, Spanish, or Italian.  The language requirement may be met by completing an upper level language course with a grade of B or better, or by passing an examination in translation.

Comprehensive Exam

Students complete a comprehensive, written examination on three questions that professors write, based on three general topic areas that students previously discuss with their professors. Topics may not be identical to students' final paper topics in any of their classes.

Master of Humanities: 36 credit hours 

Coursework

Students must complete 36 credit hours of coursework at the 5000 level or above.

Great Works

Humanities students must take three of the four Great Works Courses.

Comprehensive exam

Students complete a comprehensive, written examination on three questions that professors write, based on three general topic areas that students previously discuss with their professors. Topics may not be identical to students' final paper topics in any of therir classes.

Classical Education Concentration

Current and aspiring educators devoted to the classics of the Western tradition can earn a Master of Arts in Humanities with Classical Education Concentration, a Master of Humanities with Classical Education Concentration, or a Certificate of Classical Learning. These programs are part of the Humanities Graduate Program and include specialized courses designed for classical school teachers and administrators. 

Additional Stipulations

  • All requirements for each degree ordinarily must be met within six years of a student's registration in course work, excluding leaves of absence.
  • Up to nine credit hours of graduate work at other institutions may be accepted for transfer after a student has completed at least nine credit hours at the University of Dallas.
  • Entry into the program requires a bachelor's degree, but not necessarily in one of the humanities, and permission of both the Director and the Dean of the Braniff Graduate School. Non-degree students are welcome to participate in any part of the program after consulting with the Director.
  • University undergraduates may count Great Works Courses as part of a Humanities graduate degree only if they have taken them at the 6000 level and have not counted them toward the undergraduate degree.