Hollins College

Programme overview

Hollins University’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (M.A.L.S.) is a flexible, faculty-guided masters that allows students to design a program to suit professional goals or personal intellectual interests. Courses are offered fall, spring and summer with evening instruction; students may complete the program entirely online. Learners have up to eight years from matriculation to finish degree requirements.

What you'll study

The degree requires completion of ten courses. All students take a social sciences and humanities core course and finish with a capstone experience that integrates theory into an applied project. Beyond the core, students build an individualized area of focus with seven additional courses selected with a faculty advisor. The curriculum emphasizes three skill areas: scholarly and professional writing, disciplined critical thinking, and exploration of creativity through traditional and nontraditional examples.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and submit undergraduate transcripts, a statement of educational objectives, and three letters of recommendation addressing capacity for graduate study. An admission interview is required once an applicant is accepted to the program.

Career prospects

The program is positioned for adult professionals seeking career-enhancing credentials, applicants preparing for professional school, or those pursuing advanced generalist study. Graduate outcomes cited by the program include professional advancement (for example, a graduate attaining junior partner status with a professional academy) and successful preparation for further study such as law or other professional programs.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Hollins offers the Sue Zirkle Frazier Scholarship for liberal studies students demonstrating financial need and academic merit. Federal student aid available to eligible domestic students includes Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans; applicants must submit the FAFSA annually. Student loans are not available to international students. For the 2026–27 academic year tuition is listed at $450 per credit hour; students also pay a nonrefundable semester deposit and applicable technology fees.