Learner-Designed Areas of Study

Learner-Designed Areas of Study (LDAS) enable students pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies to design their own area of study. Students are responsible for choosing areas of interest and may plan and implement their own academically-robust learning activities. Students propose to complete their program in several ways:

• Take additional online courses from any of Thomas Edison State College’s Graduate program offerings
• Apply up to 12 credits of American Council on Education courses evaluated at the graduate level
• Earn credits for courses offered through Educational Partnership organization programs that fit degree requirements
• Develop a graduate-level Prior Learning Assessment portfolio, demonstrating the graduate-level knowledge you’ve acquired in work, training, or other programs
• Transfer up to 12 credits of graduate-level credit earned at other regionally accredited institutions
• Design an independent study under a faculty mentor’s guidance.

A graduate mentor reviews your proposal and recommends acceptance or changes. The College authorizes final LDAS acceptance.