UNC Programs - Admission Requirements for MLA Programs

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The University of North Carolina at Asheville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Master's Degree. UNC Asheville is also a full member of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs.

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Important Contact Information

Peg Downes, Director [email protected] (828) 251-6577

Gerard Voos, Associate Director [email protected]

(828) 232-5040

Jordan Dolfi, Program Assistant [email protected]

(828) 250-2399

Contact information for UNC Asheville professors and students can be found through the online University Directory: http://www.unca.edu/search/directories.html.

Program Overview

The Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) Program is an interdisciplinary course of study that explores human nature, human values and the quality of human life. The theme integrates studies ranging from the arts and humanities to the natural and social sciences. The program allows you to focus on issues of importance in contemporary culture and to build your own interdisciplinary

curriculum around a focus area: for example, of Climate Change and Society, Humanities and

Creative Writing, Globalization Past and Present, or Science and Human Values. Throughout,

the MLA program fosters critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication

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ADMISSIONS

Admission Requirements

Admission to the UNC Asheville Master of Liberal Arts Program is based upon (1) the applicant's possession of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent in any field and (2) demonstrated interest and talent in pursuing advanced study in the liberal arts.

For priority consideration for Fall admission, all materials must be received in the MLA Office by April 1. For priority consideration for Spring admission, all materials must be received in the MLA Office by December 1.

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6 All applicants for admission as MLA degree-seeking candidates must submit:

• A completed MLA application form (available on the MLA website or from the MLA

Program Office);

• An application fee of $50 payable to UNC Asheville. This is a non-refundable processing

charge and does not apply to any other University fee;

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work previously undertaken. For

recent college graduates, an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is expected.

• Three letters of recommendation with signed Letter of Recommendation forms (available

on the MLA website or from the MLA Program Office). Letters received without the

accompanying form signed by both applicant and recommender will be considered incomplete;

• Essay: 500-700 words on one of the topics provided on page 5 of the application form;

• Personal Statement: A 500-700 word statement of purpose for seeking a Master of

Liberal Arts degree. This brief autobiographical essay should describe the applicant's pertinent personal and professional experience and education, as well as his or her interests and goals in pursuing the MLA degree. Instructions on page 5 of application form.

All materials should be sent to the MLA Program Office, UNC Asheville, CPO 1615, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804.

In addition to these requirements, each applicant will also be interviewed on campus by members of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council reviews completed applications at monthly meetings.

Incomplete files will be held over until the following semester, and destroyed after one year. Candidates for admission may submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination or other standardized tests, but that is not required.

Notification

All applicants will be informed by mail from the Program Director of their admission status as soon as possible after all of their credentials have been reviewed by the Graduate Council. The notice of admission may include mention of any academic condition under which a student is offered admission. Unless otherwise indicated, failure to meet those conditions will result in the student's dismissal.

Admission as a Graduate Special Student

Persons with a baccalaureate degree who wish to take graduate courses, but have no clear intention of obtaining a degree, may be admitted to the University as Graduate Special Students for one semester. The usual MLA Program admission requirements are waived for students in this classification, but the Graduate Special application form, official transcripts, one essay, and

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7 a $50 application fee are required. Admission as a graduate special student does not constitute regular admission to the MLA Program; graduate special students who wish to continue after one semester must apply as degree-seeking students. Students who are interested in obtaining the degree, but apply for admission after the priority deadline may be considered for admission as a Graduate Special. The Graduate Special application can be found in the Admissions section of the MLA website.

ACADEMICS

Degree Requirements

Each degree-seeking student is required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of MLA coursework, with at least 24 of those credits taken at UNC Asheville. Six courses are required: the gateway seminar to the MLA program (MLA 500, The Human Condition), three

interdisciplinary seminars (MLA 520, The Human Experience; MLA 540, The Individual and Society; and MLA 560, Science and Human Values), and the Capstone Project (comprised of MLA 670: Scholarly Inquiry Seminar, and MLA 680: Project Seminar). The remaining four courses are electives.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be attained in order to graduate. All coursework is assessed on the four-point scale, with the exception of MLA 670 and MLA 680, which are evaluated on a

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

SUMMARY OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: Credit Hours

Required Classes 18

MLA 500 Seminar on the Human Condition 3 MLA/ENG 520 Seminar on the Human Experience 3 MLA 540 Seminar on the Individual and Society 3 MLA/CCS 560 Seminar on Science and Human Values 3 MLA 670 Scholarly Inquiry Seminar (spring semester) 3 MLA 680 Project Seminar (fall semester) 3

Electives 12

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Total Coursework 30

Course Catalogue

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8 540, MLA/CCS 560, MLA 571-3, MLA 671-3) even as course topics change. These courses can be repeated for elective credit so long as the topic has changed, however, MLA 500 cannot be repeated for course credit. Courses with the new prefixes (ENG or CCS) still count towards your MLA course requirements. Current semester course descriptions can be found online at www.unca.edu/mla/schedule.htm.

500 The Human Condition (3 credit hours)

The gateway seminar for the Master of Liberal Arts Program, MLA 500 is an

introduction to interdisciplinary studies at the graduate level and offers an opportunity to examine topics that address our fundamental human nature from a multitude of

perspectives—intimate and immediate as well as analytical and more removed—and to develop scholarly skills (research, writing, analytical thinking). Required of all MLA students; must be taken at the first opportunity. May not be repeated for elective credit.

520 Seminar on the Human Experience (3 credit hours)

Interdisciplinary seminar on questions of human nature and human values raised in the humanities, but drawing on insights from the natural and social sciences as well. Required of all MLA students. Some 520 courses are listed as ENG 520 but it does not affect MLA progress. As topics vary, this course may be repeated for elective credit.

540 Seminar on the Individual and Society (3 credit hours)

Interdisciplinary seminar on questions of human nature and human values raised in the social sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and natural sciences as well. Required of all MLA students. As topics vary, this course may be repeated for elective credit.

560 Seminar on Science and Human Values (3 credit hours)

Interdisciplinary seminar on questions of human nature and human values raised by the natural sciences, but drawing on insights from the humanities and social sciences as well. Required of all MLA students. Some 560 courses listed as CCS 560 but it does not affect MLA progress. As topics vary, this course may be repeated for elective credit.

600 Contemporary Issues (3 credit hours)

Required of students who matriculated before August 2008.

The different perspectives developed through each student’s program will be brought to bear on assessing the human condition in contemporary America. Such issues as the impact of science and technology, professional ethics, the environment, changing values, and international interdependence will be discussed. Prerequisite: 18 hours of MLA course work.

610 Tutorial (1-3 credit hours)

Individual study under the supervision of a faculty member. Topics are chosen in consultation between student, graduate advisor, and tutoring faculty member. Requires permission of Program Director. May be repeated as subject matter changes for a total of 6 hours of credit.

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670 Scholarly Inquiry Seminar (3 credit hours)

This seminar provides a forum for students to develop their individual scholarly interests into a capstone MLA project. Includes a survey of the techniques of inquiry in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as the practical issues of finding a topic to final presentation and defense. Students will define a topic for the project seminar and begin preliminary research. Project proposals must be approved by the project advisor, the instructor of MLA 670, and the MLA Director. Prerequisite: 21 hours in the MLA Program. (S/U grading). Fall semester.

680 Project Seminar (3 credit hours)

Seminar dedicated to the completion of a capstone scholarly research project under the direction of a project advisor and project seminar instructor. Typically the project takes the form of a major research paper (40-50 pages), but alternatives, including creative projects in the arts or literature, are permitted with the concurrence of the advisor and MLA 670 instructor of record. Drafts are presented and final projects are defended in the seminar, and final projects are due before the end of the semester. The final

paper/project is approved by the instructor of 680, the MLA Director, and the project advisor. Prerequisite: successful completion of MLA 670. (S/U grading). Spring semester.

571-3 Special Topics in MLA (1-3 credit hours)

671-3 Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as subject matter changes. See program director.

Concentrations

A concentration represents the core of your work in the MLA program, beyond the seven

required core courses (500, 670, 680, and one each from these categories: 520, 540, 560). You do not have to officially declare a concentration. You can discover your own individual

concentration among the MLA courses you choose. Listed below are some current possibilities to help you to pick courses that fit your interests.

Note: 520 courses use either of two prefixes: MLA, or ENG. Both count for the same kind of credit—that is, as a 520 core requirement, or as an elective.

560 courses use either of two prefixes: MLA, or CCS. Both count for the same kind of credit—that is, as a 560 core requirement, or as an elective.

• MLA 520: Seminars on the Human Condition. These courses focus on studies in the humanities (for example, philosophy, literature, creative writing, religion,

history, art, music).

• ENG 520: Seminars on the Human Condition--Literature, Linguistics,

Creative Writing. These courses focus on studies in the specific discipline of

English. Each semester, the program offers courses in this concentration. The courses are open to all MLA students.

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10 • MLA 540: Seminars on the Individual and Society: these courses focus on studies in the social sciences (for example, sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics). Many 540 courses emphasize a global perspective.

• MLA 560: Seminars on Science & Human Values: these courses focus on studies in the natural sciences (for example, chemistry, physics, astronomy, neurology, biology. 560 courses use either of two prefixes: MLA, or CCS. Both count for the same kind of credit (either core 560, or elective). The prefix CCS simply indicates courses that concentrate on climate change and society.

• CCS 560: Seminars on Science & Human Values—Climate Change &

Society. These courses focus on studies developed to bridge the gap between the

generators of information on climate change (that is, scientists and engineers) and the users of that information (for example, community decision-makers, national policy-makers, and the insurance industry). Each semester, the program offers at least one course in this concentration.

The Capstone Experience

MLA students are required to complete a Capstone project through MLA 670: Scholarly Inquiry Seminar and MLA 680: Project Seminar. These courses, each 3 credit hours, must be taken sequentially and require a prerequisite of 24 completed credit hours in the MLA Program. It is recommended that students plan for their Capstone project throughout their progress in the MLA Program and enter MLA 670 with a project topic in mind.

MLA 670 and MLA 680 are both graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). MLA 670 is offered each spring semester and MLA 680 is offered each fall, allowing the summer break for the development of a full draft of the project. Students have two options for their project: the traditional research thesis or the creative project. Guidelines for each are below.

Traditional Research Thesis Project

The traditional research thesis is in the range of 50 pages of text. It is grounded in the scholarly literature that is connected to the topic, and for the MLA should bring together work in at least two disciplines. Project evaluators will be looking for evidence of at least the following:

• That the student has demonstrated the ability to plan and conduct research appropriate to the project.

• That the student has reviewed, understood and synthesized the current and/or relevant literature appropriate to the project.

• That the student has adopted a critical, perceptive and constructive approach to her/his work and the work of others.

• That the student has honed her/his skills in academic writing and has produced a work that is at least potentially publishable in some appropriate format.

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11 • That the work is driven by a clearly formulated thesis and supported by relevant data,

evidence and/or analysis.

• That the work expresses clear conclusions and that these follow clearly from the thesis and support offered in the work.

• That the work is professionally prepared in accordance with the established conventions accepted by the program (the Turabian or Chicago style manual), and is free of errors.

Non-traditional and/or Creative Project

The non-traditional master’s project should be designed with the student’s strengths in mind as well as their interests. Examples of projects successfully completed in the past include video documentary, sculpture installation, and creative writing. Students who choose this option will need to provide a written statement of intention which clearly lays out the research question/s of the project and shows how the methods used successfully respond to those questions (usually 10-20 pages of text). Students must have the appropriate academic and/or other background to ensure that they are capable of producing quality work: those who do not have appropriate skill levels will either need to take the time to procure the skills, or re-design their project. Project evaluators will be looking for evidence of at least the following:

• That the student demonstrates a professional level of familiarity with and understanding of contemporary work in the field.

• That the student demonstrates a sufficiently comprehensive investigation of the creative form and content.

• That the methods and techniques used in the work are appropriate to the subject matter and are aesthetically effective.

• That the student demonstrates a sufficiently high standard of quality in her/his chosen methods and techniques.

• That the student has clearly identified a research question/program in the work, and has articulated that clearly in the accompanying statement.

• That there is an appropriate and substantiated interface between the work and the accompanying statement

• That the work is presented in a sufficiently professional and appropriate manner.

Advising

Newly accepted students will consult with the program director for orientation and advising before beginning graduate course work. After coursework has been started, students will be paired with an advisor based on student interest and faculty availability. The MLA advisors are the MLA core professors and members of the Graduate Council. Students are expected to maintain contact with their designated graduate advisor to ensure sufficient progress throughout the program. The Graduation Check Sheet should be used by the student to track his or her progress. This form can be found on the MLA website and in the Forms section at the end of this Handbook.

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Academic Integrity

As a community of scholars dedicated to learning and the pursuit of knowledge UNC Asheville relies on the honesty and academic integrity of all the members of its community. Any act of plagiarism or cheating is academic dishonesty. A person who knowingly assists another in cheating is likewise guilty of cheating. According to the instructor’s view of the gravity of the offense, a student may be punished by a failing grade or a grade of zero for the assignment or test, or a failing grade in the course. If it seems warranted, the instructor may also recommend to the Provost dismissal or other serious university sanction. Any questions regarding academic integrity or procedures should be referred to the MLA Director.

Academic Progress

Students must complete at least one MLA course per year and maintain regular contact with their assigned faculty advisors in order to remain candidates for the degree. It is expected that

students will track their own progress through the use of the Progress Check sheet, which can be found on the MLA website and in the Forms section of this Handbook. Questions about

requirements should be directed to students’ assigned faculty advisors. It is expected that a student will need no more than 5 years to complete the MLA degree. Permission of the Graduate Council is necessary in order to remain a candidate for the degree beyond this time limit.

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Registration

Online registration is accessed through OnePort using your UNC Asheville username and password. The Registration Access Number (RAN) necessary for online registration must be obtained from the student’s graduate advisor prior to registering. Registering via OnePort will also require students to input their student identification numbers (found on OneCards). Courses can also be dropped through OnePort during the Add/Drop period (visit the Registrar’s website for a full registration calendar). Once the Add/Drop period has ended, students must go to the OneStop office in University Hall to fill out a withdrawal request. Students dropping courses after the Add/Drop period has ended will not receive full refunds, and a grade of W (withdrawal) will appear on the students’ transcript; the GPA is not affected by this entry. Contact the Cashier’s Office at (828) 251-6664 with questions about refunds.

As the online registration process can be complicated, feel free to contact MLA staff members for assistance.

Students who registered but failed to pay tuition by the due date will have their schedules dropped. The registrar’s office will assess a $100.00 fee for re-registration.

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New Students

New students will register as part of orientation or shortly thereafter. All registration

information will be imparted to students at orientation. For additional information please contact the MLA Program Office.

Continuing Students

Continuing students will register for classes during the semester prior. Although sometimes called “pre-registration” in other University literature, this is time when ALL continuing students should register. Failure to register during the appropriate time will result in the charging of a $50.00 late registration fee by the Registrar’s office and will require pre-payment of tuition and fees (in full) before the student can register. The current registration calendar and other relevant information are available on the Registrar’s website.

Returning Students

Those students returning from a leave of absence must first complete and submit the Application Update form (available on the MLA website and at the end of this Handbook) in order to be updated to active student status and be eligible to register. Students who submit this form by October 15 (for Spring enrollment) and March 15 (for Fall enrollment) will be eligible for “pre-registration” in November and April, respectively. Returning students who submit this form after these dates will be eligible to register on the first day of classes. The registration calendar, available on the Registrar’s website, is updated each semester. Questions should be directed to the MLA Program’s staff.

Online Registration

Find the link to OnePort in the upper right corner of the UNC Asheville homepage,

www.unca.edu. Sign into OnePort using your UNC Asheville username and password Select

the grey “Student” tab at the top left of the screen Under “Academic Services,” select “Click

here to:” Select “Click here to continue…” Select “Student & Financial Aid” Select

“Registration Enter the RAN Select “Add or Drop Classes” Select the term for which you

are registering Enter the CRNs for the courses you wish to take and select “Submit.”

Grades

To calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA), multiply the quality points (QP) of what each of your grades is worth (see chart below) by the number of credit hours you earned for each class. Add your quality points together and divide that number by the total number of hours you took for the semester.

Once you have calculated your anticipated GPA for the current semester, you can calculate your estimated cumulative GPA by using this formula:

(Total Quality Points from Transcript) + (Projected Quality Points for current semester) divided

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14 Grade Quality Points

A 4.00 A- 3.67 B+ 3.33 B 3.00 B- 2.67 C+ 2.33 C 2.00 C- 1.67 D+ 1.33 D 1.00

F 0 (zero quality points)

S Satisfactory

U 0 Unsatisfactory (zero quality points)

W Withdrawal (does not count against GPA but does appear on transcript)

Students earning a C- or below in a course may consult with the Director and their professor about repeating the course to replace the grade.

Checking Your Grades

Log in to OnePort (link is in the upper right hand corner of unca.edu) using your UNC Asheville username and password. Click on the “Student Tab,” then “Academic Services,” then "click here to continue.” Select “Student and Financial Aid,” and, finally, “Student Records,” where you can view your final grades by semester or all final grades by selecting “Unofficial

Transcript.”

Leave of Absence

Students may apply for a leave of up to one year by completing the Leave of Absence request form. In order to return from a Leave of Absence, a student must submit for approval the Application Update Form to the director. This form must be turned in no later than two weeks before the first day of classes. If the form is turned in before the pre-registration period (mid-semester of the (mid-semester prior to re-enrollment), returning students are then eligible to register during pre-registration. The registration schedule changes each semester, and can be found on the Registrar’s website. Returning students submitting the Application Update form after the pre-registration period will be eligible to register with new students prior to the first day of classes. Both the Leave of Absence form and the Re-application form can be found in the Forms section at the end of this Handbook, or on the MLA website.

Withdrawal

A student may officially withdraw from the program at any time, following consultation with the MLA Director. If a student has not been in attendance for one full calendar year, he or she will be dismissed automatically from the program. Reinstatement requires the permission of the Graduate Council.

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Graduation

Students must fill out a graduation application well in advance of the intended graduation date.

The deadline for submitting the Graduation Application for May graduation is December 1st; the

deadline for submitting the Graduation Application for August graduation is June 1st; and the

deadline for submitting the Graduation Application for December graduation is September 1st.

Failure to apply by the appropriate deadline will result in a $100 late processing fee, or graduation at the end of the following semester. In addition to the Graduation Application, students should assist their faculty advisors in completing the Competency and Degree

Certification Form prior to the last day of classes. Please check with the Registrar's Office for the exact due date each semester.

Tutorial Guidelines

A tutorial (MLA 610) is a 3-credit course of individual study under the supervision of a full-time UNC Asheville faculty member holding a terminal degree. Students may take up to two tutorials (6 credit hours) in fulfillment of elective credit with the permission of program director.

Students are responsible for arranging tutorials with faculty members who are willing to serve as the instructor of record. Tutorial topics and parameters are determined in consultation between the student and the supervising faculty member, and must be approved by the MLA Program Director in writing.

Although individualized, the Tutorial is intended to be a high-quality graduate-level experience consistent with the rigor of the MLA program’s general coursework. Proposals for Tutorials ought to establish the goals of the course, outline appropriate readings and/or activities (with meeting times and topics to be addressed included), and designate the student’s final product, to be evaluated in writing by the supervising faculty member. The Tutorial Proposal form can be found on the MLA program website and in the Forms section at the end of this Handbook.

Transfer Credit

At the discretion of the Graduate Council, students may transfer up to six credit hours from other accredited graduate programs, provided that the work is relevant to the individual student’s particular focus area and the student earned a grade of B- or better in each course. Transfer credit will be awarded for elective courses only. Supporting materials (transcript, syllabus, and a petition describing the relevance of the course to the MLA Program) must be submitted to the Program Director, who will present the petition to the Graduate Council at their monthly meetings. Courses offered through the Asheville Graduate Center may be taken as MLA electives with the prior approval of the Graduate Council. All decisions made by the Graduate Council regarding transfer credit are final and not subject to appeal.

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Distance Education Credit

Students may apply up to nine graduate credit hours (three classes) from MLA courses offered off campus through UNC Asheville's Distance Education program towards their MLA degree.

Tuition and Fees

As a public institution, tuition and fees are set by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. For the complete 2010-2011 graduate student tuition and fees breakdown, please go to http://www2.unca.edu/controller/costs/2010-2011.htm.

General Payment Rule

Students are expected to pay by the dates noted below for any portion of their tuition, fees, room and board that will not be covered by financial aid, scholarships, Voc Rehab, VA benefits, or who do not have a payment plan through Tuition Management Systems.

Payment Due Dates

Pre-registered Students

For students who have pre-registered for the semester they plan to attend:

• Fall semester payment for pre-registered students is due by August 1.

• Spring semester payment for pre-registered students is due by December 15.

• Summer term payment for pre-registered students is due by May 20.

Students Who Are Not Pre-registered

Students who have not pre-registered for the semester they plan to attend are required to pay in full for the classes they intend to take prior to registering for any classes. Students who were eligible to register during pre-registration, but elected not to, will be charged a $50 fine, due with tuition. Students who did pre-register but whose schedule was dropped due to late or

non-payment will be charged a $100 fine, due with tuition. This policy is not applicable to new students and students returning from a leave of absence, as they are not eligible for pre-registration.

Billing Methods

To try to insure that each student receives his or her bill from UNC Asheville, the Bursar’s Office will send the bill to all pre-registered students by two methods. First, they send a bill via e-mail to the student's UNC Asheville e-mail address. Second, they send a paper bill to the

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17 student at the "Billing" address in the student's OnePort record. For the paper bill, it is important that the student's billing address be active and current. If your "Billing" address in OnePort is not current or needs to be changed, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Payments

Tuition payments should be mailed or delivered in person to the Cashier’s Office, 256 University Hall, (828) 251-6664. The Cashier's Office reports to the Bursar and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Payments may be made with cash, check or money order. MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit card payments may be made online only through the student's OnePort Account. There is a transaction fee of 2.75% with a minimum fee of $3.00 for all charge card payments.

Payment via electronic check (ACH) from a checking or savings account can be made online only through the student's OnePort account. There is no fee for ACH payments.

Financial Aid: Financial aid originated through UNC Asheville's Office of Financial Aid will appear on the student's account when it is disbursed by the Financial Aid office. If your aid does not appear on your account, then please contact the Financial Aid office with your questions. Financial Aid Refunds: Refunds to students for financial aid are generated after the aid is received. Refunds for payments made on their accounts by students must be requested. Please contact the Refund Office if you have any questions.

In-state Residency for Tuition Purposes: Residency status is usually determined during the admissions process. If your residency status changes after enrolling at UNC Asheville, you must apply for in-state residency status for tuition purposes. Under North Carolina law, to qualify for in-state tuition, you must demonstrate:

• that you established your domicile in North Carolina.

• that you have maintained that domicile for at least twelve continuous months prior to the

start of the term.

Establishing a bona fide domicile in North Carolina, requires that you prove:

• that you were physically present in the state

• that you intend to make North Carolina a permanent home indefinitely, and

• that you are not in North Carolina solely to attend college.

Further details, including the process of applying for in-state residency after enrolling at UNC Asheville, and how this application is reviewed, and petitioned if necessary, are available on the Registrar’s website: http://www.unca.edu/registrar/residency/.

Third Party Financial Aid: If you are awaiting financial aid that did not originate with UNC Asheville's Financial Aid Office, then please contact the source directly. The cashiers will apply this aid when it arrives, but cannot answer questions about why it is not here.

Tuition Management System: If you would like to pay your education expenses monthly, use the Interest-Free Monthly Payment Option offered by our partner, Tuition Management Systems.

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18 The payment plan is available for a small enrollment fee and includes personal account service, automated account information 24 hours a day, and access to your account through their web site. Participants have a chance to win one of eight annual $1,000 Tuition Management Systems Scholarships. Visit the Tuition Management Systems web site, www.afford.com/unca, for more information on payment options, education loans, free education payment counseling and the many ways they can help you afford education.

Vocational Rehab/Veterans Benefits: For questions about these benefits please contact the Bursar at (828) 251-6608.

Fall 2010 Refund Schedule

8/27/10 last day for 100% refund Drop or Withdrawal from University 9/03/10 last day for 90% refund Withdrawal from University required 9/10/10 last day for 70% refund Withdrawal from University required 9/17/10 last day for 50% refund Withdrawal from University required 9/24/10 last day for 30% refund Withdrawal from University required 10/01/10 last day for 15% refund Withdrawal from University required Withdrawal on 10/02/10 or after - NO REFUND

NOTE: Once the drop/add period ends on 8/27/10, a student must completely withdraw from the University to receive a refund.

Any questions regarding refunds should be directed to Philip Turbyfill at 828-251-6608

For Educators

FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH LICENSURE

The MLA offers content-intensive seminars with an interdisciplinary focus. For those teachers whose instructional assignment involves more than one disciplinary area and for those who teach in disciplines such as English and Composition, History, Civics, Communications, Economics and Environmental Studies, the MLA provides a unique graduate degree option.

MLA is not a traditional licensure program with the pedagogy and learning theory course components that are core to M.Ed. degrees. Rather, the capstone MLA Project and courses leading to that allow students to shape their degree to complement their instructional approach and area of expertise.

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, “Licensed teachers who do not have a graduate degree in teacher education may qualify for graduate salary if they hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in a subject area directly related to their existing license. Salary can be authorized at the graduate level only when the teacher’s

assignment for the majority of the day (fifty percent or more) is in the area to which the graduate degree applies.”

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19 Public school teachers who seek to seek to receive master’s level salary in the State of North Carolina must enlist the support of their school system and send the following materials to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:

1) Letter of support from your school system (superintendent or personnel officer) 2) Completed DPI Form G (verifying completion of masters level work)

3) Official copy of the MLA transcript

4) UNC Asheville MLA Course Content Checklist for Public School Teachers For additional information on either option, contact the MLA Program Director.

STUDENT SERVICES

Adverse Weather Policy

The MLA program follows university protocol for the cancellation of classes in the event of adverse weather. Additionally, faculty use their own discretion in the cancellation of a class should the university remain open and on schedule. Students should check

http://www2.unca.edu/news/delayinfo.asp for delay or cancellation information or call the UNC Asheville Adverse Weather and Emergency Line at (828) 259-3050 in addition to regularly checking their UNC Asheville email.

Buying Books

Course book requirements are generally made available both by emails from the instructors and on the MLA website but are also available on the course syllabus. Students are encouraged, but not required, to purchase books through the student bookstore, located in Highsmith University Union.

Information Technology & Webmail

As a UNC Asheville student, you are issued a university email address. You can access your email account through the UNC Asheville homepage on a link located at the top right of the page. Whether you choose to use your UNCA email for your communications with MLA Faculty/Staff or a personal email address, it is your responsibility to check your UNC Asheville email regularly for course or program news, updates, and assignments.

You must change your OnePort/email password every 180 days and use a unique password with at least six (6) characters. It is best to use a combination of letters and numbers.

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Parking Information

Each vehicle parked on campus is required to have a valid parking permit during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No permit is required during holidays and campus breaks. The only exception are residential parking lots, located adjacent to the student dorms and clearly marked, which are patrolled 24/7.

All UNC Asheville parking permits expire on May 31 of each year. New permits for each new academic year must be displayed no later than the first day of classes.

It is the responsibility of the operator of any motor vehicle operating and/or parking on the UNC Asheville campus to comply with all UNC Asheville Parking Regulations.

Graduate students may park in any lot designated as non-residential student parking; refer to the Campus Map for specific lot numbers and locations. Graduate students are not allowed to park in resident student lots at any time. These individuals may park in Faculty/Staff lots after normal business hours from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday and on weekends.

Graduate student Parking Permits cost $50/year, or $25/semester, and are available from the Parking Division of Campus Police during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a student-led organization intended to foster community amongst MLA students and support co-curricular learning. University funds are available to GSA to help subsidize events that contribute to campus life, such as guest speakers, workshops, and other educational or community-building activities. Membership in the GSA also links students to other students in similar liberal studies graduate programs throughout the region, providing opportunities to attend conferences and other scholarly and networking events. For information on current events and opportunities for MLA students, visit

www.unca.edu/mla/students.htm.

UNC Asheville OneCard

The UNC Asheville OneCard is the official ID and on-campus debit card for The University of North Carolina at Asheville. The UNC Asheville OneCard is property of the University and should be carried with cardholder AT ALL TIMES. It is not transferable. Altering or lending this card will subject the cardholder to disciplinary action. Only the person pictured on the ID card will be allowed to use the card.

New students should apply for the OneCard in the OneCard Office, 120 Highsmith Union. Please bring a photo ID and a print-out of your class schedule.

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21 The UNC Asheville OneCard is a multipurpose card, serving as the official ID card and as an on-campus debit card. All UNC Asheville students, faculty, adjunct, staff and extended temporary employees are required to have the OneCard with them while they are on campus. If the card will be used for identification only, there is no requirement to deposit funds in the OneCard Account. Use of the UNC Asheville OneCard includes, but is not limited to, the following: Campus Bookstore, Career Center, Cashier’s Office, Copiers and The Copy Center, Drama tickets, Dining Hall, Health Services, HU Food Court, Laundry, Library, Parking fines, Ramsey Cafe, Recreational activities, Student Life activities, and Vending machines.

The cardholder is responsible for immediately reporting a lost, stolen, or misplaced card to the OneCard Office in 120 Highsmith University Union during business hours (828-251-6767) or to Campus Police office after hours (828-251-6710). Business hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If reported after hours, the cardholder must come to the OneCard Office during business hours for a replacement card. A replacement fee of $25.00 will be charged for lost, stolen, misplaced, or damaged cards.

University Resources

Ramsey Library

General library information is available at http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library. Laptop computers may be checked out for use within the library.

University Writing Center (RL 136, 251-6596)

Assistance with writing assignments for any subject, by appointment of during drop-in hours. For additional information, please visit http://www.unca.edu/uwc.

Career Center (HU 259, 251-6515)

Information concerning employment and internship possibilities, career planning, and career resources can be found at http://www.unca.edu/career. One-on-one consultations with Career Center counselors are available to full-time, degree-seeking students (for graduate students, enrolled in at least 5 credit hours), and UNC Asheville alumni.

Student Health Services (WH 201, 251-6520)

Standard office hours during the spring and fall semesters are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More

information can be found at http://www.unca.edu/shs. Counseling Services (WH 101, 251-6517)

Offers individual and group sessions to UNC Asheville students Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, being open until 6:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Program information is available at http://www.unca.edu/counselcenter.

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22

FORMS

The following forms can also be found on the MLA website. All forms should be submitted to the MLA Program Office, UNC Asheville, 1 University Heights, CPO 1615, Asheville, NC 28804.

Forms Table of Contents

MLA Graduation Check Sheet post-8/06………..………23

MLA Graduation Check Sheet pre-8/06………..………..24

MLA Request for Leave of Absence………..………...25

MLA Application Update………...………...26-29 MLA 610/Tutorial Request for Approval…...30

MLA Application for Graduation………..……31

MLA Sample Thesis Acceptance Page…...32

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23

Master of Liberal Arts

Graduation Check Sheet

10 courses, 30 credit hours

For students who entered the program after August, 2006

Distance Education: Students may apply up to nine graduate credit hours (three classes) from MLA courses offered off campus through UNC Asheville's Distance Education program towards their MLA degree.

Transfer Credit: Students may transfer up to six credit hours from other accredited graduate programs, provided that the work is relevant to the individual student’s particular focus area and the student earned a grade of B- or better in each course. Transfer credit will be awarded for elective courses only. Supporting materials (transcript, syllabus, and a petition describing the relevance of the course to the MLA Program) must be submitted to the Graduate Council, which will review requests at monthly meetings.

Required Seminars

_____ MLA 500: The Human Condition (must be taken at the earliest opportunity) _____ MLA 520: Seminar in Humanities and Creative Writing

_____ MLA 540: Seminar on Globalization Past and Present _____ MLA 560: Seminar on Science and Human Values

Electives

_____ Elective (Focus Area): ___________________________________________ _____ Elective (Focus Area): ___________________________________________ _____ Elective (Focus Area): ___________________________________________

_____ Elective (Focus Area) Students who matriculated before Aug. 2008 must take MLA 600: _____________________________________________________

Required Capstone Seminars

_____ MLA 670: Scholarly Inquiry Seminar (Spring Semester; 24 hour prerequisite or permission of MLA Director)

_____ MLA 680: Capstone Project Seminar (Fall Semester; prerequisite - successful completion of MLA 670)

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24

Master of Liberal Arts

Graduation Check Sheet

For students who entered the program before August, 2006 Degree requirement: 36 credit hours

Distance Education: Students may apply up to nine graduate credit hours (three classes) from MLA courses offered off campus through UNC Asheville's Distance Education program towards their MLA degree.

Transfer Credit: Students may transfer up to six credit hours from other accredited graduate programs, provided that the work is relevant to the individual student’s particular focus area and the student earned a grade of B- or better in each course. Transfer credit will be awarded for elective courses only. Supporting materials (transcript, syllabus, and a petition describing the relevance of the course to the MLA Program) must be submitted to the Graduate Council, which will review requests at monthly meetings.

REQUIRED SEMINARS

MLA 500, The Human Condition

MLA 520, Seminar on the Human Experience MLA 540, Seminar on the Individual and Society MLA 560, Seminar on Science and Human Values MLA 600, Contemporary Issues

MLA 670, Nature of Scholarly Inquiry Elective 1:

Elective 2: Elective 3: Elective 4:

____________Total from above seminar courses: 30 Credit Hours

PLUS CAPSTONE PROJECT & ELECTIVE or MASTER’S THESIS: MLA 680, Capstone Project (3 credit hours):

Elective 5 (3 credit hours): __

OR

MLA 690, Master’s Thesis (6 credit hours):

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25

Master of Liberal Arts

Request for a Leave of Absence

Students who must interrupt their enrollment for up to one year

should submit this form to the MLA Program Office. Students then must complete the

Application Update form at least one week prior to the first day of classes of the semester they wish to return.

This section to be completed by student: Student’s Name

Student ID Number

Period for which leave is requested: Fall 20 Spring 20

Reason

Expected date of re-enrollment

Student’s Signature Date

Note: Leave is not required for summer terms. Students who do not complete an MLA course in any

12-month period must be re-admitted by the Graduate Council. This section to be completed by Program Director:

Approved Denied

Reason

Director’s Signature Date

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26

Master of Liberal Arts Application Update Form

Master of Liberal Arts students who interrupt their educational programs by not registering for one year or less and who have not enrolled elsewhere in the interim should submit this

Application Update form to be reinstated in the Program. There is no application fee associated with the Application Update form. If you enrolled at another college or university since your initial application to the MLA Program at UNC Asheville, you must re-apply to the Master of Liberal Arts Application for Admission and be granted admission by the Graduate Council.

Please complete this application in black or blue ink and return to the MLA Program Office. Application updates and re-enrollment are approved by the Program Director. This form must be submitted no later than one week prior to the first day of classes. Students who submit this form by October 15 for Spring enrollment and March 15 for Fall enrollment will be eligible for pre-registration. Students who submit this form after these dates will be eligible to register on the first day of classes.

FULL LEGAL NAME (NO INITIALS OR ABBREVIATIONS)

__ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

last first middle Jr./III/etc. preferred name/nickname

All legal names previously used

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Social Security number _______-______-________ (Voluntary, used for university record keeping and federal/state tax reporting)

Student ID number _____________________________

CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

street / P.O. box county

________________________________________________________ _______________-___________ Valid until ______________________

city state ZIP (9-digit) (month/day/year)

Home phone _______/_____________ Cell phone _______/_____________ E-mail __________________________________________

PERMANENT MAILING ADDRESS: (if different from above)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________ _______________-___________ ______________________________

city state ZIP (9-digit) country (international students)

Home phone _______/_____________ Cell phone _______/_____________ Length of time at this address ___________________

BILLING MAILING ADDRESS: (if different from above)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________ _______________-___________ ______________________________

city state ZIP (9-digit) country (international students)

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27 Application Update Form, Page 2

CITIZENSHIP:

Are you a U.S. Citizen? □ Yes □ No If not a U.S. Citizen:

Country of citizenship: _________________________________________________________

Are you a permanent U.S. Resident? □Yes □No

If a permanent U.S. Resident, please provide the following:

□ Resident alien: Green Card number ________________________________ Issue date _________ Expiration date __________

If not a U.S. citizen, but have a visa:

□ Non-resident alien: Type of visa ___________________________________ Issue date ________ Expiration date ___________

RESIDENCY STATUS

North Carolina Law (General Statute 116–143.1) states that in order to determine eligibility for the in-state tuition rate, “Every applicant for admission shall be required to make a statement as to length of residence.” North Carolina law (G.S. 116-143.1) also requires that: "To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes."

Every student readmitted to UNC Asheville must be classified for the term admitted as either a resident or non-resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes prior to enrollment. The following information should allow for an accurate determination of residency status.

I certify that I am a bona fide resident of ___________________________________ in ______________________________________

county state

I have been a resident from ____________________________________ to___________________________________________________

begin date (m/d/yy) end date (m/d/yy)

Why and when did you move your home to NC? ________________________ Reason: __________________________________

Give dates and locations of places lived OUTSIDE of North Carolina within the past five years: Location: ___________________________________ Dates resided: _____________ to ______________

Location: ___________________________________ Dates resided: _____________ to ______________

ADDITIONAL RESIDENCY INFORMATION

Where (state) and When (month & year) were the following done by you (student/applicant) during the past three years? Answer all that apply.

Registered to vote/voted: State: ________________ Month/Year _____________________

Driver’s license (acquired): State: ________________ Month/Year _____________________

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Paid property tax: State: ________________ Month/Year _____________________

Filed state tax as a resident: State: ________________ Month/Year _____________________

PERSONAL DATA

Date of birth__________________________ City and state of birth _______________________________________________

Sex: □ Female □ Male

RACIAL/ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION(used for federal reporting purposes only) 1) Are you Hispanic/Latino? □ No □ Yes

2) Please select one or more of the following as applicable:

□ African American/Black □ American Indian/Alaskan Native □ Asian □ Caucasian/White □ Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander □ Other (specify) ________________________________________

MILITARY STATUS

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces? □ No □ Yes □ Currently serving

REQUIRED INFORMATION

Your “yes” answer to one or more of the following questions will not necessarily preclude your being readmitted. However, your failure to provide complete, accurate and truthful information will be grounds to deny or withdraw your readmission, or to dismiss you after enrollment.

For the purpose of the following six questions, “crime” or “criminal charges” refers to any crime other than a traffic-related misdemeanor or an infraction. You must, however, include alcohol or drug offenses whether or not they are traffic related.

1. Have you been convicted of a crime? □ No □ Yes

2. Have you entered a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, a plea of nolo contendere or an Alford plea, or have you received a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued to a criminal charge? □No □ Yes

3. Have you otherwise accepted responsibility for the commission of a crime? □ No □ Yes 4. Do you have any criminal charges pending against you? □ No □ Yes

5. Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, suspended, placed on probation or otherwise subject to any disciplinary sanction by any school, college or university? □ No □ Yes

6. If you ever served in the military, did you receive any type of discharge other than an honorable discharge? □ No □ Yes □ Never served

Failure to completely answer questions 1–6 will delay the processing of your application. If you answer “yes”

to any of the six questions above, you must provide an explanation of the circumstances on a separate sheet titled Additional Information.

PLEASE NOTE: You must promptly notify the Office of the Registrar in writing of any criminal charge, any disposition of a criminal charge, or any school, college or university disciplinary action against you, or any type of military discharge other than an honorable discharge that occurs at any time after you submit this application. Your failure to do so will be grounds to deny or withdraw your readmission, or to dismiss you after enrollment. PREFERRED STARTING DATE (Check one)

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TYPE OF APPLICATION

If you left the MLA program for any reason other than a Leave of Absence, you must petition the Graduate Council by letter and request re-entry into the program.

□ Master of Liberal Arts Student returning after a Leave of Absence

□ Master of Liberal Arts Student returning after withdrawing from the MLA program

What was the last date you took MLA classes? APPLICANT’S AFFIRMATION

I certify the above to be correct and authorize the secondary schools and/or colleges I have attended to release transcripts, test scores, recommendations and other information required by the University of North Carolina at Asheville. I understand that all credentials submitted in support of this application become the property of the university and are not returnable. I have not omitted any previous colleges of attendance. I agree to conform to the rules and regulations of the university. Any additions or changes in the information provided on this application must be submitted in writing to the Admissions Office prior to enrollment. Furthermore, I understand that any misrepresentation of information will make me ineligible for admission or subject to dismissal from UNC Asheville. Application must be signed and dated before we can render an admission decision. An incomplete application will be returned to you for completion, thereby delaying action on your application.

APPLICANT’S SIGNATURE ___________________________________________DATE ____________

For office use only:

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed to equality of educational experiences for students and is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Revised August 2008

Program Director: Approved: Signature Denied: Signature

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30

Master of Liberal Arts

Request for Approval: MLA 610/Tutorial Course

Instructor Department

Student Student ID number

YEAR FALL SPRING SUMMER

COURSE TITLE CREDIT HOURS______

1. What is the NECESSITY of offering this as an INDIVIDUAL COURSE this term?

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES (Attach course outline if available.)

3. REQUIRED READINGS ________

4. ASSIGNMENTS (with dates due) ________________

5. METHODS OF EVALUATION (with dates) ________

6. Indicate meeting dates and times between instructor and student

________

7. SIGNATURES: INSTRUCTOR ________ Date

STUDENT ________________ Date

DIRECTOR _________________ Date

Instructor's c.v. to accompany this form.

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31

Master of Liberal Arts

Application for Graduation

Deadlines for submission of application to MLA Office

For May graduation: December 1 For August graduation: June 1

For December graduation: September 1

Failure to apply by deadline will result in a $100 late application fee. If you will not graduate at the end of the semester specified on this application, you must reapply for graduation during a subsequent semester.

Full legal name to appear on your diploma: Social Security number:

E-mail address:

Applying to graduate in: May 20 ; August 20 ; December 20

Academic year you entered MLA Program (your catalog for requirements) Complete mailing address:

Phone Number: Home Town Newspaper:

Home Town Newspaper Address:

Anything newsworthy about your career at UNCA:

All students graduating in May are REQUIRED to participate in the commencement ceremony. Graduates in August and December are encouraged to participate the following May since there are no graduation exercises during those terms. Complete graduation information will be mailed during the spring semester. All financial obligations must be met before graduation.

Student's Signature: Date:

Received in MLA Office by: Date:

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32 Sample Acceptance Page for the Capstone Project

TITLE OF THESIS OR PROJECT An MLA Thesis [or Project]

by AUTHOR

is accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Liberal Arts degree at The University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Name Project Director Department Name MLA 680 Instructor Margaret J. Downes, Ph.D Director, Master of Liberal Arts

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33 Sample Title Page

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA at ASHEVILLE

<TITLE>

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS

BY <AUTHOR>

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA <MONTH> <YEAR>

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