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| Vol. 16, No. 39 | Aug. 21, 1997 |
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| Vol. 16, No. 39 | Aug. 21, 1997 |
Since 1988, the University has offered its Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree in southern Delaware to meet the needs of mature students seeking intellectual challenges. Those in search of knowledge for its own sake, in an area of their individual choosing, have found the MALS program beneficial.
The MALS program stresses the connections between fields of knowledge and encourages a multidisciplinary approach to learning. The 30-credit-hour program allows individual students to explore a topic of special interest. Past students have concentrated on such diverse topics as fur trappers of the Rocky Mountains, the history of Fenwick Island, the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793 and the effect of machismo on family relationships in Mexico.
For example, Charles Hudson of Georgetown studied the impact of Guatemalan immigration on Georgetown through the MALS program.
A graduate of UD, a former member of the state police and currently the supervisor of transportation for the Indian River School District, Hudson began the program in the summer of 1993 and received his degree in May 1997.
Hudson's interest in MALS began when a coworker became involved in the program.
When asked what he had gained from the MALS project, Hudson said, "I feel that I am more well-rounded now, and I took courses that I never would have taken before. I found out more about life and enjoyed being with older students. The teachers made me feel very comfortable."
Also interested in courses which could not be fit into his schedule in college, Ed Kee of Lincoln joined the MALS program in 1992. Kee, also a UD graduate, has been employed by the Cooperative Extension Service since 1978. He is currently working at the UD Research and Education Center in Georgetown.
Kee's involvement in the program began when he took a course, "Themes in African-American History," taught by William H. Williams, director of the Southern Delaware program and a professor of history.
According to Kee, the MALS program "had outstanding courses and instructors, as well as interesting and provocative readings and assignments."
His synthesis project deals with the integration of the Milford schools in 1954 following the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. Part of his synthesis paper will be published in Delaware History Magazine in 1998.
"I met a lot of intelligent people in classes and participated in great discussions. The classes broadened my perspective and filled in educational gaps in the humanities area. The program also enhanced my research and writing skills," Kee said.
Ken and Martha Keller of Fenwick Island have just started the MALS program after retiring and relocating to the Delaware shore. Ken holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from Harvard and is recently retired from a management position with Proctor & Gamble.
Martha, a Wellesley graduate who has a master's degree in education, is a former educator who worked in the area of curriculum and grant implementation.
The Kellers' busy lifestyles do not allow time for a traditional educational program and the MALS program was suggested by the University as a means to achieving that end. They said they have enjoyed the interaction and discussions in their MALS classes, as well as the interesting content and readings.
MALS core courses are offered in a regular sequence in southern Delaware. Classes meet in the evening on the campus of Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. Students 60 years of age and older can complete their MALS degree tuition-free.
Anyone seeking this type of learning experience in southern Delaware can contact Williams at 855-1623 for more information on the program.
-Jane Kilculen
