How do I arrange to teach a MALS course?
If you have an idea for a MALS course, please contact the MALS director.
How far in advance are MALS courses scheduled?
MALS courses are ordinarily scheduled one to two years in advance, but they may be scheduled on shorter notice if, for instance, the program enrollment increases enough to necessitate an extra section.
Where and when are MALS courses offered?
The university’s three campuses host MALS courses. In the regular semesters (fall and spring), MALS typically offers two courses in Wilmington, two courses in Newark, and one course in Georgetown. Most courses are offered one night a week from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., but MALS is experimenting with a few daytime courses. In summer, MALS usually offers one to three courses, depending upon student demand.
Are MALS courses taught onload or as overloads?
Either. If your department chair approves your teaching a MALS course onload, MALS will supply an s-contract to your department for one three-credit course at the instructor rate unless other arrangements are made in advance. Otherwise, the s-contract will be paid to you for an overload course
.What are the requirements for MALS courses?
Interdisciplinarity is the hallmark of MALS courses. Ideally, students should explore central questions or topics from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Please see MALS News or the Who Are the MALS Faculty section for examples of MALS course descriptions. As far as workload is concerned, you should feel free to require the same amount of work in a MALS course that you would include in any other graduate course.
How do I order textbooks for MALS courses?
The textbook adoption form may be found in Web Forms under the Blanks tab. If you prefer to have the MALS office staff submit the form for you, please send the title, author, and publisher of each work, together with any special instructions (e.g., paperback vs. hardback). Please distinguish between required and optional texts.
May graduate students in other programs or advanced undergraduates take MALS courses?
Yes, on a seat-available basis and with the instructor's permission. If you think that your MALS course would be appropriate for one or more students in your home department, please feel free to invite them to participate.
Is study abroad a possibility for MALS courses?
MALS has not been offering its own study abroad courses, but if you have an idea for one, by all means contact the MALS director.
How are MALS courses evaluated?
MALS course evaluations are completed online. Each semester, the MALS director sends detailed instructions to all MALS instructors and students indicating, among other things, when and where the forms will be available and how the instructor can access the results. Your department chair should be able to access these evaluations, and if he/she prefers hard copy, you have the option of printing out the compiled results. Anyone whose hair itches as the thought of online evaluations is welcome to have your students answer the same questions in hard copy instead. Please request those from the MALS director.
Where can I find information about MALS theses and projects?
For information about the difference between a thesis and a project, the roles of the advisor and second reader, the submission process, etc., click here.
Can adjunct or retired faculty serve as advisors on a thesis or project?
Under UD regulations, only fulltime UD faculty may serve as thesis advisors, except that a faculty member who retires while working on a thesis has the option of seeing it through to completion. Adjunct or retired faculty can, however, serve as co-advisors as long as the other co-advisor is a fulltime UD faculty member. In such cases, MALS appoints two co-advisors rather than an advisor and second reader.
Does the MALS faculty ever meet as a group?
The MALS faculty will begin meeting for lunch once a semester in Fall 08. In addition, all MALS faculty are sent the minutes of the Advisory Committee meetings as well as notices of program events.
