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Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies (MALS)

The Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies (MALS) program at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML) is the same as the MAL program, and it is designed for those who plan to work at parish, diocesan, or secondary education levels. In addition to the MAL program, the MALS is considered an “academic” degree. It requires reading knowledge of Latin and one modern foreign language and writing an academic thesis. This program may be completed online over two academic years, on campus over five summers, or part-time.

The MALS is a prerequisite to attaining your PhD, and successful completion of the MALS opens the possibility of further studies at the PhD level. With the MALS, you will immerse yourself in a dedicated community that fosters in-depth learning and spiritual formation in the rich Catholic tradition.

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Who Benefits from the MALS Program?

  • Priests and those who plan to work at the parish, diocesan, or secondary education levels
  • Director of Worship
  • People who specialize in religious art, architecture, music, and book publishing
  • Those preparing for doctoral studies in liturgy

Course Work

The Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies has everything the MAL requires, plus a thesis and two required languages. Students must demonstrate proficiency in those two languages—reading knowledge of Latin and one modern research language (French, German, Italian, or Spanish).

The language requirements are completed in one of three ways.

  1. Presenting transcripts showing completion of 6 semester hours of the relevant language, with at least an A- average, taken within the last ten years.
  2. Pass a USML language translation exam.
  3. Complete six credits of the relevant language at Mundelein Seminary (if offered) with at least an A- average.

The comprehensive examination, comprised of written and oral sections, is normally taken during the student’s final semester.

To complete a Master’s Thesis, students develop a topic in liturgical or sacramental theology, conduct research, and write a scholarly essay under the direction of a faculty thesis director. The Master’s Thesis must be approximately seventy-five pages in length and demonstrate a clear understanding of Catholic sacramental principles and of the Sacred Liturgy.

Prerequisites

  • Bachelor’s degree in any field and a 3.0 GPA for admission.
  • The regular expectation is the completion of a bachelor’s degree. However, students may be considered based on the completion of a Prior Learning Assessment.

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