Coastal Carolina University has established a new Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree, a 30-hour graduate program that provides students with the opportunity to pursue advanced interdisciplinary study in the humanities, arts and social sciences.

The new program will be offered in fall 2014 through the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The deadline for fall admission is July 15.

CCU is the second institution in the state to offer this degree, which is becoming more popular across the country because the skills it teaches -- excellent communication, critical thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively and consider multiple perspectives -- are broadly applicable to a variety of professions.

This flexible degree consists of four core classes and six electives. Students may pursue advanced work in areas of interest, learn how to apply interdisciplinary approaches to problems, improve writing, speaking, research and presentation skills, and tie them all together in a capstone project.

The M.A. in Liberal Studies should appeal to recent graduates seeking advanced, interdisciplinary coursework as a way to improve their credentials, as well as to adults pursuing a lifelong interest in humanistic concepts, educators needing advanced credentials, or mid-career professionals seeking enrichment and broader cultural literacy.

Classes are mostly scheduled in the evenings and summers so that the degree may be pursued while maintaining a job during the day.

For more information, visit coastal.edu/humanities/mals/ or contact professor Donald Sloan, coordinator of the program, at dsloan@coastal.edu or 843-349-2192.