UNC Asheville's nationally ranked liberal arts curriculum is not just for undergraduate students. The University's Masters of Liberal Arts (MLA) Program offers noted interdisciplinary courses designed for adults' busy schedules.

The MLA Program will hold an informational open house at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, in UNC Asheville's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. The open house will offer prospective students a chance to learn about the program, talk with professors and hear about upcoming summer and fall courses.

MLA Program courses scheduled for this summer are "Introduction to Islam" and "The French Revolution through Film." Fall courses include "Southern Literature," "History through Poetry," "Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini: The Totalitarian Temptation" and the program's introductory seminar, "The Human Condition." All classes will meet on the UNC Asheville campus at 6 p.m.

The MLA Program is an interdisciplinary degree for college graduates interested in broad-based learning at the master's degree level. Small seminars focus on issues of importance in contemporary culture. Concentrations include Humanities and Creative Writing, Globalization Past and Present, and Science and Human Values. Students also may create their own individualized plans. The degree requires 10 courses (30 credit hours), including a capstone project seminar. Course topics change each semester.

Classes are taught by faculty who have published widely in their fields and are committed to teaching excellence. The program offers access to the University's library and academic computing resources, as well as the chance to engage significant cultural, social and theoretical issues, said MLA Program Director William Spellman.

"The MLA Program provides the opportunity for stimulating interactions with an enthusiastic community of working professionals and lifelong learners," Spellman said.

For more information, call the MLA Program Office at 828/251-6558 or click on www.unca.edu/mla.