The MAPH Year

Master of Arts Program in the Humanities seminar photo

Students in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) take one required course, seven or eight electives, and may write an MA thesis. In the fall quarter, all MAPH students take Foundations of Interpretive Theory as a cohort. From there, students complete their remaining coursework throughout the University of Chicago. Finally, MAPH students will either complete a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member and the guidance of their preceptor or take an additional advanced seminar course.

Core Course: Foundations of Interpretive Theory

Foundations of Interpretive Theory (known colloquially as Core) is the intellectual heart of the MAPH community and is the only required course students take. Core begins two weeks before regular University of Chicago classes and serves as an introduction to the theoretical basis of contemporary humanistic research. Core is taught by the MAPH Director and all the preceptors, and students meet in small groups with their preceptors each week.

This class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a required precept discussion section on Fridays.

Elective Courses

Outside of Core, MAPH students take seven or eight additional elective courses, depending on whether they opt to write a thesis. Many students will focus all of their elective courses in a specific academic department. Other students take classes from different areas across the University.

Optional Thesis Project

MAPH students may complete an MA thesis with a University of Chicago faculty advisor. Students most often write critical, scholarly papers. However, students can also produce a non-traditional thesis accompanied by a critical piece of writing.

In the winter quarter, students work closely with their preceptor to find a faculty thesis advisor, write a thesis proposal, and begin workshopping their writing. In the spring quarter, students complete their thesis while meeting regularly with their preceptors and fellow MAPH students.

Students who opt not to write a thesis will take an advanced seminar course instead. 

Part-Time Option

MAPH offers flexible options for part-time study. Students have completed the program over 18 months, two years, and even one course at a time over three years. Please contact ma-humanities@uchicago.edu for more information on what tailoring the degree program to your needs might look like.

Student Handbook

Current students can read more about the MAPH degree requirements in our Student Handbook.