The following materials must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered for admission:

• Completed online Application for Admission
• Application fee ($85, non-refundable)
• Current resume
• Personal statement
• Writing sample
• Official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities attended, sent directly to the Graduate Liberal Studies office
• Two references who will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation

Once you submit your application, you will be invited for an admissions interview.

Letters of Recommendation: If you have completed undergraduate or other graduate work in the past five years, your references should come from former professors. For those who have not recently attended an academic institution, we prefer letters of recommendation from someone who knows your work professionally or understands why an MLS degree would be important to your intellectual development.

This portion of your application is extremely important, and we urge you to take care in the preparation of it. The persons reviewing your application will be assisted in their decisions by a brief and well-written statement from you (no more than two pages in length) which should include the following:

• Various influences than have been important in your intellectual development
• Your academic and professional objectives in applying to the MLS program

The document should be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, one-inch margins and should include your full name, title of the document and page number on each page of the document.

To access the personal statement and writing sample information in a printable format, please download the MLS Application Instructions.

In addition to the Personal Statement, you are asked to prepare a writing sample demonstrating your ability to think and write critically. The writing sample should:

• Demonstrate a coherent and concise argument through well-organized paragraphs;
• Provide support for the assertions made;
• Lead to a logical, meaningful and clearly stated conclusion;
• When applicable, properly credit all ideas and quotes taken from other sources.

The writing sample must not be edited by anyone other than the applicant prior to submission. You may use resources such as texts, encyclopedias or the internet but all sources must be fully credited. The use of generative AI in writing your essay undermines the integrity of the admissions process. This exercise is intended to reflect the applicant's authentic thoughts, experiences, and abilities. Utilizing AI-generated content deprives the admissions committee of genuinely understanding the applicant’s unique voice, perspective, and capabilities. Adhering to the guidelines ensures a fair and equitable evaluation process, honoring the principles of honesty and academic integrity.

The writing sample must be at least five pages long and include citations for all references as appropriate. The document should be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Your full name, title of the work, and page number should appear on each page of the document.

Select one prompt below from which to compose your writing sample:

Humanities: Compose a persuasive essay that advocates for the importance and relevance of humanities education in contemporary society. Articulate the unique value and contributions of humanities disciplines and discuss how they foster critical thinking, empathy, and cultural understanding.

Social Sciences: Select a contemporary social issue that requires interdisciplinary analysis and solutions. Explain why this issue is significant and describe how various social science disciplines (e.g., sociology, psychology, economics, political science) can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of it. Discuss your personal motivation for studying this issue and outline how you can leverage an interdisciplinary approach to address it.

Natural Sciences: Choose a contemporary scientific discovery or issue that has far-reaching implications for society. Explain the scientific basis of this discovery or issue, its potential impact on various aspects of human life, and how interdisciplinary approaches can enhance our understanding and response to it. Describe why you are drawn to exploring this scientific topic and outline how you can integrate natural science perspectives with other disciplines to address the broader societal implications.

The initial processing begins once we have received the complete set of application materials and the application fee. Please be sure your application is complete by the appropriate deadline. You will receive a status message via email. Interviews as appropriate may be scheduled after the initial screening of applications. Satisfactory progress is required to remain in the program. Payment of tuition is not a guarantee of a degree.

All application documents, including resume, personal statement, writing sample, and two references will be submitted online. Official transcripts must be mailed directly to the MLS program. Electronic transcripts are preferred if available and should be sent to mls@rice.edu. Application materials become property of Rice University and will not be returned.

Mailing Address
Rice University
Master of Liberal Studies - MS 550
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005

To access the personal statement and writing sample information in a printable format, please download the MLS Application Instructions.