SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Find the turning point of your life story in Penn’s Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts
Professor Emeritus Heidi Boerstler (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’26—expected) already had a law degree, a doctorate in public health, and tenure when she came to Penn; what she wanted was to try something new. “I decided to go back and study things I’d never studied before,” she recalls. “I had always been so focused on raising my daughter, getting tenure, teaching, doing research and all. Now that I have a little more time, I wanted to take some classes that interest me.” She began her new journey in the interdisciplinary Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) program at the University of Pennsylvania, where her capstone project felt so personally meaningful that she wanted to keep right on learning. Penn’s Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) allowed her take more exciting courses and continue developing her passion project—even logging on from Denver, where she lives and works.
During her MLA studies, Heidi encountered the theory of narrative identity. “What narrative identity tells us is that our identities as individuals are largely formed by the stories we tell ourselves and others, beginning at an early age,” she explains. “And every story has a turning point.” For her project, Heidi recruited a racially and geographically diverse group of subjects over 65 years of age. In a series of interviews, Heidi asked her subjects to look back over their lives, identify a turning point, and describe some of the factors that helped them choose to move in a new direction or stay put. As she analyzed her transcripts for patterns, Heidi noticed a distinct theme: “They are all redemption stories,” she says. “Each person had challenges in life, but somehow found positive meaning in difficult events.” And their life stories indeed all have turning points—across a wide range of ages. One of her interviewees identified a critical turning point at age 68, while another experienced his at age 8. “One is never too old or too young to have a turning point in life. You are never too young or too old to move in a new direction,” Heidi muses.
Heidi enrolled in the MPhil program in order to broaden and deepen her subject matter expertise in narrative identity theory; she is interested now in looking more closely at how cultural context influences the stories a person hears and tells about their own life. Like the MLA degree, the MPhil program allows students to take courses from across the University in any subject that interests them—even if, like Heidi, you can only choose from courses that are available online. As an MPhil student, Heidi has taken classes in fiction writing, the history of witchcraft, and performance studies. “I have a whole new perspective on performance in everyday life—and performance and selective storytelling is an important part of narrative identity,” she says. “But the best part was the support and encouragement for creativity and exploring new ideas.” Even a niche topic like the history of witchcraft is informative and valuable for her long-term project, says Heidi; anything that encourages a deep dive into culture and narrative can offer insight and tools she can apply to her project.
To students like herself—hungry for knowledge and ready to explore all the expertise an Ivy League university has to offer—she encourages the leap. “Everybody’s afraid when you’re trying something new. You tell yourself a story that you’ll never make it,” she observes. “I say, look at this as a life experiment. You cannot lose by trying.”
Ideal for lifelong learners who previously completed at least a master’s degree, the MPhil offers the independence of self-directed study with the expertise of world-class faculty and advising. Whether you want to explore new subjects, pursue a passion project, or prepare for academic or professional advancement, the MPhil program can connect you with courses across the University that develop your interests and fit your schedule. Contact our program director, Dr. Christopher Pastore, to schedule an appointment to review your current research and explore your options for pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts at Penn.
(215) 898-7326
lps@sas.upenn.edu
www.upenn.edu/mla-mphil
