Master of Arts in English
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- Admission Requirements
- Course Requirements
- Foreign Language Requirement
- The Master's Thesis
- Thesis Defense
- Renaissance and Early Modern Studies Emphasis
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Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive and based upon undergraduate transcripts, GRE general test scores, three recommendations, writing sample, and statement of purpose. Applicants should indicate in the statement of purpose whether they wish to be considered for department funding.
Course Requirements
Students must complete 26 hours of course work with a B average and also complete an additional 6 hours of thesis credit. ENGL 600 (Introduction to Graduate Study) is required during the first fall semester of enrollment in full standing. Students must take 6 hours of course work in English or American literature before 1800 and 6 hours of English or American literature after 1800. Up to 6 hours may be taken in related disciplines and/or directed reading. Teaching assistants serving as instructors of record in first-year composition courses are required to complete ENGL 617 (Teaching College English) during the first semester of teaching or at the earliest opportunity otherwise.
ENGL 600, Introduction to Graduate Study
English 600, a 2-hour seminar required of all incoming graduate students in English, is designed to provide a framework for thinking about research, writing, and teaching English as professional activities. In particular, students are encouraged to explore the ways in which their own interests and proposed academic work may form the basis for a life's career in literary studies, and the ways in which that work might contribute to the evolution of the profession. English 600 is concerned with the history of the profession, its institutional contours, and the varied directions it may take in the future.
ENGL 617, Teaching College English
English 617, a 3-hour seminar/practicum required of all graduate instructors of record in first-year composition, focuses on strategies for teaching college writing. Composition theory is a guiding force, along with various aspects of rhetorical theory. However, the dominant classroom activity is discussion of actual teaching experiences. Students are encouraged to use the forum as an opportunity to share classroom experiences, focusing on ways to improve teaching and application of methods. The course maintains a balance between theory and practice, addressing not just what composition teachers do but also why they do it. Primary course requirements include reflective journals, oral presentations, paper assignments, and the production of a teaching portfolio.
The Master’s Thesis
Ordinarily 50 to 100 pages in length, the M.A. thesis is a research project that makes an original and significant contribution to the field of literary studies. The thesis committee consists of three members of the graduate faculty in English, one of whom serves as director.
Thesis Defense
An oral defense (lasting approximately one hour) is the final stage before the student is recommended for the degree.
Renaissance and Early Modern Studies Emphasis
Students may receive an M.A. with an emphasis in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies by completing six hours of graduate course work in Renaissance and/or Early Modern Studies and submitting a thesis on a Renaissance or Early Modern subject. Students are encouraged to take three hours in a related discipline such as history, religion, or art, provided the focus of the course is on the Renaissance or Early Modern period.