Degree Requirements

Graduate Curriculum in English: Basic Requirements



The Master of Arts degree in English consists of a core of literary studies with choices for professional development in all areas of English Studies, including concentrations in Creative Writing, Language and Literacy, and Professional Writing. Students may choose between Thesis and Non-Thesis options:

 

Non-Thesis Option
Complete at least 36 hours of English in an individually designed curriculum. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, the students may take a maximum of 6 graduate hours in a related field. All students choosing the Non-Thesis option must complete the following coursework:

  1. One advanced writing course: ENGL 447/518, ENGL 448/548, or ENGL 467/567
  2. One theory and methods course: ENGL 475/575, ENGL 477/577, or ENGL 485/585
  3. At least 18 hours of coursework at the 600 level 


Thesis Option
Complete at least 36 graduate hours of English, including 6 hours of graduate credit from ENGL 770. The thesis must demonstrate the student’s ability to do research and must show acceptable literary workmanship in organization, style, and content. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, students may take a maximum of 6 graduate hours in a related field. All students choosing the thesis option must complete the following coursework:

  1. One advanced writing course: ENGL 447/518, ENGL 448/548, or ENGL 467/567
  2. One theory and methods course: ENGL 475/575, ENGL 477/577, or ENGL 485/585
  3. ENGL 770 [6 hours] Thesis
  4. At least 15 hours of coursework at the 600 level


Concentrations
Students choosing the thesis option may write a thesis as a required part of a concentration in one area of English studies. Students must also complete courses in advanced writing and methods for their area. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, students may take a maximum of 6 graduate hours in a related field. Three concentrations are offered:

 

Concentration in Creative Writing
Requires the permission of the Coordinator of Creative Writing. All students choosing this concentration must complete the following coursework:

  1. ENGL 475/575 Introduction to Contemporary Criticism
  2. ENGL 482/582 Intermediate Poetry Workshop
  3. ENGL 483/583 Intermediate Fiction Workshop
  4. ENGL 645 Creative Writing
  5. ENGL 770 [6 hours] Thesis in Creative Writing


Concentration in Language & Literacy
Requires the permission of the Coordinator of Language & Literacy. All students choosing this concentration must complete the following coursework:

  1. ENGL 477/577 Foundations in Language and Literacy
  2. Two courses from the following: ENGL 413/508, ENGL 414/524, ENGL 467/567, ENGL 476/576, ENGL 646
  3. ENGL 770 [6 hours] Internship and Thesis in Language and Literacy

 

Concentration in Professional Writing
Requires the permission of the Coordinator of Professional Writing. All students choosing this concentration must complete the following coursework:

  1. ENGL 448/548 Advanced Technical and Professional Design
  2. ENGL 485/585 Foundations in Professional Writing
  3. ENGL 486/586 Document Production and Design
  4. ENGL 770 [6 hours] Internship and Thesis in Professional Writing


All candidates for a Master of Arts in English must:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of a foreign language or language structure either through six (6) hours of undergraduate coursework in one language, through completion of an approved graduate-level course on language structures, through demonstrated knowledge ofa major computer language (such as C++, XML, Java), or through passing the Princeton examination. The language requirement is waived for international students whose native language is not English.
  2. Complete nine (9) hours of graduate coursework in three broad literary periods: [1] Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern literatures [2] Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century literatures [3] Twentieth-Century and Contemporary literatures.
  3. Passboth parts of the M.A. comprehensive examination in English.


Graduate Coursework Distribution Requirements

All students in the M.A. program must take one course from each of the following three columns, totaling 9 graduate credit hours. Graduate literature courses that are not listed below may be approved on an individual basis by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in English after their period content has been determined. The courses are arranged by period, so that a student would be required to have one course covering material before the 18th century, one course in the 18th or 19th century, and one course in the 20th century and/or contemporary literatures.

 

Most of the possible courses are listed below. Other special topics courses may also fit into these categories. Be sure to check with your advisor on this question.

 

Group A Group B Group C
522 Chaucer 530 Rest. & 18th C Lit. 528 African-American Lit.
523 Milton 537 Major Drama: 18th/19thC 537 Maj. Drama: 20th+C
535 Shakespeare 1 559 19th C British Lit. 558 Major Brit: 20th+C
536 Shakespeare 2 587 Major World: 18th-19thC 587 Maj. World: 20th+C
555 Old English 590 19th C American Lit. 588 Modernism
556 Medieval England 591 Major American: 18th-19thC 589 Postmodernism/ Contemp.
557 Early Mod. Non-Dram 606 British Lit: 18th-19thC 591 Maj. Amer.: 20th+C
600 Medieval Literature 610 Performance:18th-19thC 606 British Lit: 20th+C
601 Early Modern Lit. 617 World Lit: 18th-19thC 617 World Lit.: 20th+C
  630 American Lit: 18th-19thC 630 Amer. Lit.: 20th+C
     


 

 



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