Master of Arts in English

The Master of Arts in English prepares graduates for careers and for doctoral study in English. The program emphasizes study in English and American literature and requires course work in the English language. A well-developed mentoring program provides supervised teaching experience in composition for students holding assistantships.

Admission

For classified admission to the M.A. program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. An accumulative grade point average of 2.75 over the last two years of undergraduate course work for the B.A.
2. A score at or above the 35th percentile on the verbal section of the GRE general test.
3. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors who know the student's recent academic work. Students admitted conditionally without GRE scores must take the general test the first time it is offered following their admission. Continuation in the program is subject to a student's meeting this requirement.

   Students admitted without at least 18 credits of undergraduate courses in English and American literature and language, excluding freshman composition, will be required to make up deficiencies in their undergraduate work. The Graduate Committee will specify the courses the student must take to do so.

   Requirements

   The Master of Arts in English program provides both thesis and non-thesis options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 semester credits in courses approved by the Department of English. Teaching assistants must take a minimum of 33 semester credits, including English 731. Students must take at least 18 of these credits in 600-level courses. In place of the 6 credits granted for the thesis, students selecting the non-thesis option must take 6 credits of graduate course work. Students selecting the non-thesis option must pass a final comprehensive examination to qualify for the M.A. degree. Students selecting either option must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language (see options for satisfying requirement under Doctor of Arts in English). Students whose needs are not best satisfied by completing the foreign language requirement may substitute an additional 6 credits in courses in English language studies, with the permission of the Graduate Committee. Students choosing to substitute the English language courses will complete a minimum of 36 semester credits for the M.A. degree (39 semester credits for teaching assistants). All students must maintain a satisfactory record of scholarship. Three grades below B during the entire program will automatically disqualify a student from continuing in the program.

   All students must take the following 9 required credits:

   ENGL 611	Literary Theory and Criticism	   3 cr
   ENGL 613	Methods of Scholarship 
                   in Language and Literature	   3 cr
   One course in English language studies, chosen 
   from the following group:	                   3 cr
   ENGL g401	Advanced Composition and Prose 
                   Analysis
   ENGL g481	Advanced Grammar
   ENGL g485	Linguistic Analysis
   ENGL g486	Old English
   ENGL g487	History of the English Language
   ENGL 685	Seminar in Linguistics
   

   Students appointed to teaching assistantships must also take the following 6 required credits:

   ENGL 631	Seminar in Teaching Writing	    3 cr
   ENGL 731	Practicum in Teaching Writing	    3 cr