Program Requirements

Core requirements   (18 hours)

All students in the MA program in English must complete the following 18-hour core:

• 3 hours - ENG 700 Introduction to Research Methods in English
• 3 hours - Early English Literature (ENG 613, 615, 641, 643, 698, 744)
• 3 hours - Linguistics (ENG 688, 689, 690, 691, 695, 698, 792, 793)
• 6 hours - Seminar (ENG 710, 711, 712, 720, 721, 722, 725, 735, 744, 748, 757, 758, 780, 785, 786, 792, 793)
• 3 hours - Theory Component (ENG 627, 628, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 695, 720, 721, 722, 725, 781, 785, 786, 792, 793)
• 18 hours - Total

Additional degree requirements   (minimum of 15 hours)

1. Track Options & Requirements.  The different tracks described below outline 15 additional hours of graduate-level course work.  Students should choose electives with an awareness that at least half the credit hours applied toward the 33 hour requirement must be in courses numbered 700 or above.  
2. Language Proficiency.  The language requirement may be met through one of the following options:  (a) completion of 12 hours of undergraduate course work in a foreign language with at least a "C" average; (b) completion of the second intermediate foreign language college course with a grade of "C" or higher; (c) completion of 6 hours of undergraduate course work in one foreign language with at least a "C" average and completion of 6 hours of undergraduate course work in a second foreign language with at least a "C" average; (d) passing a reading competency test equivalent to the level of the second intermediate foreign language college course administered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages; or with advisor's permission; (e) completion of an additional 3 hours of graduate-level linguistics course work (raising the student's degree minimum to 36 hours).  M.A., English student in the TESOL track must meet this requirement through a, b, c, or d above.  Any M.A., English student whose native language is not English will be considered to have met the language requirement.
3. Research Requirement. 

Thesis:  The thesis will ordinarily involve research on an original subject or an original approach to a subject.  When appropriate, the thesis may be a creative work.  Credit for the thesis (ENG 799), up to 6 hours, may apply to the minimum 33 hours required for the degree.  A student must submit, and have approved, a formal thesis proposal before embarking on a thesis project and enrolling in ENG 799, Thesis.

Degree Papers:  The paper may be a critical, interpretive, or investigative study of an original topic or an original treatment of a subject, based on primary sources.  When appropriate, the paper may be creative work.  The project must derive from a course taken to satisfy a degree requirement

4.  Colloquia.  Students are expected to attend and participate in academic and professional activities.  These may be scheduled by the department or may include university and community events (scholarly conferences, professional workshops, lectures, and presentations).

5.  Comprehensive Examination.  The graduate student in English takes the comprehensive examination during the last semester of course work or later. 

The comprehensive examination for the MA in English is based on reading lists that reflect the student’s particular degree emphasis.  Each student will prepare for two examination areas, and write two, two-hour essays.  Students should begin preparing for the examination early in their graduate studies.