English, M.A.

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Program Requirements 30 hrs.

Required Core Courses 9 hrs.

ENGL 600 - Introduction to Literary Scholarship Credits: (3)
ENGL 621 - Principles of Literary Criticism Credits: (3) *
ENGL 663 - Linguistics Credits: (3) *

Required M.A. Course

ENGL 699 - Research and Thesis Credits: Variable credit, (1-6) (6 credit hours required)

Other Required Courses

Students choose an area of study in one of the following: British Literature, American Literature or English Education.

British Literature

At least 9 hours chosen from the following courses:

ENGL 631 - Studies in Middle English Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 633 - Studies in English Renaissance Credits: (3)
ENGL 635 - Studies in Restoration and 18th Century British Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 637 - Studies in 19th Century British Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 639 - Studies in 20th Century Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 653 - Studies in Women’s Literature Credits: (3)
Appropriate ENGL 680 - Special Topics in English Credits: Variable Credit, (1-6)

American Literature

At least 9 hours chosen from the following courses:

ENGL 639 - Studies in 20th Century Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 644 - Studies in American Literature I (to 1861) Credits: (3)
ENGL 645 - Studies in American Literature II (since 1861) Credits: (3)
ENGL 648 - Studies in Oral and Written Literature of Appalachia Credits: (3)
ENGL 653 - Studies in Women’s Literature Credits: (3)
Appropriate ENGL 680 - Special Topics in English Credits: Variable Credit, (1-6)

English Education, Non-licensure

(12 hours listed below)

ENGL 502 - Teaching Writing: Theories and Practices Credits: (3) *
ENGL 563 - Grammar and Language for Teachers Credits: (3) *
ENGL 606 - Technical and Business Writing Credits: (3)
ENGL 629 - Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature Credits: (3)

Electives

* ENGL 621 , ENGL 663 , ENGL 502 , ENGL 563 may be replaced by an elective if an undergraduate equivalent was completed with a grade of “B” or higher.

Electives may be satisfied by completing a graduate level course with an ENGL prefix. Please see your advisor to ensure you are taking the correct course.

British and American Literature are required to complete 6 credit hours of elective courses.

English Education are required to complete 3 credit hours of elective course work.

Written Examination Required of Both Degrees

The written examination will be administered by the director of the candidate’s thesis/examination committee. For Master of Arts candidates, the members of the examination committee may be different from the members of the thesis committee, with the exception of the thesis director. The examination areas will be determined in consultation between the candidate and the examination committee members, drawing upon the candidate’s program of study. The examination will consist of three essay questions, one submitted by each member of the candidate’s committee. The candidate will choose the format of the examination (closed-book, with two hours for each question or open-book, with 48 hours for the entire examination). The examination must be completed at least two weeks prior to graduation. Comprehensive exam defense forms must be requested at least five days in advance of the examination date.

Additional Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Language Proficiency

The candidate must meet a foreign language reading proficiency requirement. This may be accomplished in one of three ways: (1) completion, with a grade of “B” or above, of 12 semester hours in a foreign language no earlier than five years before admission to graduate studies; (2) completion, with a grade of “B” or above, of French 210, German 210 or Spanish 202 or the equivalent course no earlier than five years before admission to graduate studies; or (3) passing a reading proficiency exam, administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, on material chosen by the foreign language examiner in consultation with the candidate’s thesis director. The requirement must be completed at least two weeks prior to graduation. Forms are located in the Graduate College office.

Thesis Proposal Examination

The candidate will submit a Thesis Proposal Defense form, including a narrative statement, to his or her committee before registering for thesis hours. The committee will meet with the candidate to review the proposal and to suggest changes; the proposal, including any revisions, must be approved by the committee before submission of the Request for Thesis Advisory Committee form to the Graduate College. The thesis proposal must be approved, and the Request for Thesis Advisory Committee form signed by the committee, no later than the end of the first week of the semester in which the candidate intends to register for thesis hours.

Thesis

The thesis will be written under the supervision of the candidate’s committee. The committee must approve the thesis.

Oral Thesis Examination

After the thesis has been completed but prior to its submission to the office of the dean of the Graduate College, the committee will meet with the candidate for an oral examination of one hour on the topic of the thesis. The examination must occur at least two weeks prior to graduation.