Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in English is conferred upon those candidates who successfully complete an approved program of study consisting of at least 36 semester hours of graduate credit with a cumulative GPA of 3.00. A comprehensive examination is prepared and administered by the Joint Program Committee, and is taken by all candidates after the completion of at least 27 hours of coursework. This comprehensive examination is a thorough review of the fields covered in the student's program. For those who complete a thesis, a satisfactory oral defense is also required before final certification for the degree. Specific requirements are listed below:
Thesis Option
British
Literature Before 1800 - 6 hours
British
Literature After 1800 - 6 hours
American
Literature - 6 hours
Electives -
12 hours
Thesis and
Oral Defense of Thesis - 6 hours
Comprehensive
Examination
Demonstration
of competency in one foreign language, ancient or modern
Non-thesis Option
British
Literature Before 1800 - 6 hours
British
Literature After 1800 - 6 hours
American
Literature - 6 hours
Electives -
18 hours
Comprehensive
Examination
Demonstration
of competency in one foreign language, ancient or modern
Notes
1. At least one course must be a seminar.
2. Electives outside the discipline of English must be approved by
the
Joint Program Committee.
3. Because the close study of language itself is an invaluable
experience for students earning their M.A. in English, the program
requires that students demonstrate competence in an ancient or modern
foreign language. This requirement may be met in one of the
following ways:
• Complete, with a grade of B or higher, English 517: Old English Language
• Pass a translation test in a foreign language administered by the graduate program in English. The test may be taken in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Ancient Greek, or Latin. Other languages will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4. At least nine hours of coursework must be taken at each campus.