MA in English Thesis Guidelines
A student enrolled in the M.A. program in English offered jointly by The Citadel and the University of Charleston, SC, may elect to fulfill six hours of the thirty-six hour requirement for completion of the degree by writing a Master's Thesis (English 701). The thesis is a long research paper, usually of about 50 or more pages, which successfully pursues a topic in literature or in rhetoric and composition. The thesis must be orally defended after the written document has been acceptably completed. In addition to this guideline, you should consult the Graduate School's Thesis Guidelines
The thesis is undertaken in the second half of the total course of study. A student will not be allowed to register for thesis credit hours until he or she has successfully completed at least eighteen hours of class work. Normally, the six credit hours for the thesis will be spread out over two consecutive semesters. Moreover, no student may take more than nine hours in any combination of English 698: Tutorial (3 hours), 699: Independent Study (3 hours), 701: Thesis (6 hours), and 702: Internship (1-3 hours).
The student who wishes to write a thesis must first complete a written proposal and a working bibliography for the project. He or she should then enlist, from among the faculties of the two institutions, a thesis director willing and appropriately qualified to direct the proposed project. Two additional appropriately qualified readers must be added to complete the thesis committee. The committee should include at least one representative from each institution. In order to register for English 701 the student must have established a full committee.
Students undertaking a thesis are expected to complete the entire process, including the oral defense and final corrections, while in residence. Those who find they cannot do so must petition the Joint Program Committee in writing for permission to continue in absentia. The petition must receive the prior approval of the student's thesis director and must contain an agreement regarding the nature of the student's oral defense.