Degrees

Master of Arts Degree with a Major in English

The applicant for admission to study for the degree Master of Arts with a major in English shall present evidence of successful completion of at least 24 semester hours of undergraduate English above the freshman level, including survey courses in both English and American literature; one course in linguistics, modern grammar, or the history of the English language; and one upper division writing course. Students not presenting evidence of sufficient background in the above areas shall be required to complete one or more undergraduate courses as a condition of acceptance.

For regulations concerning the required placement and comprehensive examinations see the graduate advisor in English. For regulations which pertain to all candidates for the degree see Master's Degree: General Regulations in this catalog.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Students in the English Department Master of Arts program must finish their degrees within six years from the date they first enrolled as degree seeking students.

Validation of Courses

Credits earned more than six years before the date for granting the degree cannot be counted to meet degree requirements unless they are validated by special examination. Required courses more than six years old must be repeated unless they are validated. Examinations and grades for validated courses are given by the course instructor or departmental faculty and must be filed in the English Department Office. Courses are eligible for validation only if they have been taken within a ten year period from when the candidate's degree will be completed. Courses from other institutions may not be validated; therefore, transferred courses must be no more than six years old at the time the degree is granted.

Master of Arts Degree Programs
- Literature Emphasis (Option I, II, III)* (36 hours)
  - Four required literature courses** (12 hours)
  - Electives*** (15 hours)
  *Literature Emphasis requires two seminars; at least one must be literary; if a second literary seminar is selected, it must be from a different literary area (British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, or American Literature).
  
  **Selected from courses at the 500-800 levels in British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. At least one course must be taken in each area. May include seminars, but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.
  
  ***Selected from courses at the 500-800 levels; electives must be primarily literature courses; may include seminars, directed study, research problem, or thesis.
- Composition and Rhetoric Emphasis (Option III)*(36 hours)
  - Four required literature courses** (12 hours)
  - Two elective English courses numbered 500-800 (6 hours)
  ENGL 820 Theory should be taken as Composition/Rhetoric.
  ENGL 875 Seminar should be taken as Composition/Rhetoric or Professional/Technical).
  
  *Composition and Rhetoric Emphasis requires two seminars; at least one must be literary; if a second literary seminar is selected, it must be from a different literary area (British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, or American Literature).
  
  **Selected from courses at the 500-800 levels in British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. At least one course must be taken in each area. May include seminars, but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.
- Professional/Technical Writing Emphasis (Options I, II)* (36 hours)
  - Three required literature courses** (9 hours)
  ENGL 820 Theory should be taken as Professional/Technical or Composition/Rhetoric.
  ENGL 875 Seminar should be taken as Professional/Technical or Composition/Rhetoric.
  
  ENGL 501 Document Design and ENGL 503 Technical/Professional Editing are required of students without an undergraduate equivalent.
  
  *Professional/Technical Writing Emphasis requires two seminars; at least one must be literary; if a second literary seminar is selected, it must be from a different literary area (British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature).
  
  **Selected from courses at the 500-800 levels in British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. At least one course must be taken in each area. May include seminars, but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.
- Creative Writing Emphasis (Option I)* (36 hours)
  - Four required literature courses** (12 hours)
  - ENGL-810: Research Methods (3 hours)
  - ENGL-815: Writing for the Profession (____) (3 hours)
  - ENGL-820: Theory (____) (3 hours)
  - ENGL-850: Creative Writing Workshop (___) (3 hours)
  - ENGL-890: Research and Thesis (3 hours)
  - Electives (select one or two)#
    - Literature elective(s)## (3-6 hours)
    - English elective (3 hours)
  *One seminar (ENGL 875) in literature is required for the Creative Writing emphasis.
  
  **Selected from courses at the 500-800 levels in British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. At least one course must be taken in each area. Creative writing students must take at least one contemporary literature course (approved by the Director of Graduate Studies), which may be either a literature elective or one of the required literature courses. May include seminars, but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.
  
  ENGL 850 Creative Writing Workshop: Six hours of workshop must be taken in the student's major genre.
  If ENGL 850 Creative Writing Workshop is chosen as an elective, it must be taken as a different genre then previously taken.
  
  # Students completing a six-hour thesis will select one elective; students completing a three-hour thesis will select two electives.
  
  ENGL 890 Research and Thesis: A three hour thesis will include creative work only; a six hour thesis will include creative work and a critical/theoretical introduction.
  
  ## Literature electives must be selected from courses at the 500-800 levels; may include seminars and directed study.