English MA Program of Study
Student: ____________________________________
To earn an MA in English, you must complete at least 30 graduate credit hours. Thesis Option: 24 hours
course work, plus 6 hours of Thesis Research. Non-Thesis (Portfolio) Option: 30 hours of course work.
MA students specialize in one of three tracks: (Literary Studies, English Linguistics, or Writing &
Culture) and must fulfill the requirements associated with that track. MA students must also pass a
Master’s Final Exam, also known as a Thesis Defense or Portfolio Exam (typically in the 4th semester).
WRITING & CULTURE
3-6 hours of professional competency courses. ENGL 7020 (Pro-seminar: theory and research
methods, required of all MA students). ENGL 7915 (Teaching Practicum: pedagogy course required for
GTAs teaching ENGL 1001 for the first time, unless waived by the Director of University Writing)
1.
2.
ENGL 7020: _____________________
ENGL 7915: _____________________
9 hours of course work in your chosen concentration (e.g. Cultural Studies, Women’s & Gender
Studies, or Rhetoric and Composition Studies).
Course Number
Semester / Year
1.
_______________________________
_______________________________
2.
_______________________________
_______________________________
3.
_______________________________
_______________________________
6 hours course work from two different periods. In general, a period course will focus on texts written
before 1500, from 1500-1660, from 1660-1800, or after 1800 (post-1800 British and post-1800
American literatures are considered as separate for this period distribution requirement).
1.
_______________________________
_______________________________
2.
_______________________________
_______________________________
EITHER
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Non-Thesis Option: 12 additional elective hours, which may include any ENGL 7000-level credit, up
to 6 hours of ENGL 8900 (Independent Study), approved graduate courses outside the English
department, and department-approved 4000-level courses (e.g. Linguistics).
1.
_______________________________
_______________________________
2.
_______________________________
_______________________________
3.
_______________________________
_______________________________
4.
_______________________________
_______________________________
OR
Thesis Option: 6 additional hours, which may include any ENGL 7000-level credit, up to 6 hours of
ENGL 8900 (Independent Study), approved graduate courses outside the English department, and
department-approved 4000-level courses (e.g. Linguistics).
1.
_______________________________
_______________________________
2.
_______________________________
_______________________________
Plus 6 hours Thesis Research (ENGL 8000):
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
Don’t forget to schedule your MA Final Exam with the Graduate School no matter which option you
choose.
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