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Department of English

Graduate Program

The Graduate Program in English is as exciting as the Undergraduate Program. We take great pride in preparing students for the work force or giving students the necessary background to continue their studies at the Ph.D. level. Students will have the chance to study with published scholars in various specializations and we encourage our graduate students to begin thinking like professionals. Graduate faculty research interests range from the traditional (e.g., Chaucer, Shakespeare) to the contemporary (e.g., women's studies, magic realism). Our students have a history of presenting scholarly papers at conferences, and our experience helps students prepare for those presentations. Much like the B.A. program, the Graduate Program offers students options. In addition to the opportunity to compose a scholarly thesis, students can write a creative thesis. Many of the students who have chosen this option have gone on to publish portions of their theses in magazines. Read on to find out more about our program and the possibility of Teaching Assistantships.

Master of Arts Degree

The Master of Arts program is designed to enhance skills in literature, language, research and critical thinking. It is offered for students who desire to teach, for those who want to pursue an advanced degree, and for those who wish a degree in liberal arts with English specialization. Two options are available: a program with a thesis and one without a thesis. Those students who want to enter a doctoral program after completing the MA are advised to choose the thesis option. Students may choose a creative writing project to fulfill the thesis requirement.

Applicants for the degree with the thesis option must complete 30 semester credit hours of work beyond the bachelor's degree. Twenty-four semester credit hours in English are required, including English 6391 (Bibliography and Research Methods) and six hours of thesis (6399 or 6699). Creative Thesis Option: The 24 SCH in English courses must include 3-6 SCH of creative writing courses and six SCH of creative writing thesis. No more than six semester credit hours of approved undergraduate courses may be included in the program, and up to six semester credit hours may be in approved supporting electives.

Applicants for the degree with the non-thesis option must complete 36 semester credit hours of work beyond the bachelor's degree, including at least 30 in English. Up to six semester credit hours may be in approved supporting electives, and up to six may be in approved 4000-level courses. English 6391 is required.

A written examination over a prescribed reading list is required of all students who have completed 24 semester credit hours of course work. Offered once on a specified date each long semester, the five-hour examination consists of three essay questions. Satisfactory responses to all three questions are required for graduation.

An oral thesis defense, administered upon completion of the thesis, is required of all students pursuing the thesis option. Satisfactory performance in the defense is required for graduation.

Admission Requirements

The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School are listed on page 411(of 2005-2007 catalogue). Additional requirements for graduate coursework in English are listed on page 413 (of 2005-2007 catalogue).

Financial Assistance: Academic scholarships covering tuition and fees are available to qualified graduate students. Graduate and Graduate and Teaching Assistantships, which can be combined with scholarships, provide both financial assistance and practical teaching experience to qualified students.

Facilities

The graduate student majoring in English relies heavily on the University library for study and research. Good collections in all areas of literature, especially American and British literature, provide important source materials for research. Primary sources are complemented by significant journal holdings. Graduate faculty research interests range from studies in popular American culture to seventeenth-century British prose.

The Department operates a Writing Center that provides laboratory experience for graduate students in teaching writing and reading skills to undergraduate students. The Center is equipped with microcomputers and a wide variety of software to assist instructors, most of whom are working one-on-one with developmental students.

The Department of English is housed in the Academic Building.