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Master of Arts- English
For more information, contact ACME department chair, Dr. Corrine Hinton at 903.223.3124 or corrine.hinton@tamut.edu.
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree
- Minimum of cumulative 2.50 GPA in last 60 hours of undergraduate degree program
- Three positive letters of academic recommendation
- Letter of interest
- Résumé/CV
- Ten page writing sample (preferably a literary analysis or similar academic paper)
Requirements must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office by the designated deadline of first semester of enrollment.
The Master of Arts in English offers students courses in Literature, Linguistics, and Composition.
For students pursuing a Literature emphasis, the degree requires ENG 595: Research Literature and Techniques and twenty-four semester credit hours in English, at least half of which must be in literature courses. Additionally, students choose either ENG 518: Thesis or ENG 575: Current Issues in English Studies (the capstone course). In ENG 518, students write a formal thesis (six semester-credit hours); in ENG 575, they write and formally present two major papers (three semester-credit hours). Students who choose the thesis option must take three semester-credit hours in an approved elective; the non-thesis option requires six semester-credit hours in approved electives.
For students pursuing a Composition emphasis, the degree requires ENG 593: Research in Composition and twenty-four semester-credit hours in English (at least eighteen of which must be in composition). Additionally, students choose either ENG518: Thesis or ENG575: Current Issues in English Studies (the capstone course). In ENG 518, students write a formal thesis (six semester-credit hours), and in ENG 575 they write and formally present two major papers (three semester-credit hours). Students who choose the thesis option must take three semester-credit hours in an approved elective; the non-thesis option requires six semester-credit hours in approved electives.
The English program also offers a Master Teacher of Writing certificate that is available to non-degree seeking graduate students as well as current graduate students in English or in other disciplines. The certificate is comprised of twelve semester-credit hours of graduate coursework in English. All certificate students will add depth in the areas of theory and pedagogy by studying historical and contemporary composition theories and collecting strategies for teaching and improving student writing. Students pursuing this certificate must take the following courses (nine semester-credit hours in total): ENG 570: Strategies in Composition (part of the East Texas Writing Project), ENG 571: Improving Students’ Writing in the Schools (part of the East Texas Writing Project), and ENG 572: Readings in Composition. Students may then choose the last three semester-credit hours from one of the following courses: ENG 565: Grant and Proposal Writing, ENG 573: Creative Writing, or ENG 593: Research in Composition. Courses in the Master Teacher of Writing Certificate also count toward degree progress in the MA in English’s composition emphasis.
Students must select either an emphasis in Literature or an emphasis in Composition.
Degree Requirements for Literature Emphasis
Students should refer to their DegreeWorks degree audit in their Web for Students account for more information regarding their degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option | ||
| English courses determined in conference with an advisor 1 | 24 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| ENG 518 | Thesis | 6 |
| ENG 595 | Research Literature and Techniques 2 | 3 |
| Non-Thesis Option | ||
| English courses determined in conference with an advisor 1 | 24 | |
| Approved electives | 6 | |
| ENG 575 | Current Issues in English Studies: Graduate Capstone 3 | 3 |
| ENG 595 | Research Literature and Techniques 2 | 3 |
| Minimum Hours for Degree | 36 | |
- 1
At least 12 semester credit hours in literature
- 2
Normally taken as early as possible in graduate program
- 3
Capstone course. Should be taken during student's last semester of graduate work
Degree Requirements for Composition Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option | ||
| English Courses determined in conference with an advisor 4 | 24 | |
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| ENG 518 | Thesis | 6 |
| ENG 593 | Research in Composition 5 | 3 |
| Non-Thesis Option | ||
| English Courses determined in conference with an advisor 4 | 24 | |
| Approved Electives | 6 | |
| ENG 575 | Current Issues in English Studies: Graduate Capstone 6 | 3 |
| ENG 593 | Research in Composition 5 | 3 |
| Minimum Hours for Degree | 36 | |
- 4
Student must complete at least 18sch in composition
- 5
Student will normally take this course during their first spring term in the program
- 6
Capstone course. Should be taken during student's last semester of graduate work
Graduate Courses in English
ENG 518. Thesis. 1-6 Hours.
A master's thesis is the written result of a thorough and systematic study of a significant issue. The thesis identifies the issue, tackles significant assumptions in a critical field, explains the contribution to the field, and offers a conclusion. The finished product is original, documents critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation. An oral defense of the thesis is required. NOTE: Students may take no more than 6 semester credit hours in Thesis.
ENG 555. Linguistics. 3 Hours.
This course offers an introduction to principles of how language develops, changes and functions. The course focuses on the differences among world languages, the history of the English language, and analysis of modern English phonology, morphology and syntax (sound, units of meaning, word order).
ENG 565. Grant and Proposal Writing. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the grant writing and proposal writing processes, especially as they pertain to literacy funding opportunities at the K-12 levels. Students will learn the discourse of grant writing, research funding sources, navigate the conventions of the genre, and practice how to address these rhetorical situations effectively.
ENG 570. Strategies in Composition. 3 Hours.
Reading recent studies of the composing process, students evaluate strategies for teaching composition, including remedial and creative writing. In addition, each student researches an area of special interest within the field of composition studies, writes a review of this research, and presents a summary of finding in an oral presentation to the class. Cross listed with ED 570. Prerequisite: Instructor permission is required. Corequisite: ENG 571.
ENG 571. Improving Students' Writing in the Schools. 3 Hours.
Students analyze current research in composition and writing across the curriculum, with special emphasis upon the theoretical approach developed by the National Writing Project. Further, after researching an area of special interest, each student applies theoretical principles by developing a unit of instruction and presenting a demonstration lesson. Cross listed with ED 571. Prerequisite: Instructor permission is required. Corequisite: ENG 570.
ENG 572. Readings in Composition. 3 Hours.
This course offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of theoretical composition strategies and help them formulate praxis for their own teaching of composition and/or their own writing.
ENG 573. Graduate Creative Writing. 3 Hours.
This course promotes the development of creative writing skills by introducing advanced concepts and exercises for writing creative nonfiction, poems, plays, and short stories.
ENG 575. Current Issues in English Studies: Graduate Capstone. 3 Hours.
This course constitutes a practicum in which students conduct an in-depth study of topics in English language, literature, or composition through traditional or applied research. Students write two capstone papers on approved topics that are appropriate for submitting to academic journals.
ENG 580. Seminar in Literature. 3 Hours.
This course offers an examination of an individual author or group of authors, the study of a literary theme, or the study of a particular genre. It may be repeated when topics vary.
ENG 589. Individual Study. 3 Hours.
This course provides individual instruction. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.
ENG 590. Seminar in Rhetoric. 3 Hours.
This course examines one or more theoretical or historical movements in, philosophical approaches to, and/or applications of rhetoric. Course may be repeated when topics vary.
ENG 591. Seminar in Composition Studies. 3 Hours.
This course examines the theoretical/historical movements in, philosophical/empirical approaches to, or applications of practices within fields relevant to composition studies. Course may be repeated when topics vary.
ENG 593. Research in Composition. 3 Hours.
Through exposure to contemporary empirical (quantitative and qualitative) research in composition studies--including the subfields of writing center studies, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), writing across the curriculum (WAC), and writing in the disciplines (WID)--students will learn proper development of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research methodologies in composition.
ENG 595. Research Literature and Techniques. 3 Hours.
This course offers a review of research by scholars in selected areas of English language and literature with emphasis on critical approaches and research methodology. Students will demonstrate competence in research methodology by the investigation and formal reporting of a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. This coruse is equivalent to IS 595 for English majors.
ENG 597. Special Topics. 3 Hours.
Instructors will provide an organized class designed to cover areas of specific interest. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.
