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Master of Arts- English
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
