Literature Options, Plans A & B

Literature Option Plan A (non-thesis):

The M.A. in English–Literature Option requires that the graduate student complete a minimum of thirty-three (33) semester hours (eleven graduate courses). A minimum of six hours/two courses must be in Graduate Seminars in literature; these include ENGL 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505 and 510. Students may take, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, up to nine hours in a supporting discipline. All courses included in the program must be completed with grades of C or better, and students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Literature Option Plan B (thesis):

Students in Plan B (thesis) take ENGL 531 Thesis for three of their thirty-three hours. Before taking ENGL 531 Thesis (or ENGL 530 Directed Research should they choose to do so), students need to complete a form which should remain on file in the Department. Available as well in the Department is a “Guide for the M.A. Thesis.”

Literature Option for Teaching Assistants:

Teaching Assistants in the literature option are required to take the following courses in addition to the two required Literature Seminars: ENGL 514 Writing Program Issues, ENGL 537 Survey of Modern English Grammars, ENGL 565 Research in Composition and ENGL 563 Literary Analysis. Teaching Assistants who have taken any of these Core Requirements as undergraduates (ENGL 431 Survey of Modern English Grammars, ENGL 463 Literary Analysis, and/or ENGL 465 Research in Composition) will, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, select alternative courses to meet the thirty-three (33) hour requirement. Teaching Assistants may take, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director, up to six (6) hours (rather than the nine [9] allowed for non-teaching assistant Literature Option students) in a supporting discipline.

Comprehensive Examination:

Students in all of the Literature Options are required to take a comprehensive examination in four areas of study before receiving their M.A. in English. This usually occurs in the last semester of course work or shortly thereafter. Details can be found in the Guidelines for the M.A. Examination and Literature Option Reading List.

Download Course Checklists (PDF or Word Format)
Literature Option Plan A (non-thesis) (PDF | Word)
Literature Option Plan B (thesis) (PDF | Word)
Literature Option for Teaching Assistants (PDF | Word)