The graduate program in English is designed to train students for doctoral work in university graduate schools, to improve the professional competence of public school teachers, and to prepare promising scholars for college teaching.
Entrance Requirements
Students seeking admission to the graduate program in English must, under normal circumstances, meet the basic requirements of Graduate Studies specified on page 22 of this Catalogue. In addition the following are required:
1. A Verbal GRE score of at least 500,
2. At least two letters of recommendation that discuss your suitability for graduate study,
3. A writing sample of scholarly work.
Admission to the English graduate program requires a minimum 2.5 grade point average or 2.8 over the last 60 hours. A student must have completed at least 12 hours of upper division English with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
The English graduate curriculum is organized into five blocks containing twelve areas of study:
| BLOCK I: | English Language; Early and Middle English Literature |
| BLOCK II: | World Literature; Literary Criticism and Theory; Rhetoric and Composition |
| BLOCK III: | Renaissance and Seventeenth Century English Literature; Eighteenth Century English Literature; American Literature Before 1800 |
| BLOCK IV: | Nineteenth Century English Literature; American Literature: 1800 to 1920 |
| BLOCK V: | Twentieth Century English Literature; Twentieth Century American Literature |
There are three additional curriculum courses: Bibliography (ENG 698); Thesis (ENG 699); and Directed Study of Selected Topics (ENG 539).
A student majoring in English may choose from three degree programs: Master of Arts, Plan I; Master of Arts, Plan II; and the Master of Education, Plan II. PLEASE NOTE: MA, Plan I and MED, Plan II are nonthesis degrees ONLY; MA, Plan II may be thesis or nonthesis.
All 400-level English courses may be taken for graduate credit; limit 6 hours.
Master of Arts, Plan I (nonthesis only). Designed for teachers who wish preparation in two teaching fields, the degree plan consists of twenty-four semester hours of English and twelve semester hours in a second field. The twenty-four semester hours of English must include English 698 (Bibliography); a course from Block I; 18 elective hours (selections must be from at least three different blocks). Students under Plan I must pass the English Program written comprehensive examination (offered in October, February, and June of each year) and an oral defense of a designated portion of their graduate work. Students will select the specific area(s) for the oral defense when they file their application for the written comprehensive examination.
The minor field must logically support the major and should be chosen from history, drama, art, political science, or in the case of public school teachers, education. The course work for the minor field shall be determined on the basis of the curriculum patterns established by the minor department.
Master of Arts, Plan II. This degree plan is designed for prospective junior and senior college teachers, for students who plan to continue their studies at a doctoral level, and for teachers of high school English who wish to increase scope, depth, and expertise in their teaching specialty. There is no minor under Plan II, the twenty-four hours of course work and six hours of thesis work being done in the English Program. Students under Plan II must pass the English Program written comprehensive examination (offered in October, February, and June of each year) and also must complete an oral defense of a designated portion of their graduate work.
All Plan II students must complete four steps before being admitted to candidacy:
1. Must complete ENG 698 (Bibliography and Research Methods). ENG 698 should be taken during the first semester of graduate work if possible, but in any event must be completed by the end of the second full semester for which a student is enrolled.
2. Must complete the language requirement (Block I).
3. Must complete 6 additional hours of course work.
4. Must have a B or better average for the 12 hours completed.
Once these step requirements are met, an Admission to Candidacy form should be filed in the English Program office.
The curriculum guide for the Plan II student is listed below; for additional information contact the Graduate Studies Advisor.
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS:
| Thesis Research/Thesis (ENG 698/699) | 6 hours |
| Block I (ENG 577; ENG 583; ENG 589) | 3 hours |
| Block II (ENG 567; ENG 568; ENG 571; ENG 576; ENG 584) | 3 hours |
| Block III (ENG 575; ENG 578) | 3 hours |
| Block IV (ENG 579; ENG 580; ENG 585; ENG 586; ENG 588*) | 3 hours |
| Block V (ENG 581; ENG 587; ENG 588*) | 3 hours |
| Electives | 9 hours |
| Total | 30 hours |
*Applicability determined by subject matter.
NOTE: When appropriate, and with the approval of the Graduate Studies Advisor, a student under Plan II may elect to substitute for the thesis (ENG 699) nine hours of graduate course work, resulting in a 36-hour format.
Master of Education, Plan II. A nonthesis degree program for teachers of English in the secondary school, this plan, which is initiated in the College of Education and Applied Science, requires:
1. A minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate credit in English
2. 36 hours of graduate credit, with 12-24 hours in English
3. 6-12 hours in second teaching field
4. 12-18 hours in education
Students in this degree program will be advised by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the English Program.