English M.A.

Major in English

(Major Code: 5106)

Major Area Options

Thesis option
Non-thesis option

General Requirements

Prerequisite to admission to master’s degree program:
30 semester hours of English.
Prerequisite to enrollment in 6000-level English courses:
24 semester hours of English.

Specific Requirements

To complete the master of arts degree in English, the student may choose either a thesis or a non-thesis program. The department head will help prepare a plan of study in either program.

Thesis Option (30-hour program)

Choose one of the following:

30 hours English with a minimum of 21 semester hours of 6000-level courses, including ENGL 6301 and ENGL 6302 (thesis research hours); or
24 semester hours in English and a minor of six additional hours (with approval of department head) with a minimum of 21 semester hours of 6300-level courses, including ENGL 6301 and ENGL 6302 (thesis research hours)

At least one course beyond the bachelor’s degree in each of the following areas:

British Literature before 1800. Includes Old and Middle English, Renaissance, Jacobean, Puritan, Restoration and Georgian literatures.
British Literature after 1800. Includes Romantic, Victorian, Modern and Contemporary British literatures.
American Literature. Includes all literature of the United States from Colonial times to the present.
Professional Concerns and Theory. Includes composition, bibliography, linguistics, creative writing and literary theory.

The student is required to complete a thesis and a successful oral defense of that thesis.

In consultation with the department head, the student must select a committee with one chair and one or two second readers. While taking research hours, the student is expected to consult with the committee and to make satisfactory progress on the thesis.
The final thesis must be formatted according to the thesis handbook for West Texas A&M University, available in the University Bookstore.
The thesis director will notify the graduate office that the candidate has successfully defended the thesis.

Students must see the department head and file a plan of study before completion of 15 graduate hours.

Non-Thesis Option (36 hour program)

Choose one of the following:

36 hours English with a minimum of 24 semester hours of 6000-level courses; or
30 semester hours in English and a minor of six additional hours (with approval of department head) with a minimum of 24 semester hours of 6000-level courses

At least two courses beyond the bachelor’s degree in each of the following areas:

British Literature before 1800. Includes Old and Middle English, Renaissance, Jacobean, Puritan, Restoration and Georgian literatures.
British Literature after 1800. Includes Romantic, Victorian, Modern and Contemporary British literatures.
American Literature. Includes all literature of the United States from Colonial times to the present.
Professional Concerns and Theory. Includes composition, bibliography, linguistics, creative writing and literary theory.

The comprehensive examination is a presentation of a professional paper (20–25 minutes in length) on any topic related to the study of English.

The paper may be a substantial revision of a work submitted in a graduate class, or it may be an original paper.
Sources should be documented MLA style.
In the final semester of course work, the student should select a mentor from the graduate faculty and submit drafts of the paper to the mentor. A final draft should be approved by the mentor and submitted to the graduate faculty at least one week prior to the presentation.
No later than four weeks prior to graduation, the student will offer a reading of the paper for the department’s graduate faculty and other interested persons. The student will stand for examination questions over content of the paper and general issues related to the field. Based on recommendation of graduate faculty in attendance, the department head will advise the Graduate School that the student has or has not successfully completed this requirement for the degree.

Students must see the department head and file a plan of study before completion of 15 graduate hours.