The Department of English offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) in English. Students interested in applying to this program should read the Graduate School section of this catalog and the Department of English Graduate Bulletin. For further information, consult with the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.
The M.A. program is 31 units (Plan A) and 33 units (Plan B) with 1 credit required for the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination can be used to fulfill the required 19 credits of 700-level course work.
The M.A. program is designed for students who plan to continue work toward the Ph.D., for potential community college teachers, for individuals who want to acquire overall background in the study of language and literature, and for those interested in writing and editing careers. Four specializations are offered within the degree program: literature, writing, language, and literature and environment. Both thesis (Plan A) and nonthesis (Plan B) are available. Proficiency in one foreign language (the equivalent of four semesters of college-level coursework) is required.
The literature emphases includes a variety of courses dealing with different genres and periods in English and American literatures; it focuses on the ability to think and write critically about literary texts. The writing specialization focuses on the craft of writing and offers a choice of coursework in expository and imaginative writing, composition theory and practice, language, and literature. The language specialization includes courses in linguistics, the structure and history of the English language, and literature. The literature and environment specialization focuses on literature that concerns relationships between human beings and the natural world; it is designed to serve a range of interests in literary and environmental studies.
Applicants to the M.A. program must hold a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate major or minor in English and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Potential applicants without an undergraduate major or minor should talk with the Director of Graduate Studies to determine which undergraduate English courses they should take to prepare to apply.