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Graduate Study in English

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Susan Kroeg
Office: Case Annex 284
Phone: (859) 622-2282
Fax: (859) 622-3156

 

program description: american literature

Student Learning Objectives

By the end of their graduate course work, students completing an American literature emphasis will:

  • be able to analyze American Literature within its historical and cultural context.
  • have an understanding of the breadth of American literary tradition from its beginnings to the contemporary period.

Requirements . . . 30 hours

Students are advised to consult the current Graduate Catalog (available on the Graduate School webpage) and the Program Coordinator to make sure they are fulfilling the appropriate requirements.

9 hours from (core courses**):

ENG 808: Studies in Modern Composition Theory
ENG 809: Seminar in Scholarship and Writing  OR  ENG 812: Seminar in Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition Studies(ENG 809 recommended for literature students)
ENG 833: Modern Literary Criticism

**Core Courses must be taken during the first or second semester of enrollment.

Area of emphasis ... 9-15 hours, selected from:

*ENG 730: Topics in a Genre
*ENG 750: Topics in Literature
*ENG 830: Seminar in Literature
ENG 850: Seminar in Early American Literature (repeatable if the topic varies)
ENG 853: Seminar in 19th Century American Literature (repeatable if the topic varies)
ENG 854: Seminar in 20th Century American Literature (repeatable if the topic varies)

*depending on topic

3 hours (minimum) of a course in Language Studies/ESL.
3 hours (minimum) of a non-American literature course.

Students have a choice of thesis or non-thesis option:


For the non-thesis option, students must complete an additional 6-12 hours of electives in English to meet the requirement of 30 total hours for a Master of Arts in English; students also are required to write a mentored scholarly paper.

For the thesis option, students complete six hours of thesis credit, ENG 898: Thesis I and ENG 899: Thesis II, plus any necessary electives to meet the requirement of 30 total hours for a Master of Arts in English. Consult the Program Coordinator for information regarding registering for ENG 898/899. Thesis guidelines and requirements are available to currently enrolled students on the program Blackboard site.

  All students are required to pass the Comprehensive Examination. Comprehensive exam information, including reading list guidelines, is available to currently enrolled students on the program Blackboard site.