The English Department takes a holistic approach to literary studies, emphasizing both reading and advanced writing skills. All students complete a 12-credit “hub” of core requirements, which include literature, research and criticism courses. Then they choose to focus on one of three “spokes”: literature, writing or creative writing. In all three formats, students find engaging class discussions, connect with faculty mentors and receive one-on-one guidance to meet their goals.

All students pursuing the Master of Arts in English will complete a 12-credit “Hub” of core requirements. Students can then choose to pursue one of four “Spokes,” depending upon their interests and goals. The Literature Spoke is intended for students who plan to go on to a doctoral program or whose primary interest is in continuing literary study. The Writing Spoke is designed for students who plan to teach English at the secondary level, are already teaching, or plan to pursue a career involving advanced writing skills. The Creative Writing Spoke is designed for students who are interested in becoming writers, teaching creative writing, or hoping to pursue an M.F.A. or a Ph.D. in creative writing. The General Spoke is designed for students primarily pursuing the degree for enrichment.

The M.A. program also requires a reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, or Spanish as attested by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Subject to approval, Latin, Greek, or another language may be substituted. Reading knowledge will be demonstrated through a foreign language translation examination. Students who cannot pass the language exam may take the Rapid Reading and Translation course, offered in the spring, in its place. This course is offered in French or Spanish every other year.

Curriculum for Literature Spoke

Hub Courses

• Introduction to Literary Research
• Studies in Criticism
• 6000-Level American Literature Elective
• 6000-Level British Literature Elective

Literature Spoke Courses

• Literature Elective

One course from the following list:

• Poetry Workshop
• Modern Rhetoric and Writing
• Fiction Workshop
• Scientific and Technical Writing
• Composition Theory and Practice
• Linguistic History of English
• Non-Fiction Workshop
• Advanced Creative Writing Workshop

Seminar and Research Courses

• 7000-Level Seminar Course
• Master’s Thesis

Note: Thesis students must successfully complete a thesis, in accordance with departmental guidelines, in addition to completing the required number of credits. A degree will not be conferred without successful completion of a thesis even if the total credit requirement is met. Students who have completed all degree requirements except the thesis must register for Thesis Continuation until the thesis is complete.

Curriculum for Writing Spoke

Hub Courses

• Introduction to Literary Research
• Studies in Criticism
• 6000-Level American Literature Elective
• 6000-Level British Literature Elective

Writing Spoke Courses

• Literature Elective

Three courses from the following list:

• Poetry Workshop
• Modern Rhetoric and Writing
• Fiction Workshop
• Scientific and Technical Writing
• Composition Theory and Practice
• Linguistic History of English
• Non-Fiction Workshop
• Advanced Creative Writing Workshop

Seminar and Research Courses

7000-Level Seminar Course

Or

Master’s Thesis

Note: Thesis students must successfully complete a thesis, in accordance with departmental guidelines, in addition to completing the required number of credits. A degree will not be conferred without successful completion of a thesis even if the total credit requirement is met. Students who have completed all degree requirements except the thesis must register for Thesis Continuation until the thesis is complete.

Curriculum for Creative Writing Spoke

Hub Courses

• Introduction to Literary Research
• Studies in Criticism
• 6000-Level American Literature Elective
• 6000-Level British Literature Elective

Creative Writing Spoke Courses

• Literature Elective
• Advanced Creative Writing Workshop

Total of 9 credits from the following list (any of these workshops may be taken twice

• Fiction Workshop
• Poetry Workshop
• Non-Fiction Workshop

Note: Students may take the 3-credit Summer course, Travel Writing in Italy (which runs as the graduate course Special Topics in Literary Studies) in place of one of the workshops.

Research

• Master’s Thesis

Note: Thesis students must successfully complete a thesis, in accordance with departmental guidelines, in addition to completing the required number of credits. A degree will not be conferred without successful completion of a thesis even if the total credit requirement is met. Students who have completed all degree requirements except the thesis must register for Thesis Continuation until the thesis is complete.

Curriculum for General Spoke

Hub Courses

• ENGL 6010 Introduction to Literary Research
• ENGL 7011 Studies in Criticism
• 6000-Level American Literature Elective
• 6000-Level British Literature Elective

Elective Courses

General Spoke students may take any combination of literature and writing courses to fulfill this requirement with the exception of ENGL 7010 Master’s Thesis.

1. Recognize and discuss major figures, movements, and texts from several periods of English and American literature
2. Understand the major theoretical approaches to literature over the past century and be able to identify them when they are used in critical arguments
3. Use basic critical terminology in their writing
4. Demonstrate skill in critical interpretation and close reading of texts
5. Demonstrate a grasp of genres, whether in literature or in their own writing. In literature, they should be aware of the capacity of genres to represent and define periods, formatively and restrictively, and be cognizant of the implications and problems of genre
6. Engage an issue in an essay/paper, establish a thesis after a brief introduction, and then develop that thesis through successive paragraphs toward a persuasive conclusion
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the process of writing, so that they are capable of working from notes toward a draft and then revising through successive drafts toward a final essay/paper
8. Write with a degree of rhetorical mastery: a command of vocabulary and style---including the sense of audience (usually, a formal style for a college-educated readership), variety of sentence structure, sentence length, and other elements that constitute sophisticated rhetoric and style
9. Recognize and avoid logical problems, non-sequiturs, contradictions, and the like. They should be able, conversely, to treat incongruities as potentially productive, deepening the complexity of their thinking and writing
10. Locate and integrate secondary sources into an analytical, expository, or argumentative essay. "Integration" here means not only quoting or paraphrasing judiciously to support an argument but also engaging and participating in a critical conversation with the sources through the course of the paper. Appropriate use of secondary sources means the ability to distinguish valid from invalid sources, and the recognition of the varieties and pitfalls of plagiarism
11. Demonstrate a practical command of format and convention, including parenthetical citations, footnotes, and bibliography in their written work
12. Demonstrate competence in grammar, usage, and mechanics in their written work.