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2011-2012 University Catalog
English, MA
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Banner Code: LA-MA-ENGL
Web: english.gmu.edu
This program of study is offered by the Department of English .
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog. |
Application Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admission chapter of this catalog. For information specific to the MA in English, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site. Satisfactory Progress
Students have six years to complete the MA. Students writing a thesis must have an approved proposal by the end of their fifth year as an MA candidate in English and may not make significant changes to that proposal during their sixth year. By the end of the first semester of their sixth year, thesis students need to demonstrate that they have completed their research and are well advanced in developing their analysis and argument, generally by submitting to their advisors a completed rough draft of the thesis or evidence that they have completed their fieldwork and analysis. A student may be dropped from the program if, in the judgment of the thesis advisor and graduate director, evidence of satisfactory progress on the thesis has not been provided by the end of the first semester of a student’s sixth year. Degree Requirements
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 30 to 33 credits in one concentration as specified below and demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. Foreign Language Proficiency
Students in all concentrations must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by course work equivalent to Mason’s foreign language course FRLN 210 or by passing a translation test administered by the department. ▲ Concentration in Cultural Studies (CULT)
Three required courses (9 credits):
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
ENGH 685, 705, and 740 may be repeated once with permission of the director of graduate studies. Three to five courses (9-15 credits) of literature
Thesis (6 credits) (optional)
Students who choose to do a thesis take 6 fewer credits of literature. ▲ Concentration in Linguistics (LING)
The linguistics concentration of the MA in English combines courses in linguistics with courses in some related area of language study, such as teaching English as a second language, bilingual education, or foreign language teaching. This course of study is designed to prepare students for teaching in one of these fields or for doctoral work. The certificate in teaching English as a second language (TESL) can be earned concurrently. Six core courses (18 credits):
Four elective courses (12 credits)
In consultation with an advisor, chosen from courses that reflect one or more areas of language study. Electives can be in such areas as linguistics, the teaching of reading or writing, literary criticism, bilingual education, or a foreign language, and may include 6 credits of thesis. ▲ Concentration in Literature (LIT)
Two required courses (6 credits)
Must be taken in the first twelve credits of the degree. Another course in literary theory and criticism may substitute for ENGH 551 with prior written approval of the graduate director. Four to six courses (12-18 credits) of literature
Two elective courses (6 credits)
Elective courses taught within the English department may be taken without permission of the graduate director. A maximum of 6 credits of related study outside the department may substitute for the equivalent number of elective credits, with permission of the graduate director. Thesis (6 credits) (optional)
Students who choose to do a thesis take 6 fewer credits of literature. ▲ Concentration in Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR)
Two required courses (6 credits):
Two courses (6 credits) in professional writing and rhetoric
One course (3 credits) in writing, nonfiction, or professional writing and rhetoric
One course (3 credits) in theory chosen from:
Two elective courses in English (6 credits)
Project or Thesis (3 or 6 credits)
3 credits of project
Students who choose a project take one additional elective course of 3 credits. ▲ Concentration in the Teaching of Writing and Literature (TWL)
One required course (3 credits):
Two courses (6 credits) in writing
Two courses (6 credits) in literature
One course (3 credits) in linguistics
Students usually fulfill this requirement by taking: Two courses (6 credits) in the teaching of writing and in the teaching of literature
Students usually fulfill this requirement by taking: One course (3 credits) in composition theory:
Up to one elective course (3 credits) in literature or writing
Students who choose to do a thesis will take thesis credits in place of this requirement. Thesis (6 credits) (optional)
Students may arrange to do a thesis working with an advisor and the director of graduate studies in English. Students who pursue this option substitute 3 credits of thesis for the elective course (3 credits) in literature or writing. They must complete 33 (rather than 30) credits to receive their degree. Total: 30-33 credits
Most students complete 30 credits. Students in the concentration in the teaching of writing and literature who chose to do a thesis complete 33 credits. |
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