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2016-2017 University Catalog 
  
2016-2017 University Catalog

English, MA


Banner Code: LA-MA-ENGL
Web: english.gmu.edu

College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences  
Department: English  

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies  section of the catalog.

An accelerated master’s option with a concentration in linguistics is available to students in any bachelor’s program.  See Bachelor's Degree (any)/English, Accelerated MA (Linguistics Concentration)  for specific requirements.

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 Admissions  section 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 completing a Mason foreign language course numbered 210 or higher, or by passing a translation test administered by the department.

▲ Concentration in Cultural Studies (CULT)


Optional Project or Thesis (3 or 6 credits)


Project (3 credits)

 Students who choose a project take 3 fewer credits of literature.

Thesis (6 credits)

Students who choose a thesis take 6 fewer credits of literature.

Total: 30 credits


▲ 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.

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.

Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in Literature (LIT)


Two required courses (6 credits)


Must be taken in the first 12 credits of the degree. Another course in literary theory and criticism may substitute for ENGH 551  with prior written approval of the graduate director.

Two elective courses or thesis (6 credits)


Elective courses taught within the English department may be taken without permission of the graduate director. A maximum of six credits of related study outside the department may substitute for the equivalent number of elective credits, with permission of the graduate director.

Optional Thesis (6 credits)

Students who choose a thesis take 6 fewer credits of literature or electives.

Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR)


Four required courses (12 credits)


ENGH 501  should be taken in the first semester of study, if possible.

One or two elective courses in English (3-6 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.

6 credits of thesis

Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in the Teaching of Writing and Literature (TWL)


One required course (3 credits)


One course (3 credits) in linguistics chosen from:


Students usually fulfill this requirement with LING 520 . The other courses listed have prerequisites.

One course (3 credits) in the teaching of writing chosen from:


One course (3 credits) in teaching of literature chosen from:


One course (3 credits) in composition theory


Up to one elective course (3 credits) in literature or writing


Students who choose to complete project or thesis credits below will do so in place of this requirement.

Optional Project or Thesis (3-6 credits)


Project (3 credits)

Students who choose a project take 3 fewer elective credits in literature or writing.

Thesis (6 credits)

Students may arrange to do a thesis working with an advisor and the director of graduate studies in English. Students who pursue this option take 3 fewer elective credits in literature or writing. They must complete 33 (rather than 30) credits to receive their degree.

Total: 30-33 credits


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.