English M.A.

The Master of Arts degree in English at UT Tyler provides exciting opportunities for study in the fields of literature, writing, and rhetoric. Its mission is to graduate students who have mastered advanced skills in critical thinking, textual interpretation, rigorous researching, and analytical writing. The program offers students a deepened understanding of literature’s cultural intellectual legacy, the ability to write well and with discernment, and the skills needed to effectively acquire knowledge and to communicate ideas in preparation for employment or doctoral study.

Master of Arts in English--Total Semester Hours=36

Admission Requirements

  1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
  2. A satisfactory score on the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam. Emphasis will be placed on scores for the Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections of the test. Provisional admission may be granted without initial submission of a GRE score. However, a GRE score must be submitted by the end of the first long semester.  A GRE waiver may be granted for a recent master’s or doctoral degree in a field related to English.
  3. A minimum grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 point scale for at least forty-eight hours of upper-division coursework.
  4. A minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 point scale for at least twenty-one hours of undergraduate English courses, including a minimum of twelve hours of upper-division coursework.
  5. A Statement of Purpose of maximum 500 words stating the applicant’s reasons for pursuing an English M.A. This essay should be signed, single-spaced, and word-processed. 
  6. Consideration may be given to one or more of the following factors: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, status as a first generation college graduate, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities. 
  7. Conditional admission may be granted if an admission requirement is not met in an otherwise strong application. To be considered for conditional admission a GRE score or a GRE waiver is required.

Degree Requirements

A total of thirty-six semester hours of English graduate-level coursework is required. No more than six semester hours of graduate independent study courses and six semester hours of travel/study courses may be applied. Twelve semester hours of a single foreign language or an equivalent competency must be completed prior to program admission or while in the English M.A. program. Neither a student’s native language nor English as a second language may be used to meet the foreign language requirement. No more than nine hours of graduate credit in which a “B” or better has been earned may be transferred from another institution. Transfer work is subject to approval by the graduate s advisor.

Option l: Master of Arts in English with Thesis (36 hours)

 

Required Courses (9 hrs.)

ENGL 5300Bibliography and Methods of Research

ENGL 5397Guided Integrative Study

ENGL 5396Thesis II

Note: ENGL 5300 should be taken during the semester of entry.
Note: If enrolling in more than one thesis semester after receiving advisor approval, select ENGL 5395 Thesis I prior to taking ENGL 5396 Thesis II.

Writing, Rhetoric, and Theory (6 hrs.):

ENGL 5367Studies in Creative Writing

ENGL 5382Contrastive Linguistics

ENGL 5385Literary Theory and Criticism

ENGL 5388History and Practice of Rhetoric

ENGL 5389Practicum in Composition Instruction

ENGL 5390Studies in Composition

ENGL 5391Studies in Technical and Scientific Writing

ENGL 5392History, Theory and Practice of Writing Centers

Note: ENGL 5388 or ENGL 5390 and ENGL 5389 are required for Teaching Assistants.

Select from the following (12 hrs.):

Early, Early Modern Literature (6 hrs.)
ENGL 5305Chaucer and Middle English Literature

ENGL 5310Masters of English Literature

ENGL 5315Studies in the English Renaissance

ENGL 5320Shakespeare

ENGL 5321Studies in English Neoclassical Literature

ENGL 5340Masters of American Literature

ENGL 5346American Literature through the Romantic Period

ENGL 5348American Renaissance

ENGL 5369Topics in English

ENGL 5370Studies in World Literature

Later Literature (6 hrs.)
ENGL 5310Masters of English Literature

ENGL 5323Studies in Romanticism

ENGL 5325Studies in Victorian Literature

ENGL 5330English Literature: Twentieth Century

ENGL 5340Masters of American Literature

ENGL 5350Studies in American Literary Realism

ENGL 5355Studies in Twentieth-Century American Literature

ENGL 5369Topics in English

ENGL 5370Studies in World Literature

ENGL 5386The Modern Novel

Electives (9 hrs.)

An elective is any graduate-level English course offered by the English M.A. program.

Option II: Master of Arts in English without Thesis (36 hours)

 

Required Courses (6 hrs.)

ENGL 5300Bibliography and Methods of Research

ENGL 5397Guided Integrative Study

Notes: ENG 5300 should be taken during the semester of entry.

Writing, Rhetoric, and Theory (6 hrs.):

ENGL 5367Studies in Creative Writing

ENGL 5382Contrastive Linguistics

ENGL 5385Literary Theory and Criticism

ENGL 5388History and Practice of Rhetoric

ENGL 5389Practicum in Composition Instruction

ENGL 5390Studies in Composition

ENGL 5391Studies in Technical and Scientific Writing

ENGL 5392History, Theory and Practice of Writing Centers

Note: ENGL 5388 or ENGL 5390 and ENGL 5389 are required for Teaching Assistants.

Early, Early Modern Literature (6 hrs.)

ENGL 5305Chaucer and Middle English Literature

ENGL 5310Masters of English Literature

ENGL 5315Studies in the English Renaissance

ENGL 5320Shakespeare

ENGL 5321Studies in English Neoclassical Literature

ENGL 5340Masters of American Literature

ENGL 5346American Literature through the Romantic Period

ENGL 5348American Renaissance

ENGL 5369Topics in English

ENGL 5370Studies in World Literature

Later Literature (6 hrs.)

ENGL 5310Masters of English Literature

ENGL 5323Studies in Romanticism

ENGL 5325Studies in Victorian Literature

ENGL 5330English Literature: Twentieth Century

ENGL 5340Masters of American Literature

ENGL 5350Studies in American Literary Realism

ENGL 5355Studies in Twentieth-Century American Literature

ENGL 5369Topics in English

ENGL 5370Studies in World Literature

ENGL 5386The Modern Novel

Electives (12 hrs.)

An elective is any graduate-level English course offered by the English M.A. program.

Graduation Requirements

  1. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all graduate-level coursework attempted.
  2. Successful completion of ENGL 5397 with exit examination for the non-thesis option or successful completion of ENGL 5397 with exit examination and ENGL 5396 for the thesis option.
  3. Demonstrated reading knowledge of a foreign language at the intermediate level. 
  4. For graduation from UT Tyler, all degree requirements must be completed within a six-year period.

Other Course Offerings

Although UT Tyler does not offer graduate degrees in Philosophy or Spanish, courses in these areas are offered as electives within the Department of Literature and Languages for students seeking graduate degrees in other disciplines.