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Professor Ezra Greenspan, Department Chair
Professors: Timothy Crusius, Dennis Foster (Director of Graduate Studies), Ross Murfin, Jack Myers, Jasper Neel, C.W. Smith, Willard Spiegelman, Steven Weisenburger; Associate Professors: Suzanne Bost, Richard Bozorth (Director of Undergraduate Studies), Steven Daniels, Darryl Dickson-Carr, David Haynes (Director of Creative Writing), Michael Holahan, John Lewis, Beth Newman, Nina Schwartz (Vice Chair), Rajani Sudan, Bonnie Wheeler (Director of Medieval Studies); Assistant Professors: Angela Ards, Michael Householder, Timothy Rosendale, Martha Satz, Lisa Siraganian.
Applicants must have either an undergraduate English major or intensive study in the liberal arts with a solid background in literature in English, normally with a G.P.A. of at least 3.3 for M.A. applicants and 3.5 for applicants to the Ph.D. program. They must also submit scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Submission of scores for the GRE Literature in English subject test is recommended for applicants to the M.A. program and required for applicants to the Ph.D. program. In addition, a statement of purpose for graduate study and three letters of recommendation are required, along with a writing sample in which an argument on a literary topic is sustained for about 10 pages for M.A. applicants and 15 pages for Ph.D. applicants.
Proficiency in one foreign language is strongly recommended prior to matriculation in either program.
The master’s degree in English is for students pursuing the M.A. as a terminal degree.
Students admitted to the M.A. program are required to take English 6310 (Advanced Literary Studies), English 6311 (Survey of Literary Criticism) and 24 additional hours, at least 12 of which must be at the 6000 level or above. For students who elect to write a thesis, six of these hours must be English 6398, 6399 (thesis). With departmental approval, six graduate hours in a related field may be substituted for courses in the English department.
Students who submit a creative writing sample along with the sample of literary analysis and who are admitted to the specialization in creative writing may include up to six hours of creative writing courses or directed studies and six hours of thesis in their program of study.
Before graduation, each candidate must pass an oral examination on a list of about 40 works related to a critical or thematic focus determined by the candidate in consultation with a faculty adviser.
The Ph.D. in English requires 60 hours of courses, including classes, directed readings and dissertation hours. Core courses required of all students are English 6310 (Advanced Literary Studies), English 6311 (Survey of Literary Criticism) and English 6312 (Teaching Practicum). Students will also be required to complete workshops in teaching before the fall of their second year, in preparation for teaching undergraduate courses during that year and subsequent years of graduate study. In addition, students must take a minimum of six 7000-level seminars and will be expected to include in their program of study courses covering a wide range of fields. With permission, students may develop interdisciplinary approaches by taking up to two courses outside the English department.
Proficiency in one foreign language relevant to the student’s course of study is required and should be demonstrated by the second year in the program. For certain dissertation topics, a second language may be required. Further requirements include written exams in the summer before the fourth year of study, a dissertation prospectus and an oral defense of the prospectus during the fall semester of the fourth year. The M.A. degree will be awarded after completion of these requirements.
Students who remain in good standing – with a G.P.A. of at least 3.0, demonstrated ability to do work of appropriate quality in seminars, continuous progress in the program and the recommendation of an advisory committee – will receive fellowship support for six years. They will teach two courses a year for four years beginning in the second year of study, with either their fifth or sixth year serving as a dissertation fellowship year with no course requirements or teaching responsibilities. Exceptional students may be offered a one-year visiting assistant professorship in the English department after fulfilling all requirements for the Ph.D.
Students who leave the Ph.D. program after completing 30 hours and who have demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language will be allowed to take an exam in order to receive the M.A. degree. Any student who has demonstrated foreign language proficiency and achieves a G.P.A. of 3.0 in 24 hours of course work during the first year of study but does not receive the positive recommendation of the advisory committee to continue on to Ph.D. candidacy will be allowed to fulfill the requirements for the M.A. by enrolling in English 6398, 6399 and completing a thesis within the following 12 months.
6049. Graduate Full-time Status. A non-credit, independent course for students continuing work on an M.A. thesis.
6301, 6302. Directed Studies. Directed readings in an area of the student’s choice, to be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the instructor.
6310. Advanced Literary Theory. Readings and practice in research methods and materials, bibliography and textual editing, and the history and practices of the profession. Required of all doctoral candidates.
6311. Survey of Literary Studies. Readings in criticism and theory from Aristotle through contemporary approaches. Required of all doctoral candidates.
6312. Teaching Practicum. Course in pedagogy for English teachers at the university level. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and appointment to a graduate fellowship in the English department.
6313. Rhetorical Theory. Selected major figures and movements from 1920 to the present in the context of the history of rhetoric, recent philosophy and literary theory.
Proseminars: ENGL 6320 through 6380. Open to master’s and doctoral students and to advanced undergraduates with the permission of the instructor and the Director of Graduate Studies.
6320. Medieval Literature. Studies in medieval literary-cultural history through 1500.
6321, 6322. Readings in Medieval Literature. Prerequisite: Approval by the director of graduate studies and the instructor.
6330. Early Modern British Literature. Studies in major British writers and literary-cultural history from 1500 to 1775.
6335. Early Modern American Literature. Studies in major American writers and literary-cultural history from Encounter to 1750.
6340. British Literature in the Age of Revolutions. Studies in major British writers and literary-cultural history from 1775 to 1900.
6345. American Literature in the Age of Revolutions. Studies in major American writers and literary-cultural history from 1750 to 1900.
6350. Modern and Contemporary British Literature. Studies in major British writers and literary-cultural history after 1900.
6360. Modern and Contemporary American Literature. Studies in major American writers and literary-cultural history after 1900.
6370. African American Literature. Studies in African American literary-cultural history from colonial to contemporary.
6373. Hispanic American Literature. Studies in Hispanic American literature and cultural history from colonial to contemporary.
6375. Sex, Gender and Literature. Studies of the constructions of sexuality and gender in literature and culture, informed by historical study and current theoretical work in such fields as feminism, gender studies and queer theory.
6380. History of Print Culture. A literary-historical survey of major developments, issues, formations and institutions in British and/or American print culture.
6391. Poetry Writing Workshop. Graduate level writing and critiquing of student poetry, along with the study of poetic conventions, techniques and theory.
6392. Fiction Writing Workshop. Graduate level writing and critiquing of student fiction writing along with the study of conventions, techniques and theories of fiction.
6394, 6395. Graduate Independent Study in Poetry Writing. Intensive, one-on-one tutorial in the writing and revising of poetry.
6396, 6397. Graduate Independent Study in Fiction Writing. Intensive, one-on-one tutorial in the writing and revising of fiction.
6398, 6399. Thesis. Research and writing of the M.A. thesis with guidance from the student’s thesis director.
7311. Seminar in Literary Theory. Advanced study of a topic in literary theory.
7340. Seminar in British Literature. Advanced study of a topic in British literature.
7350. Seminar in American Literature. Advanced study of a topic in American literature.
7370. Seminar in Minority Literature. Advanced study of a topic in minority literature.
7372. Seminar in Transatlantic Literature. Advanced study of a topic in transatlantic literature.
7374. Problems in Literary History. Advanced study of problems in literary history.
7376. Seminar: Special Topics. Advanced study of a literary topic that crosses traditional national boundaries.
7398, 7399. Directed Readings. Directed readings in an area of the student’s choice, to be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the instructor.
8049. Graduate Full-time Status. Graduate full-time status at the Ph.D. level.
8398, 8399. Dissertation. Research and writing of the dissertation.
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