Department of Literature and Languages

Graduate Program

Master of Arts in English

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 Credit Hours=36                                              

Admission Requirements:
A.	A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
B.	A satisfactory GRE 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. The GRE should be completed prior to the first long semester of enrollment. Students who do not have satisfactory scores on the GRE may still be admitted upon the condition that they complete two courses selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. The student must have a cumulative grade of “B” or higher for all courses completed during the period of conditional enrollment.
C.	A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale on all upper-division course work.
D.	A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale on twenty-one hours of undergraduate English courses including at least twelve hours of upper division work.
E.	Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

                                                            

Degree Requirements:

A total of thirty-six semester hours of graduate work is required. No more than six semester hours of undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit may be applied to this degree. No more than nine hours of graduate credit in which a “B” or better has been earned may be transferred from another institution. All transfer work is subject to approval by the student’s graduate advisor. No more than six semester hours in independent study courses and six semester hours in travel/study courses may be applied to this degree.

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

A. ENGL 5300: Bibliography and Methods of Research*

B. ENGL 5397: Guided Independent Study with Comprehensive Exam

C. Two of the following:

• ENGL 5369: Special Topics
• ENGL 5379: History of the English Language;
• ENGL 5385: Literary Theory & Criticism;
• ENGL 5388: History & Practice of Rhetoric;
• ENGL 5390: Studies in Composition**;
• ENGL 5392 Writing Administration: Theory & Practice

D. Early / Early Modern Literature (at least six hours)

E. Later Literature (at least six hours)

F. Electives in ENGL (at least nine hours)

G. ENGL 5395 and ENGL 5396: Thesis (at least 3 hours)

*Should be taken as soon as possible upon entering the program

**Required for Teaching Assistants

OPTION II: Master of Arts in English without Thesis

A. ENGL 5300: Bibliography and Methods of Research*

B. ENGL 5397: Guided Independent Study with Comprehensive Exam

C. Two of the following:

• ENGL 5379: History of the English Language;
• ENGL 5385: Literary Theory & Criticism;
• ENGL 5388: History & Practice of Rhetoric;
• ENGL 5390: Studies in Composition**;
• ENGL 5392 Writing Administration Theory & Practice

D. Early / Early Modern Literature (at least six hours)

E. Later Literature (at least six hours)

F. Electives in ENGL (at least twelve hours)

*Should be taken as soon as possible upon entering the program

**Required for Teaching Assistants 

Graduation Requirements: 

A. A grade point average of 3.0 in all graduate work attempted

B. Successful completion of English 5397 and a comprehensive examination

C. Four semesters, or demonstrated reading knowledge, of a foreign language