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This page lists information about each of the requirements for the Master of Arts in English.
Credit Hours
Candidates for the M.A. in English must complete a total of 30 credit hours:
- EH600, the Graduate Colloquium (an intensive study of critical methodology and professional issues): 3 credit hours
- EH 699, a Master's Thesis of publishable length and quality: 3 credit hours
- 9 additional credit hours at the 600 level,
- 15 credit hours at the 500 or 600 level.
Theoretically a student could complete the program in three full semesters and a summer session. In practice, most students take a minimum of two full academic years, including summer sessions, to complete the degree.
Full-time status for graduate students is defined as 6 credit hours per term.
Course of Study
The specific course of study is individualized; each candidate for the Master's degree is expected to demonstrate advanced skill in reading literature; in responding to texts orally and in writing from informed theoretical perspectives; and in researching critical contexts. The degree offers flexibility for students with a variety of goals, from personal enrichment to preparation for secondary or community college teaching or admission to doctoral studies.
At least one course must be chosen in each of four areas:
- Period Studies (EH 531, 631, or an approved substitute)
- Genre or Major Author (EH 521, 571, 621, 671, or an approved substitute)
- Theory/Criticism/Studies in Language (EH 502, 541, 542, 543, 641, 642, 643, or an approved substitute)
- Ethnic/Multicultural Literature/Postcolonial Literature, Popular Literature, or Women and Gender Issues (EH 551, 552, 553, 554, 651,652,653,654, or an approved substitute)
Transfer Credit
Up to 6 hours of post-graduate work may be accepted for transfer credit in the degree program, with a grade of B or higher. Students wishing to apply such transfer hours to the distribution requirements for the degree should submit a written request stating the requirement to be fulfilled along with a copy of the syllabus for the course and any additional materials which will serve to demonstrate the nature of the course content.
Language Requirement
The Master of Arts in English degree requires the demonstration of reading proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:
- Passing a standardized language test for graduate students administered by the Stetson University Department of Modern Languages with a score of 76% (of 50 questions) or better. The test is available for the following languages: French, German, Spanish, Russian.
- An undergraduate major in a foreign language, or an undergraduate minor in a foreign language with a grade point average of B or better. In order to use this option, present the appropriate transcript to the director of graduate studies.
- Passing a course in a foreign language at Stetson University at the 200 level or higher. (Ordinarily this will mean the 201 class in the language.) Courses at institutions other than Stetson may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
Languages not supported by the standardized test or by classes at Stetson may be used to fulfill this requirement. Students wishing to use an alternative language should present a petition to the graduate director, stating why the alternative language is appropriate to the student's course of study and how a test of reading knowledge of the language at the graduate level will be administered. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for such a test. Students have used this option in the recent past for Portuguese, Latin, and Japanese.
Thesis
The master's thesis is a substantial work of criticism demonstrating the student's ability to synthesize existing criticism and to generate new knowledge within the discipline of English. Masters theses must demonstrate an advanced skill in reading literature, in using research and theoretical concepts, and in developing and expressing a sustained critical argument.
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