Students seeking a master’s degree in English have two options:
1) 30-semester hour program with a thesis (ENG518 Thesis - 6 semester hours)
2) 36-semester hour program with an independent research project (ENG595 Research Lit/Techniques Non-Thesis - 3 semester hours)
Both programs lead to an MA degree for students who demonstrate foreign language proficiency or an MS degree for students without foreign language proficiency.
The department encourages students to pursue the non-thesis option (ENG595) rather than the traditional thesis route (ENG518). We encourage the ENG 595 option over the traditional thesis route because many universities, including Texas A&M University, are phasing out thesis requirements in favor of capstone portfolio projects. This trend provides students more flexibility in demonstrating their scholarly skills and allows them to produce research relevant to various career paths beyond academia.  Students should consult with the Director of English Graduate Studies to determine which program best fits their goals and interests.
Most coursework is elective for both programs, but students should select courses that connect to their scholarly interests and prepare them for the final research project (ENG595 or ENG518). Final projects may focus on literature, composition, linguistics, children's literature, or a combination, and may also emphasize the student's creative writing with committee approval.

Foreign Language Requirement for MA

A candidate for the Master of Arts degree must meet the language requirement:

1. Successful completion of at least 12 semester hours (college/university level) in one foreign language.
2. Successful completion of 6 semester hours (college/university level) and 2 years of high school credit in one foreign language.
3. Successful completion of 3 semester hours (college/university level) and 3 years of high school credit in one foreign language.
4. Successful completion of 12 semester hours of American Sign Language (ASL).
5. Completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Texas A&M University.
6. Department - Foreign Language Proficiency Exam (FLPE)
7. Successful completion of the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages examination with a minimum score/rating of intermediate proficiency in one of the following areas:

• Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or
• Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer (OPIc) or
• Written Proficiency Test (WPT)

Students who do not satisfy the foreign language requirement will receive an MS degree rather than an MA

Master of Arts/Master of Science in English - Option I Thesis

Thesis (6 semester hours)
ENG 518	Thesis (6 semester hours required)	3-6
Examination: Written and oral proposal of Thesis and final defense
Only 6 semester hours of credit for 518 will be given upon satiisfactory completion of the requirment
Required Core Courses (15 semester hours)
ENG 520	Contemporary Critical Practices in English Studies	3
ENG 599	Bibliography and Methods of Research	3
ENG 613	Digital Humanities	3
ENG 541	Studying Culture	3
or ENG 546	Decoding Narrative
or ENG 609	Literary Dialogues
ENG 570	Cultural Rhetorics	3
or ENG 601	Rhetoric, Writing, and Community Literacy Foundations
or ENG 680	Writing Studies
Electives: Select 3 additional English courses (9 semester hours)		9
Total Hours		30

Master of Arts/Master of Science in English - Option II Non-Thesis

Research (3 semester hours)
ENG 595	Research Lit/Techniques (3 semester hours required)	3
Required Core Courses (15 semester hours)
ENG 520	Contemporary Critical Practices in English Studies	3
ENG 599	Bibliography and Methods of Research	3
ENG 613	Digital Humanities	3
ENG 541	Studying Culture	3
or ENG 546	Decoding Narrative
or ENG 609	Literary Dialogues
ENG 570	Cultural Rhetorics	3
or ENG 601	Rhetoric, Writing, and Community Literacy Foundations
or ENG 680	Writing Studies
Electives: Select 6 additional English courses (18 semester hours)		18
Total Hours		36

Note:  Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.

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