English MA/MS

Students seeking a master’s degree in English now have two options

  1.  36-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 36 semester hour 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 A&M-Commerce
  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 518Thesis (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 502Introduction to Graduate Studies in English3
ENG 520Contemporary Critical Practices in English Studies3
ENG 599Bib & Methods of Research3
ENG 613Digital Humanities3
ENG 681Academic Discourse3
Students choose one of the following emphasis areas for 12 semester hours
Rhetoric and Composition
ENG 515Histories & Theories of Rhetoric3
ENG 680Composition Studies 3
ENG 776Methods and Methodologies in Writing Studies3
Select 1 course (3 semester hours) from the following course options:
ENG 513Composing in the 21st Century 3
ENG 570Cultural Rhetorics3
ENG 611Writing with Digital Media3
ENG 771Writing Democracy3
ENG 772Rhetorics of Labor3
ENG 780Text and Genders3
OR
Literature
Select four courses (12 semester hours) from the following options:
ENG 503Marginalized Literatures3
ENG 504Graphic Narratives3
ENG 505History of Children's Literature3
ENG 506Prob Adolescent Literatur3
ENG 507Children and Adaptation3
ENG 508Reality in Children's Literature3
ENG 509Literary Genres3
ENG 510Introduction to Film Studies3
ENG 516Early American Literature3
ENG 519American Lit in Transition3
ENG 521American Modernities3
ENG 522Maj Figures in Amer Lit3
ENG 525Contemporary Literature3
ENG 526Studies in Shakespeare3
ENG 527Antebellum American Lit3
ENG 530History of Narrative Film3
ENG 531Maj Fig & Mov Brit Lit3
ENG 534Med Renaiss Brit Lit3
ENG 536Eighteenth-Century British Literature3
ENG 537Mod Transf Brit Irish Lit3
ENG 540Development British Novel3
ENG 610Studies in Film Genres3
ENG 620Adaptations to Film3
ENG 710Film Theory & Criticism3
ENG 720Sptc: in Film Studies3
ENG 780Text and Genders3
ENG 781Major Figures World Lit3
OR
Generalist
Select four courses from either concentration above to total 12 semester hours12
Electives
Electives 3 semester hours3
Total Hours36

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

Research (3 semester hours)
ENG 595Research Lit/Techniques (3 semester hours required)3
Required Core Courses (15 semester hours)
ENG 502Introduction to Graduate Studies in English3
ENG 599Bib & Methods of Research3
ENG 520Contemporary Critical Practices in English Studies3
ENG 613Digital Humanities3
ENG 681Academic Discourse3
Students then choose one of the following emphasis areas for 12 semester hours
Rhetoric and Composition
ENG 515Histories & Theories of Rhetoric3
ENG 680Composition Studies 3
ENG 776Methods and Methodologies in Writing Studies3
Select from the following course options:
ENG 513Composing in the 21st Century 3
ENG 570Cultural Rhetorics3
ENG 611Writing with Digital Media3
ENG 771Writing Democracy3
ENG 772Rhetorics of Labor3
ENG 780Text and Genders3
OR
Literature
12 semester hours of electives
ENG 503Marginalized Literatures3
ENG 504Graphic Narratives3
ENG 505History of Children's Literature3
ENG 506Prob Adolescent Literatur3
ENG 507Children and Adaptation3
ENG 508Reality in Children's Literature3
ENG 509Literary Genres3
ENG 510Introduction to Film Studies3
ENG 516Early American Literature3
ENG 519American Lit in Transition3
ENG 521American Modernities3
ENG 522Maj Figures in Amer Lit3
ENG 525Contemporary Literature3
ENG 526Studies in Shakespeare3
ENG 527Antebellum American Lit3
ENG 530History of Narrative Film3
ENG 531Maj Fig & Mov Brit Lit3
ENG 534Med Renaiss Brit Lit3
ENG 536Eighteenth-Century British Literature3
ENG 537Mod Transf Brit Irish Lit3
ENG 540Development British Novel3
ENG 610Studies in Film Genres3
ENG 620Adaptations to Film3
ENG 710Film Theory & Criticism3
ENG 720Sptc: in Film Studies3
ENG 780Text and Genders3
ENG 781Major Figures World Lit3
OR
Generalist
Select four courses from either concentration above to total 12 semester hours12
Electives
Electives 6 semester hours6
Total Hours36

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

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