Master of Arts

Developing critical awareness

The Master of Arts (MA) program develops scholars with a critical and comprehensive awareness of English studies. While offering specialization in one of various areas of strength in the department, the program requires a breadth requirement through course work and thereby grounds students’ interests in a wide and flexible understanding of English studies.

Program Requirements

This program offers a course work option and a project option, with an optional specialization in print culture, for a minimum of 32 units.

Course Work Option

Students must complete

ENGL 880 - Pro-seminar I (4)

ENGL 881 - Pro-seminar II (4)

and an additional 24 graduate units (including a pre-20th-century literature course and one other pre-19th-century literature course)

Project Option

Students must complete

ENGL 880 - Pro-seminar I (4)

ENGL 881 - Pro-seminar II (4)

and an additional 20 graduate units (including a pre-20th-century literature course)

and a project

ENGL 882 - MA Project (4)

Specialization in Print Culture

This specialization permits interdisciplinary specialization in the politics of print culture (1700–1900), focusing on the changing role of printed texts in an emerging commercial society. The print culture specialization can be done as either a course option or a project option. Learn more about the specialization in print culture.

Course Work Option

Students must complete

ENGL 820 - Studies in Print Culture Theory (4)

ENGL 880 - Pro-seminar I (4)

ENGL 881 - Pro-seminar II (4)

and an additional 20 graduate units (at least 12 units of print culture-designated courses)

Project Option

Students must complete

ENGL 820 - Studies in Print Culture Theory (4)

ENGL 880 - Pro-seminar I (4)

ENGL 881 - Pro-seminar II (4)

and an additional 16 graduate units (at least 12 units of print culture-designated courses)

and a project

ENGL 882 - MA Project (4)

Program Length

Students in the course work option are expected to complete the program requirements in three terms. Students in the project option are expected to complete the program requirements in three to six terms.