Master of Arts in English
The University of Louisville's Master's degree offers emphases in literary studies, creative writing, rhetoric & composition, and professional writing. All M.A. students take core courses in literature and critical theory, but may take up to fifteen hours of electives in literature, creative writing, rhetoric and composition, or linguistics.Students may elect to write a scholarly thesis as a capstone project or take additional coursework and complete a non-thesis project.Depending on emphasis, the M.A. in English prepares students to go on to Ph.D. programs in literature, rhetoric and composition, or creative writing (or M.F.A. programs in creative writing); students may also prepare to work in business and industry as professional writers or writing consultants.Graduate Catalog Information
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The Master of Arts in English requires 30 hours of academic work at the graduate level. In addition to fulfilling the core requirements, students may take additional work in literary studies, creative writing, or rhetoric and composition. Required Courses– 15 hours:
Electives – 9 - 15 hours: Students may take no more than three 500-level courses. Creative writing courses (including up to six hours of thesis guidance) may total no more than 15 hours. One course taken outside the department (at the 500 or 600 level) may be counted toward the degree. |
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for more on: foreign language requirements, candidacy, thesis and non-thesis options, time limits and residency... |
Foreign Language Requirement : The student must demonstrate proficiency in an approved foreign language prior to OR during their time of enrollment in the program. The foreign language requirement must be satisfied before the thesis can be defended. (See the Graduate Program guidelines for more information.)
Admission to Candidacy : Students are admitted to candidacy for the M.A. after they have completed coursework and met the foreign language requirement; they remain master’s degree candidates until they complete a thesis or culminating project.
Thesis Option: ( 24 hours of coursework + 6 hours of Thesis Guidance.)
Students who choose this option will be expected to write a critical or creative thesis that is a genuine contribution to the field, shows an awareness of current academic practice, and employs methods appropriate to an extended academic project. Students must submit a prospectus and have it approved at least three months before the thesis oral examination is held. Guidelines for writing a prospectus are in the English Department's Graduate Program Guidelines.
Non-Thesis Option: ( 30 hours of coursework + a culminating project )
Students who choose this option may, as a culminating project, select one of their strongest seminar papers or creative writing projects to revise; the purpose of the project is to give students the opportunity to revise a seminar paper with publication in mind. To this end, students will write a brief prospectus (2-3 pages plus bibliography) detailing the types of revisions they will make to the paper. A screening committee will evaluate the prospectus and, upon its approval, the student will make the necessary revisions under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
Time Limit and Residency for Masters : All work for the M.A. must be completed within six years of admission to the program. The student must complete a minimum of 24 hours at the University of Louisville.
(for Residency as it affects in-state vs. out-of-state tuition determinations, see this page).
