COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in English is a 33-credit graduate program structured to provide students with both a solid foundation in literary research and the flexibility to explore a wide range of topics in literature, film, and writing. The program begins with two core courses: ENGL 506, Seminar in Literary Research, which introduces students to advanced literary study and research methods, and ENGL 507, Theoretical Approaches to Literature, which examines major critical frameworks used in analyzing texts. The culmination of the program is ENGL 698, the Master’s Thesis, a substantial piece of original scholarship on a topic chosen by the student, submitted to the Graduate Office upon completion.Students are required to complete eight elective courses (24 credits) from a diverse selection spanning American, British, and Global Literatures, as well as specialized topics in teaching literature, Shakespeare studies, poetry, drama, and contemporary literary trends. Options include ENGL 501 Seminar in American Literature, ENGL 540 The Modern British Novel, ENGL 565 Black American Women Writers, and ENLT 569 Major Writers of Africa and the African Diaspora. Electives also cover genres like science fiction and film, along with independent study opportunities for more focused, self-directed learning.This curriculum allows students to tailor their graduate experience to their academic interests and career goals. Whether studying Elizabethan drama, American realism, or postcolonial literature, students gain in-depth knowledge and develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills. The program supports a range of professional paths in education, writing, research, publishing, and cultural institutions. It also fosters intellectual curiosity, cultural literacy, and the ability to engage meaningfully with complex texts and ideas. Through rigorous coursework and a culminating thesis project, students emerge as thoughtful scholars and effective communicators prepared for diverse opportunities in academia and beyond.