Master of Arts in English Program Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Welcome .......................................................................................................................................1 Mission Statement ...................................................................................................... 1 Graduate Student Profile ............................................................................................ 1 2. English Department Contacts .........................................................................................................2 Graduate Program Chair ............................................................................................. 2 English Department Chair ........................................................................................... 2 First-Year Writing Program Administrator .................................................................. 2 Department Coordinator ............................................................................................ 2 Department Staff Assistant ......................................................................................... 2 3. Description of the Program ............................................................................................................2 Master of Arts in English ............................................................................................. 2 Graduate Course load ................................................................................................. 3 Plan of Study ............................................................................................................... 3 Option 1 Plan of Study: Thesis ..................................................................................... 3 Option 2 Plan of Study: Non-thesis (Coursework) ....................................................... 3 Possible Areas of Specialization .................................................................................. 4 Graduate Certificates ................................................................................................... 4 Certificate in Advanced Writing ............................................................................. 4 Certification in Technical Communication ............................................................. 5 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages ................................................. 6 Graduate Minor in English ........................................................................................... 7 Minors Outside the English Department ..................................................................... 8 Interdisciplinary Minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies .................................... 8 4. Applying to the English Graduate Program .....................................................................................8 Admission Status ......................................................................................................... 9 Unconditional Admission ............................................................................................. 9 Provisional Admission .................................................................................................. 9 Unclassified Admission (Non-Degree) ......................................................................... 9 5. Teaching Assistantships (TAs) in English…………………………………………………………………………9 Application Requirements ........................................................................................... 9 Application Materials ................................................................................................. 10 Application Cover Letter .............................................................................................. 10 Statement of Purpose .................................................................................................. 10 Writing Sample ............................................................................................................ 10 Three Letters of Recommendation .............................................................................. 10 GRE Scores (TAs only) .................................................................................................. 10 Length of Appointment ............................................................................................... 10 Course Load ................................................................................................................. 11 Compensation and Benefits ........................................................................................ 11 6. Graduate Coursework................................................................................................................... 11 Required Coursework for All Students ........................................................................ 11 8010 Seminar: Literary Research ................................................................................. 11 8030 Seminar: Field Based Research Methods ............................................................ 11 Additional Required Coursework for All Teaching Assistants ..................................... 11 8020 Seminar: College Writing Instruction .................................................................. 11 Updated Fall 2016 English Master’s Program Handbook ii Seminars ...................................................................................................................... 11 Transfer Credits ........................................................................................................... 12 Independent Studies ................................................................................................... 12 7. Comprehensive Exams (Comps) .................................................................................................... 13 Reading Lists ................................................................................................................ 13 Comps Mandatory Information Meeting .................................................................... 14 Planning and Preparing for the Exam ......................................................................... 14 Signing up for Comps ....................................................................................... 14 Seeking Advice ................................................................................................. 14 Choose a Reading List ...................................................................................... 14 Forming Study Groups and Sharing Notes ....................................................... 14 Practice Exams and Simulating the Exam Environment ................................... 14 Exam Logistics ............................................................................................................. 15 Exam Structure ............................................................................................................ 15 Grading ........................................................................................................................ 15 Notification of Results ................................................................................................. 15 8. Theses .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Overview of Thesis ...................................................................................................... 16 Nature and Length of Thesis ....................................................................................... 16 Choosing Thesis Director and Topic ............................................................................ 16 Process of Registering for Thesis................................................................................. 17 Completion and Defense of Thesis ............................................................................. 17 9. Internships ................................................................................................................................... 18 10. Grades .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Grade Point Average ................................................................................................... 18 Grades of Incomplete .................................................................................................. 18 Petitioning for Reinstatement Policy .......................................................................... 18 11. Advising ........................................................................................................................................ 19 12. Scholarships and Awards .............................................................................................................. 19 Helen Hanson Outstanding Graduate Student Award ................................................ 20 Presidential Graduate Fellowship: Master’s Students ................................................ 20 Summer Graduate Scholarship ................................................................................... 21 Regents Tuition Waivers ............................................................................................. 22 Graduate Thesis Scholarship ......................................................................................