Department of English M.A. and Ph.D. Degree Requirements

In Addition to the Graduate School Degree Requirements, the Department of English requires the following of its Graduate Candidates:

Master's Degree

Master’s Degree: 30 credits—at least 24 credits plus 1-6 credits ENG 599 (thesis) OR ENG 595 (portfolio). Both options require a related oral defense. ENG 510/511 and ENG 514 are required. The specialization in rhetoric and composition studies requires ENG/WRT 512 and 524.

Doctoral Degree

Doctoral Degree: 72 credits—30 credits approved for M.A. work; 24 credits of course work plus 18 credits of dissertation research. Three written comprehensive examinations, one of which may be a submittable article, and an oral examination. A dissertation and an oral defense of the dissertation. For specializing in rhetoric and composition, ENG/WRT 512, 645, and 647 are required. A limited number of 500 and 600 level courses in other departments and programs may be used for program credit if approved as part of the student’s program of study before the course is taken. (In some cases, a research tool may be required by a student’s doctoral committee in consultation with the director of graduate studies.) ENG 510/511 and ENG 514 are required.