English - Text / Community / Discourse (MA)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Master of Arts in English

Program Website: MA in English: Text / Community / Discourse

Field(s) of Specialization

Text / Community / Discourse

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

The MA in English has a Field of “Text/Community/Discourse.” As mutually informing concepts, “text,” “community” and “discourse” suggest the power of texts to reflect and to shape both communities of origin and communities of reception. The program also focuses critical attention on the kinds of negotiation - both material and theoretical - attending the production, performance, and reception of texts. Literary and textual problems acquire richer significance when viewed in relation to the ways in which texts, both literary and non-literary, are produced and used in the often conflicting discourses that constitute the culture of a community.

The program offers both a Thesis option and a Major Research Paper option. The Major Research Paper option should be completed in 3 terms (1 year), while the Thesis option will normally be completed in 6 terms (2 years).

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of four-year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in English Literature, with a minimum average of B+. Applications with a co-major in English and a related discipline will be considered, although such students may be required to take additional qualifying undergraduate courses.

Exceptions for students with unique circumstances will be considered.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of candidates.

Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.

Degree Requirements

All students are required to take the two core courses, ENGL 5P00 and ENGL 5F01 . Major Research Paper students must take four additional ENGL courses selected from the variable topics offerings; Thesis students take three such additional ENGL courses.

With the guidance of the Graduate Program Director, students can take a course from one of the other MA programs in the university or a reading course/tutorial (ENGL 5P02 ) in place of a course from the variable topics list.

Major Research Paper students will, with the guidance of the Graduate Program Director, arrange for a supervisor and a second reader and shall choose a topic in consultation with the supervisor, the second reader and the Graduate Program Director.

A Thesis student will, with the guidance of the Graduate Program Director, arrange for a thesis supervisor; the student and the supervisor will, with a supervisory committee appointed by the Graduate Program Director, choose a thesis topic.

For a full list of graduate course offerings by subject area, please refer to the Courses tab in the navigation menu.