T
he MA in English encourages a wide exposure to the field, while permitting students to pursue more focused interests. MA students at Virginia broaden their knowledge of literature in English, deepen their understanding of literary history, and strengthen their grasp of the critical approaches that are current within literary studies. Students exercise analytic, interpretive, and communicative skills that are essential to effective teaching and research, and for which an increasing demand exists outside the academy.

The requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English may be completed in three semesters. A fourth, optional semester is typically taken by those electing to write a thesis as their final exercise. (NB: There are various enrollment patterns available to second-year MAs, each with specific tuition implications.) The BA/MA - for select students already pursuing a BA at Virginia - may be completed in one academic year of full-time graduate coursework and a final exercise. The MA in English is a terminal degree; candidates may move to the PhD only by rejoining the pool of outside applicants for that program.

Course Requirements

Nine graded courses. The only mandatory course is ENCR 801, Introduction to Literary Research. This three-credit course, offered during one full-time week in late August and graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis, is a practical introduction to the techniques and uses of literary scholarship, tied to the resources of the University library system. In addition to ENCR 801, the MA requires eight graded graduate courses (at the 500, 800, or 900 level) taken in residence at the University and completed with a grade of B or higher.  These courses must satisfy the following distribution requirements:

  • two courses in different periods of literature before 1800

  • one course in the history of criticism or literary theory

Normally students studying for the MA take courses at the 500 and 800 levels. However, MA students with a strong interest or preparation in the subject of a particular 900 level seminar are encouraged to enroll, after securing the permission of the instructor. It is not recommended that MA students take a seminar in the first semester of graduate study. Students also register for several place-holder courses in order to meet credit hour requirements set by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Please note that one of these must be ENXX 991. The Graduate School allows no transfer credit toward the MA. Students who receive two or more failing grades will not be permitted to remain in the program.

Incompletes

Students are strongly advised to stay current with their work and to complete all courses at the time they are taken. With the written agreement of the instructor, however, students may be given a grade of "Incomplete" in one course each semester. According to GSAS policy, outstanding work must then be completed by the end of the following semester, after which remaining incompletes automatically default to permanent Fs. Agreements between instructors and students regarding incompletes should include a specific due date and be placed on file with the Graduate Office.

Foreign Language Requirement

MA students are required to demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language relevant to their course of study. This requirement is normally satisfied by passing a translation exam given by the appropriate language department at the University.   With approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, students also may satisfy the MA requirement with an intermediate or advanced course taken as an undergraduate in which they received a grade of B or better.

Final Exercise

As the concluding element in their MA program, students elect one of three options, in consultation with their assigned faculty advisor. By May 1st of their second semester, students submit the MA Final Exercise application. Students then complete the exercise in either their third or, if they wish, fourth semester at the University. Those opting for a critical or pedagogy thesis should deliver two copies to the Graduate Office; these are due two weeks before the final GSAS deadline. See the GSAS website for exact deadlines in a given semester. Those opting for an oral examination, whether in the fall or the spring, must submit an approved orals list to the graduate office by October 1 of their final academic year.

  • An MA critical thesis of 10,000 to 15,000 words. A faculty director must agree in advance to supervise and evaluate the thesis; a second reader is assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies once the completed thesis is submitted. Upon acceptance of the thesis as satisfactory, the student prepares a final copy in accordance with paper and format regulations set by the Graduate School, and the thesis is permanently archived in the University Library. Students preparing an MA thesis enroll during their third semester in ENGL 895 (MA Thesis Research), which counts as one of their nine courses.

  • An MA pedagogy thesis correlated to undergraduate or secondary teaching: the preparation and rationalization of a detailed course syllabus, including an explanation of assignments and a bibliography.  Theses should draw on and demonstrate the relevance of graduate course work to practicing and thinking about pedagogy. A faculty director must agree in advance to supervise and evaluate the thesis. A second reader is assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies.

  • A one-hour oral examination, conducted by two faculty members appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies, on a topic and list of readings submitted by the student. Lists normally consist of ten primary texts and two or three secondary texts taken from the departmental list in the student's chosen area. Alternatively, students may devise an examination list of the same scope with its own principle of coherence (thematic, generic, or the like). Such improvised lists must include a one-page proposal, explaining the choice of texts and rationale for bringing them together. All orals lists must be approved by an area committee head or other appropriate faculty member as well as the Director of Graduate Studies.

MA in English and Medieval Studies

The Program in English and Medieval Studies is an interdisciplinary program offered in cooperation with a variety of departments, such as History, French, Italian and Religion. It is designed for students whose central interest is in English literature but who wish to study other literatures and related disciplines. Like the Department's regular MA program, it may be completed in three semesters.

Course Requirements

A total of ten courses including the short course in research methods, ENCR 801, required of all graduate students in English. (Note: This is one more than for the regular MA.) The ten courses must include the following:

  • A seminar in Medieval Studies, ENMD 885: "Mapping the Middle Ages--Literature, Art, and Culture from Late Antiquity to the Invention of Printing in Western Europe." Using a selection of major literary texts as its focal point, this course examines the artistic, architectural, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural climates of a seminal period in the history of Western thought. Taking an approach that is both cross-disciplinary and international, it explores such subjects as changing attitudes toward religious faith, spirituality, selfhood, class, gender, political power, truth, and poetry.

  • Four other courses in medieval topics. At least two, but no more than three, of these courses should be taken in other departments than English.

  • An English course in the Renaissance and one in Criticism or Theory

  • Two other English courses

Students in Medieval Studies who are also in the PhD program must eventually satisfy the following additional requirements: ENMD 883, Prolegomena to Medieval Literary Research (or an approved equivalent), one course post-1800, and some further language requirements specific to this area (see PhD requirements).

Language

The language requirement is the same as for the MA in English; that is, students must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language.

Other Requirements

Other requirements are the same as for the MA in English. Students should consult with the Program Director to determine which of the three options listed in the handbook may constitute their final exercise.

Customized Programs

A student may petition the departmental Graduate Committee for approval of a self-designed MA program, provided it is comparable in rigor and intellectual coherence to the regular MA curriculum. Before seeking such a program, however, students should be aware how much flexibility the standard program permits. For example, candidates may receive permission from the Director of Graduate Studies to include up to two courses from other departments as part of their degree program. Thus students can pursue interdisciplinary or comparative literature interests under our existing rules, even if no established interdisciplinary program meets their needs.

Time Limit

Requirements for the MA must be completed within five calendar years of the initial date of enrollment. In special cases, upon petition and with approval of the Department, an extension may be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School.