M.A. in English

For additional information contact program coordinator:

Barbara Schapiro Professor English Department   Craig-Lee Hall 355 (401) 456-8667 (401) 456-8027 bschapiro@ric.edu

Admission Requirements

• A completed application form accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonrefundable application fee.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in 24 credit hours of upper-level courses in English language and literature.
• An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Advanced Literature in English Examination (optional).
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from English professors.
• A plan of study approved by the advisor and appropriate dean.
• An interview.

Examination Plan

Under the examination plan (optional for M.A. in English) and upon completion of at least 24 credit hours of graduate course work, the student takes a written examination prepared and administered by the Department of English. The examination is based on reading lists in two of the following four categories: (1) British literature before 1800, (2) British literature since 1800, (3) American literature, and (4) theory or genre. Prior to the examination, the student, in consultation with faculty, will prepare reading lists for the two categories selected. The departmental graduate committee must approve the reading lists and will appoint faculty committees to conduct examinations. Guidelines for preparing reading lists are available from the departmental graduate advisor.

Thesis Plan

Under the thesis plan for the M.A. in English, students take English 592: Master's Thesis in their final semester of study toward the M.A. degree, during which they complete research for and write a master's thesis on a subject of their choice that has been approved by the departmental graduate committee. Students may also, as an option in a previous semester, take English 591: Directed Reading in preparation for the writing of the thesis. The thesis will be written under the direction of a faculty member of the student's choice and will be read by that faculty member and by a second reader appointed by the departmental graduate committee. The thesis will normally be a substantial critical or research paper (though different kinds of projects are possible) of approximately 50 to 70 pages in length. A defense of the thesis before a faculty committee is required.

For the M.A. in English - Creative Writing, students take English 592: Master's Thesis in their final semester, during which they complete a substantial body of creative writing that is accompanied by a critical preface. This thesis will be written under the direction of a Creative Writing faculty member of the student’s choice after the Creative Writing Advisory Committee has approved the proposal. Students may also, as an option in a previous semester, take English 591: Directed Reading in preparation for the writing of the thesis. A defense of the thesis before a faculty committee is required.

Course Requirements

Note: The M.A. program in English does not lead to teacher certification. Students interested in certification to teach English in the secondary school should see Secondary Education in the section titled Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.