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The following information about course requirements and scheduling gives you an overview of our program. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact the program Coordinator, Dr. Andrea Kaston Tange (akastont AT emich DOT edu).
* LITR 510 and LITR 511 are the core courses that everyone must take to complete the program. 510 is a course that focuses on sharpening graduate-level research and writing skills and thinking about the study of literature as a profession. 511 is a theory course that introduces students to the complexities of and debates within a range of schools of critical theory that inform literary criticism. It is to your distinct advantage to take these courses at the earliest possible opportunity in your program of study, as they are designed to provide both skills and knowledge that will help you be successful in all of your other classes.
* It is advisable not to take more than three classes per semester, due to the heavy reading and writing loads you will encounter in graduate-level work. The university considers three classes a full-time load. Two classes is a full-time load if you are also working as a Graduate Assistant.
* All courses run either 5-6:15pm two days a week OR 6:30-9:10pm one day a week to accomodate the fact that most of our graduate students work full-time, many as teachers themselves.
* The graduate program is predominantly one that runs during the regular academic year. We do our best to offer one or two graduate courses in the Spring and/or Summer terms, but these offerings depend upon the willingness of faculty to take on additional teaching loads.
* Course descriptions of classes that will be offered in the upcoming semester are available on the Courses page of this site. Be sure to scroll down to the Graduate Courses section of this page.
* In addition to the ten courses you need to take to fulfill the degree, you also must EITHER take the MA exam OR write a thesis. More information on these options, and how to decide between them, can be found below.
* You should see an adviser to plan a Program of Study relatively early in your time here. While you can certainly read through the requirements below and choose classes that most interest you, an adviser can tell you things that the catalogue cannot. For example: there are some classes that we are only able to offer very infrequently due to staffing issues. The Literature Programs Coordinator, who serves as the primary adviser to students in the MA program, is also involved in the scheduling of classes, and will have information about what classes may be available in upcoming semesters, which can facilitate your scheduling. The current Literature Programs Coordinator is Natasa Kovacevic. You can reach her at nkovacev@emich.edu to schedule an advising appointment.
Graduate students in literature must complete 30 credit hours as designated below. Students must also maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program and pass the MA exam or complete a thesis.
1. Students must take LITR 510 Critical Practices in Literary Studies, preferably as early as possible in the program.
2. Students must take LITR 511 Literary Criticism, preferably right after completing LITR 510.
3. Students must take 2 courses (6 hours) in Medieval and/or Renaissance literature. Students can choose from the following or take any special topics courses that address these periods:
· LITR 512 Middle English Literature
· LITR 520 Old English Poetry
· LITR 530 Studies in Chaucer
· LITR 540 Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama
· LITR 541 Studies in Shakespeare
· LITR 545 Studies in Renaissance Literature
· LITR 592 Special Topics in Medieval/Renaissance Lit
4. Students must take 2 classes (6 hours) in 18th and/or 19th century literature. Students can choose from the following or take any special topics courses that address these periods:
· LITR 561 Studies in 18th Century Literature
· LITR 563 Studies in 18th Century Fiction
· LITR 565 Studies in 19th Century Fiction
· LITR 570 Studies in Romantic Literature
· LITR 575 Studies in Victorian Literature
· LITR 568 Studies in 19th Century American Poetry
· LITR 569 The American Renaissance: 1830-1860
· LITR 523 Realism and Naturalism in American Literature
· LITR 592 Special Topics in 18th or 19th Century Lit
5. Students must take 2 classes (6 hours) in 20th century literature. Students can choose from the following or take any special topics courses that address these periods:
· LITR 526 Studies in African-American Literature to 1945
· LITR 527 Studies in African-American Lit since 1945
· LITR 566 Studies in 20th Century British Fiction
· LITR 567 Studies in 20th Century Irish Literature
· LITR 576 Studies in 20th Century American Fiction
· LITR 577 Studies in 20th Century American Poetry
· LITR 580 Studies in Contemporary Literary Trends
· LITR 592 Special Topics in 20th Century Lit
6. Students must also take 2 elective or cognate courses (6 hours). Electives are any of the courses listed above that have not already been taken to satisfy the requirements. Thus, for example, if a student discovers a strong interest in 19th century American literature, it would be possible to take up to two additional courses in this area beyond satisfying the 18th/19th century requirement. A “cognate” is a graduate-level course in another program or department that reasonably fills a knowledge gap in a student's program of study. For example, a Renaissance History course would be a reasonable option for a student highly interested in that literary period. *
* Please note: Students who hold graduate assistantships teaching first-year writing must take ENGL 596, which will count as one of their electives. Students who choose to do a thesis instead of taking the MA exam will register for ENGL 692 (Thesis Credits) after their thesis proposals have been approved. ENGL 692 gives students 3 hours of credit for the process of writing the thesis, and it will count as one of a student’s electives.
Click here to be taken to the EMU Catalogue page for the MA in Literature program.
Many people who are hoping to go on for a PhD assume they need to write a thesis rather than take the MA exam. However, that is not necessarily the case. Here are some things to keep in mind as you are trying to decide between the two.
* The MA exam is typically a quicker process than writing a thesis. The exam is offered twice a year (the first Friday in December and first Friday in August). Most students will devote the spring/ summer to studying for the August exam, or the Fall term to studying for the December exam. A thesis, by contrast, typically takes a year or more to write.
* If you are planning to go straight through the MA program and into a PhD program, your thesis will not be complete enough to use as a writing sample by the time you have to apply for PhD programs.
* If you are planning to go on to a PhD program, you will most likely have to take the GRE Subject Test in Literature. Studying for the MA exam will help you do much better on that test.
* If you have a strong idea about a topic you would like to research in depth, the thesis is probably right for you.
* If you can be flexible about your graduation dates (in case the project takes longer than you think it might), the thesis may be right for you.
* If you know you need to be finished with the degree by a particular date in order to move, take a job, accept a promotion, etc., you may wish to take the exam.
Further information about the timeline for writing a thesis, the format of the MA exam, and the reading list for the exam can all be found in downloadable Word documents located in the box at the bottom of the sidebar to the right.
If you have any questions about any of these things, or would like to discuss which option is right for you, please see an adviser in person.
