Master of Arts in English
The MA degree in English will provide students with the theoretical and practical tools involved in advanced literary studies in English. Graduates of the MA program will be prepared for a variety of professions that value strong communication skills and a facility in writing and textual analysis—such as education, journalism, professional writing, publishing, law, consulting, or marketing—or for PhD research. The MA will emphasize a breadth of knowledge in the form of course work, and also encourage students to produce original, publishable research. Our mission is to train students to be successful scholars, who are capable of contributing to important literary and cultural knowledge, both within our field and within the culture at-large, and of disseminating their skills and knowledge widely. MA in English offers graduate studies in English within a stimulating and flexible environment, with the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary work. Courses in English and interdisciplinary approaches, historical periods and movements, genre, author studies, national and international literatures, and diversity facilitate a range of focuses and options as well as the potential for exciting intersections with Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies programs and courses.
The degree draws on the expertise of 17 faculty with national and international publications in every period of English literature from medieval to postmodern. Research focuses include: Medieval and Renaissance studies; 17th-century women’s writing; contemporary women’s writing; Restoration and 18th-century theatre; developments in the novel; Romanticism and the gothic; national and international literatures including American, Canadian, British, African, South Asian, New Zealand and South African; studies in the suburban culture of North America; modernity and postmodernity; diaspora studies; Indigenous writing in Canada; women’s literature; postcolonial studies; holocaust studies; life-writing; film and media studies; critical and literary theory; feminist and gender theory.
There are two ways to fulfill the requirements for an MA in English: the Masters Course Work Option and the Masters Thesis Option.
Masters Coursework Option:
The MA will deliver training in the theory, methods, and practice of Literary Studies in English. All MA students will be required to complete three core courses, addressing a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to English, the skills necessary to conduct textual research and other aspects of the profession. Additional training in the literature and culture of particular historical periods, genres, authors, and national literatures will be available in any given year via unique graduate English courses offered at the discretion of the Critical Studies Department. The student will also complete an independent research paper of publishable quality, worth 9 credits towards the MA degree.
Masters Thesis Option:
While a thesis-based MA is available, completion within one calendar year will require a highly-motivated student. To apply for the thesis MA, the student will submit a 1500-word proposal with complete bibliography by February 21st of the second term. The proposal will outline the intended program of study and the methodology. The proposal will be approved by the supervisor and one other reader, appointed by the Critical Studies Graduate Coordinator. Students completing an MA thesis will be required to take 6 courses and complete a thesis of 12 credits. The thesis will range from 15,000-20,000 words, depending on the topic under consideration. The thesis option requires an oral defense administered by Graduate Studies. The thesis student will need to complete all mandatory courses: ENGL 501, ENGL 502, ENGL 503, ENGL 599 (12 credit) and three of the English 520 series.
Graduation Requirements English MA coursework and thesis (30 credits) of the following:
- English 501, 502 and 503
- Three of English 521, 522, 523, 524, 525
- One additional course (coursework option students only), which may be chosen from English 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, or from other graduate programming in Critical and Creative Studies.*
- Graduate Colloquium
Additional requirements for MA coursework:
English 590: Independent Research Paper (9 Credits)
Additional requirements for MA Thesis:
English 599: Thesis (12 credits)
A defense will be held within 6 weeks of submission.
NB: * Coursework students, at the discretion of their supervisor, may enroll in up to one IGS graduate course outside Creative and Critical Studies, if their research program would benefit from further interdisciplinary work.
In keeping with the mandate of the University of British Columbia Okanagan to foster interdisciplinary research, each student will be required to complete at least 3 credits in interdisciplinary study by successfully completing English 502: Cultural Theory, which is a mandatory course. However, coursework option students may broaden the interdisciplinary component of their programs, by enrolling in a further 3 credits in other graduate programs or in other courses offered by IGS (Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies).
Last reviewed 
7/14/2011 2:31:16 PM
For further information contact:
Dr. John LeBlanc
Graduate Coordinator, Critical Studies
john.leblanc@ubc.ca
