Master of Arts in English
Graduate Program Director: Jo Koster, 803/323-4557
Learn more on the M.A. English home page
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program for the Master of Arts degree in English usually requires the successful completion of 24 semester hours of approved courses in English, such as a major figures course, a period course, and a course in advanced composition or its equivalent at the undergraduate or graduate level, in addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study at Winthrop. Applicants are expected to have a GPA of 3.0 or better in all English courses and an overall GPA of at least 2.8 on a four-point scale.
In addition to the general admission requirements to graduate study at Winthrop, applicants should submit scores of 150 or higher on the verbal section (450 or higher on the pre-August 2011 verbal section) and 3.5 or higher on the analytic writing section of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. GRE scores more than five years old will not be considered. In lieu of the GRE, applicants may submit scores not more than five years old of at least 160/200 on the PRAXIS 0041 or 150 on the PRAXIS 0049/5049, or scores not more than five years old of at least 380 on the Miller Analogies Test.
Students wishing to be considered for assistantships or scholarships in the Department should also submit a writing sample consisting of an original critical paper on a literary or rhetorical/composition subject of at least ten double-spaced typed pages. This paper should be accompanied by a professor’s note that the paper being submitted was turned in by the student for the professor’s course and is, to the professor’s knowledge, free of plagiarism. Applicants who cannot provide such a sample or obtain such a note should consult the Graduate Program Director for alternatives.
Program Requirements With Thesis
The Master of Arts degree in English with thesis requires the completion of at least 36 hours of approved graduate level courses, including 6 semester hours of thesis. At least half the work presented for the degree must be 600-level courses. Students wishing to elect this option must apply for the approval of the English Graduate Committee after they have completed nine hours in the program; they may not register for ENGL 695 until that approval is granted.
Immediately upon entering the graduate program, the student should develop, with the assigned advisor, an individual course of study which meets the requirements for the degree and the student’s objectives.
To be eligible for graduation, a student must fulfill all course requirements and perform satisfactorily on a final comprehensive examination.
Required Program
Requirement (semester hours)
ENGL 600 Materials and Methods of Research in English or its equivalent* (3)
ENGL 602 Critical Theory or its equivalent* (3)
ENGL 695 Thesis** (3)
ENGL 696 Thesis** (3)
British Literature prior to 1784* (3)
British Literature after 1784* (3)
American Literature* (3)
A Major Figures course* (3)
Collateral courses in supporting areas or departments* (0-9)
500-600 level ENGL electives (0-30)
Total Semester Hours 36
Note: Registration for GSTC 600, Continuing Graduate Studies, may be required. Check with advisor.
*These requirements are to assure a variety of experiences. If the student has a strong background in a particular area, he or she may substitute another course or area in consultation with the advisor.
**Before registering for ENGL 695, Thesis, the student must have successfully completed 9 semester hours of a foreign language or have passed a language examination approved by the department.
Program Requirements Without Thesis
The Master of Arts degree in English without a thesis requires the completion of at least 36 hours of approved graduate level courses. At least half the work presented for the degree must be 600-level courses.
Immediately upon entering the graduate program, the student should develop, with the assigned advisor, an individual course of study which meets the requirements for the degree and the student’s objectives.
To be eligible for graduation, a student must fulfill all course requirements and perform satisfactorily on a final comprehensive examination.
Required Program
Requirement (semester hours)
ENGL 600 Materials and Methods of Research in English or its equivalent* (3)
ENGL 602 Critical Theory or its equivalent* (3)
British Literature prior to 1784* (3)
British Literature after 1784* (3)
American Literature* (3)
A Major Figures course* (3)
Collateral courses in supporting areas or departments* (0-12)
500-600 level ENGL electives** (0-36)
Total Semester Hours 36
Note: Registration for GSTC 600, Continuing Graduate Studies, may be required. Check with advisor.
*These requirements are to assure a variety of experiences. If the student has a strong background in a particular area, he or she may substitute another course or area in consultation with the advisor.
**Students must have successfully completed 9 semester hours of a foreign language or have passed a language examination approved by the department before registering for the 25th semester hour of the program.
Graduate Faculty
English Home Page