English, M.A./M.S.

Research - Choose 3 hours from

• ENGL 5533 - Literary Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5553 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5563 - Research Methods in Writing Studies

Culminating project - 6 hours

• ENGL 6983 - Thesis
• ENGL 6993 - Thesis

1. Select Graduate Advisory Committee

Prior to registering for ENGL 6983 , the student will form a committee   of no fewer than three graduate faculty members to guide the project. The student must obtain members’ signatures on the Graduate Advisory Committee form and on the student’s written project description and submit both documents to the Graduate Coordinator. Once this paperwork is received, the student will be considered a candidate for the degree and may register for ENGL 6983 .

2. Enroll in ENGL 6983: Prepare Reading List, Thesis Project Proposal, and Thesis Outline

1. During the first semester of thesis work, the student will consult with the GAC, prepare a Reading List approved by the GAC, and submit a written Thesis Project Proposal. This proposal must be presented by week 10 and include the following sections:

• Description of the research question
• Review of literature pertaining to the research question

2.  Once the GAC has approved the Thesis Project Proposal, the student will prepare a Thesis Outline for the committee’s review. Upon satisfactory completion of these requirements (having prepared the Reading List, Thesis Project Proposal and Thesis Outline), the student will be permitted to begin work on the thesis.
3. Failure to complete the requirements for the ENGL 6983  will make the student ineligible to enroll in ENGL 6993 . Under these circumstances, no creits will be granted for ENGL 6983  and the transcript grade will remain “X” which will not influence the student’s graduate GPA. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Department Chair.
4. Students may not complete requirement for ENGL 6983  in the same semester in which they present their theses.

3. Enroll in ENGL 6993: Final Presentation of the Thesis

1. Documentation and title in these will be formatted according to the requirements of the Graduate School and the current editions of either the MLA Handbook [for Writers of Research Papers]  or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, based on GAC approval, and the writing will reflect the conventions of edited American English.
2. Depending on when graduation is planned, the student will be expected to deliver a reading copy of a thesis to the GAC by the end of the fifth week within any long semester or six weeks prior to Summer II finals for an August graduation. Individual members of the GAC will hold the copy for consideration no longer than seven school days. Students presenting theses for reading will make sure that the delivery dates are known in advance and that deliveries of thesis copies are acknowledged by GAC members. Students will be expected to make appropriate revisions and submit a final copy of the thesis to the GAC and the thesis will be approved before the presentation is given.
3. While preparing the thesis, the students also will schedule the Final Presentation, which must take place at least one week prior to the final day to submit theses to Graduate School. The Final Presentation will be held only if the thesis has been approved by the GAC. The presentation will be open to the university community: faculty members besides the committee and students will be invited to attend. The advisor will notify the university community of the time and place of the presentation. The presentation will be held in a classroom or conference room in the department and should run no longer than 90 minutes: approximately 30 to 45 minutes for the student’s presentation and the remaining time for questions. Students should have a prepared presentation that explains their topic, the research and/or data gathering process, the method of analyses, the theoretical perspectives, findings, and conclusion. The GAC chair will act as the moderator of the presentation. When the questioning has run its course, the chair will excuse everyone except members of the GAC, who will evaluate the student’s presentation.

Research - Choose 3 hours from

• ENGL 5533 - Literary Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5553 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5563 - Research Methods in Writing Studies

Culminating project - 6 hours

• ENGL 6983 - Thesis
• ENGL 6993 - Thesis

1. Receive Approval from Graduate Writing Faculty and Select Graduate Advisory Committee

Prior to registering for ENGL 6983 , the student must receive approval from the Graduate Creative Writing Faculty to pursue a creative thesis and form a committee  of no fewer than three graduate faculty members to guide the project. The student must obtain members’ signatures on the Graduate Advisory Committee form and on the student’s written project description and submit both documents to the Graduate Coordinator. Once this paperwork is received, the student will be considered a candidate for the degree and may register for ENGL 6983 .

2. Enroll in ENGL 6983: Prepare Reading List, Thesis Project Proposal, and Thesis Outline

1. During the first semester of thesis work, the student will consult with the GAC, prepare a Reading List approved by the GAC to support the critical preface, and submit a written Thesis Project Proposal. This proposal must be presented by week 10 and include a ten-page justification of the critical and contextual merit of the project. This description will serve as the basis for the required critical preface to the creative-writing thesis. 
2. Once the GAC has approved the Thesis Project Proposal, the student will prepare a Thesis Outline for the committee’s review. Upon satisfactory completion of these requirements (having prepared the Thesis Project Proposal and Thesis Outline), the student will be permitted to begin work on the thesis.
3. Failure to complete the requirements for ENGL 6983  will make the student ineligible to enroll in ENGL 6993. Under these circumstances, no credits will be granted for ENGL 6983  and the transcript grade will remain “X” which will not influence the student’s graduate GPA. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Department Chair.
4. Students may not complete requirements for ENGL 6983  in the same semester in which they present their theses.

3. Enroll in ENGL 6993: Final Presentation of the Thesis

1. Documentation and titles in theses will be formatted according to the requirements of the Graduate School and the current edition of the MLA Handbook [for Writers of Research Papers], and the writing will reflect the conventions of edited American English.
2. Depending on when graduation is planned, the student will be expected to deliver a reading copy of a thesis to the GAC by the end of the fifth week within any long semester or six weeks prior to Summer II finals for an August graduation. Individual members of the GAC will hold the copy for consideration no longer than seven school days. Students presenting theses for reading will make sure that the delivery dates are known in advance and that deliveries of thesis copies are acknowledged by GAC members. Students will be expected to make appropriate revisions and submit a final copy of the thesis to the GAC-and the thesis will be approved-before the presentation is given.
3. While preparing the thesis, students also will schedule the Final Presentation, which must take place at least one week prior to the final day to submit theses to the Graduate School. The Final Presentation will be held only if the thesis has been approved by the GAC. The presentation will be open to the university community: faculty members besides the committee and students will be invited to attend. The advisor will notify the university community of the time and place of the presentation. The presentation will be held in a classroom or conference room in the department and should run no longer than 90 minutes: approximately 30 to 45 minutes for the student’s presentation and the remaining time for questions. Students will have prepared a presentation that describes the creative thesis and the critical and contextual merit of the project and includes a reading from the creative work. The GAC chair will act as the moderator of the presentation. When the questioning has run its course, the chair will excuse everyone except members of the GAC, who will evaluate the student’s presentation.

Research - Choose 3 hours from:

• ENGL 5533 - Literary Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5553 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
• ENGL 5563 - Research Methods in Writing Studies

Culminating project - 3 hours

• ENGL 6963 - Non-Thesis Applied Project *

• OR

• ENGL 6973 - Comprehensive Written Examination **