Master's Examination

  Overview

Students pursuing the MA examination option will prepare for and take the exam during their final semester of study (typically in their fourth semester). The MA exam comprises two parts. The first part is a 3½ -hour written exam, covering a specialized topic of the student's choice (1½-2 hours) and a larger but complementary field of interest, such as a literary historical period, a literary genre, or a literary theory (1½-2 hours). The second part is a 1-hour oral defense, covering the same fields of study as the written portion. A student must pass the written portion of the exam with a passing score before he or she may sit for the oral defense. A three-member examination committee develops and assesses the exam. One member of the examination committee serves as the student's reading director, supervising English 5940 (MA Exam Tutorial), which the student takes during the semester of the exam.

 

 

Enrolling in English 5940 and Choosing an Examination Committee

In the semester prior to taking the exam (typically the third semester of study), the student must notify the Graduate Studies Coordinator of his or her intent to take the exam. During this semester the student must also select a faculty member to serve as reading director for English 5940. In consultation with the reading director, the student will develop a reading list for the exam and select two other faculty members to serve on the examination committee. The student must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of both the reading list and the examination committee. This petition should be sent to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than the thirteenth week of the semester.

 

The petition should describe the specialized topic and complementary field of interest, and clearly explain their relationship. The reading list should be structured in at least two sections, separating items respective to the specialized topic and complementary field of interest. The reading list for the specialized topic should include approximately 15-20 items, whether primary or secondary, comprising a core body of knowledge on that subject. The reading list for the complementary area should be broader, allowing a wider range of reading in a field related to the specialized topic. In the best instance, readings for the complementary area will be selected with the goal of contextualizing the specialized topic or opening up new avenues for thinking about it.

 

Examinees are encouraged to approach the examination with a concrete research objective in mind, for instance, writing a scholarly article, planning a syllabus on a specific topic, implementing a professional writing project, and so on. This objective may be discussed briefly in the petition.

 

Examination Committee Responsibilities

The reading director will serve as chair of the examination committee. The examination committee's primary responsibility is to develop and evaluate the exam. The committee must send a copy of the exam to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval at least three weeks prior to the written exam. The examination committee will evaluate the written portion of the exam with a score of either "pass with distinction," "pass," or "fail." A student must receive a score of at least "pass" before he or she may sit for the oral defense. The oral defense should be scheduled to take place within one week of receiving the results, and should be no longer than one hour. As a rule, all members of the examination committee will be present at the oral defene.

 

 

Examination Defense

The reading director and the examination committee attend the defense, with the reading director presiding over it. The defense is open to all members of the English Department as well as the public. Reading directors should advise candidates on some appropriate method of advertisement (normally, flyers are posted on the third floor of Coleman Hall). The MA candidate is responsible for scheduling the date, time, and location of the defense so that all members of the examination committee may attend and so that the defense takes place before the last day to file for graduation.

 

Note: Faculty are often not available during the summer. Students who wish to defend during the summer should check with faculty and make the appropriate arrangements.


Note: As a rule, a student who fails either part of the exam will wait until the next semester to be re-examined. With permission of the reading director and the Graduate Studies Coordinator, the exam may be scheduled earlier. On failing a second time, the student shall not be allowed to continue in the graduate program without the express permission of the Graduate Studies Committee after full review of his or her qualifications and progress.