Master of Arts in English
Theses and Comprehensives
A student who wishes to get an MA in English from WestConn has three options: the Literature Option, the Writing Option, and the TESOL Option. A thesis is required for the Writing Option, but students in the Literature and TESOL options may choose between:
- a six (6) credit Thesis or
- two electives and the Comprehensive Exam
to complete their programs.
A student electing to take the comprehensive examination will be tested on a reading list prepared by the English Department. The reading list covers historical periods of British and American literature, and includes thematic questions requiring comparative analysis of literary texts, periods, and genres. The list is published during the first week of the fall semester. The comprehensive exam is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Friday of the first week in December and the first week in May. Students should indicate to the Graduate Program Coordinator their intention to take the comprehensive by November 1st for the December exam and by April 1st for the May exam. The Graduate Program Coordinator will announce the specific time and place for each examination. (Note: A student with an "Incomplete" grade in any graduate course at Western Connecticut State University is ineligible to take the comprehensive examination until such time as the course has been completed and a grade assigned.)
Students electing the thesis option should register for ENG 591, Independent Thesis Research in English. A student electing to write a thesis must do so under the guidance of an English Department faculty member who agrees to direct the student's work. All thesis topics must be approved by the English Department. Students choosing to write a thesis should therefore consult with the graduate advisor as well as the thesis director. A student who wishes to write a thesis in the English Department must obtain a copy of "English Department Guidelines" and follow the procedures described therein.
