NDSU’s English Department recognizes that languages and literatures are prime expressions of cultures, and it is dedicated to exploring what connects cultures as well as what distinguishes them. Whether investigating literature from Ireland, literacy research, new media production, or the rhetoric of the health professions, the departments explores texts and cultures on a global scale.

Requirements

The Master of Arts program consists of 27 credit hours of letter-graded course work in two tracks (composition and literature) with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and the 3-4 credit Master's paper or the 6-10 credit Master’s Thesis. Both tracks require English 760, Graduate Scholarship (normally taken during the student’s first fall semester in residence) and English 797, Master’s Paper, or English 798, Master’s Thesis. Students must have intermediate competency in one foreign language by the time the program of study is completed.

Study Options

Areas of study have been developed in order to shape a coherent curriculum for students wishing
to focus their studies in one area of English Studies. If students wish to pursue a more flexible or
varied Program of Study, they should consult with the Department Head or an adviser in order to
discuss alternative arrangements.

A. Composition Option:

The composition option offers students grounding in the theory, teaching, and
research of writing in a variety of settings. Coursework will also allow students the
opportunity to extend writing competency in academic, professional, and, to a lesser
extent, creative writing. Graduates with an M.A. in English, composition option, will be
competitive for jobs in corporate training, grant writing, technical communication, web
development, and college and university teaching positions (non-tenure track). In
addition, graduates will be well positioned to pursue doctoral degrees in rhetoric,
composition, education, professional communication or allied fields.

1. English 760, Graduate Scholarship
2. Two required courses:

a. English 755, Composition Theory
b. English 756, Composition Research

3. Three electives in Composition
4. One course in literature
5. One course in linguistics
6. One elective
7. English 797, Master’s Paper, or English 798, Master’s Thesis

Literature Option:

This option is designed to provide a broad background in English literatures and
the theoretical approaches used in their study. With the guidance of their adviser,
students may shape the literature option as a preparatory course for further graduate or
professional study, or as a means of career enhancement. Graduates with an M.A. in
English, literature option, would have the preparation necessary to apply to Ph.D.
programs in English, law school, and non-tenure-track college teaching positions. A
graduate degree in literature is also excellent preparation for a range of primary and
secondary education positions as well as a broad range of business opportunities.

1. English 760, Graduate Scholarship, and English 762, Critical Theory
Literature Core: 6 credits in British and 6 credits in American literature.
At least three credits must be in pre-1900 American or pre-1660 British
and at least three credits must be in post-1900 American or post-1660
British. Three credits in multicultural or post colonial literature is
recommended.
2. One course (3 credits) in composition or linguistics
3. Two elective courses (6 credits), literature recommended
4. English 797, Master’s Paper or English 798, Master’s Thesis

PhD Proposal

The department has a PhD proposal before the North Dakota University System's Board of Higher Education.  A final decision on the proposal should be made in the fall of 2007 or spring 2008