Requirements for the MA in English Degree

A. Course Requirements (30 credits)

A master's degree in English requires 10 three-credit courses completed with a 3.0 overall grade point average and submission of a master's thesis.

Language and Rhetoric (9 credits)

Three courses [including a required course in the history and structure of the English language (EGL 509 or EGL 510 or approved substitute)] must be in linguistics, rhetoric or composition theory (EGL 506 or approved substitute), including problems in the teaching of composition (EGL 592 or approved substitute).

*Students who demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English are only required to complete two courses in Language and Rhetoric. Equivalent EGL courses previously taken on the undergraduate level and passed with a grade of B or better may be accepted as fulfilling these requirements but must be replaced with a graduate elective.

Topics in English Literature (9 credits)

Three courses must be taken in at least two of the following topic areas (or other courses as approved by the Graduate Program Director):

EGL 584: Topics in Genre Studies
EGL 585: Topics in Cultural Studies
EGL 586: Topics in Gender Studies
EGL 587: Topics in Race, Ethnic or Diaspora Studies
EGL 588: Writing Workshop

Note: Topic courses may be repeated as long as content varies. Courses run through the School of Professional Development are not accepted for English MA requirements without expressed permission of the graduate program director. 

Electives (9 credits)

Students will take three elective courses in English literature or other disciplines with the permission of the Graduate Program Director.

Master's Thesis (3 credits)

Students must register for EGL 598 while writing a master's thesis.

Pre-Colonial Requirement (3 credits)

Students must complete at least one course that covers literature before 1800. 

B. Independent Studies

Only one course numbered EGL 599, Independent Study, will be permitted to count toward the total courses required for the degree of Master of Arts in English. EGL 599 cannot be elected during the student’s first semester of work toward the master’s degree. EGL 599 may be elected during the second semester only if the student has a B+ average in the first semester and has no Incompletes at the time of registering for EGL 599. A proposal for an EGL 599 course should be submitted in writing to the faculty member under whose direction the student plans to study. This proposal must be submitted before the end of the semester previous to that in which the student will register for EGL 599. The proposal must be approved in writing by both the directing faculty member and the graduate program committee of the English Department before the student registers for EGL 599.

C. Competence in a Second Language

Students have the option of demonstrating competence in a language other than English in lieu of completing one of the three required courses in Language and Rhetoric. This competence may be demonstrated by having completed the second year of a foreign language at the undergraduate level within the past five years with a grade of B or better; by obtaining a grade of B or better on a 500-level reading/translation course or other graduate course offered in a non-English language or literature; or by examination arranged by the English department. The following languages are automatically accepted for fulfilling this requirement: Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Hindu, and Bengali. Other languages relevant to a student’s graduate program may be approved upon petition to the Graduate Program Director.

D. Master’s Thesis

Students enroll for EGL 598 while writing a master’s thesis of 30-40 pages under the guidance of a thesis advisor (chosen by the student with approval of Graduate Director) and an additional faculty member chosen by the student and the advisor. A final copy of the thesis and written approvals from the advisor and reader must be submitted to the Graduate School by the last day of classes in the semester in which the student graduates. Students must be registered in the semester in which they graduate.

E: Transfer Credit and Standards of Performance in English at the MA Level

The department permits the transfer of six hours of credit in suitable graduate work done elsewhere that resulted in a grade of B or better. The student must, however, make special application after admission. In all coursework done at Stony Brook, an average grade of B is the minimum required, but no more than two grades below B- will be permitted. The time limit for completion of the MA degree is three years for full-time students and five years for part-time students. Any student who plans not to enroll in classes for a semester must apply for an official leave of absence; failure to do so will lead to a lapse in enrollment. To re-apply, the student must pay a $500 readmission fee.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Graduate Program Director with any questions!