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Comprehensive Examinations for the M.A. Degree

The department administers the comprehensive examination for the M.A. degree each semester, in October and in March. Click here for upcoming Exam Schedule.

To sit for the comprehensive examination, students must:

  • Complete at least 24 hours of graduate course work in the Department of English.
  • Fill out an application form (available from the Graduate Secretary) by the deadline announced in advance of the test date, and return it to the Director of Graduate Studies.

  • Complete a program of courses form (available from the Graduate Secretary).

  • Register for at least one hour of course work in the semester in which they sit for the exam.

Until one week before administration of the M.A. exam, a student may request to withdraw his or her name from the list of students to be examined. This request must be made in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies.

 

Nature of the examination

Examinations are tailored to the plans of study in the M.A. program and require the following:

British and American Literature

Reading List

Analysis of 6 texts (two from British literature before 1660, two from British literature after 1660, and two from American literature) and their place in historical and cultural context. The list of texts changes with each offering of the exam and is published in the first week of each semester.

English Education

Reading List

Questions on the theory, research, and methodologies of teaching the English language arts in middle and secondary schools. The list of readings changes with each offering of the exam and is published in the first week of the semester.

Film and Literature

Reading List

Three kinds of texts are set for this examination at the beginning of the semester: literary and cinematic theory; American and international cinema; and drama or fiction and their cinematic adaptations. The examination tests the ability to understand and use critical theory in literature and film analysis; to critique the literature-film relationship in adaptations; and to focus the issues and texts of literature-film research for pedagogical ends.

Linguistics/Stylistics

Reading List

Demonstration of a fundamental knowledge of the linguistic, literary, and rhetorical theories that inform stylistics and the ability to apply the theory and analytical techniques in the analysis of literary style.

Literature and Rhetoric/Composition

Reading List

A two-part examination, one part in literature and one part in rhetoric. The literature section requires students to analyze three selected texts, posted the first week of each semester, and to place them in historical context. The rhetoric section calls on students to relate selected rhetorical texts to the rhetorical tradition and to composition theory.

Rhetoric and Professional Writing

Questions on the theory of rhetoric and professional, technical communication; research methodologies; and specialized areas in technical communication. At least one semester before the examination, students should obtain reading lists of major sources from advisers in technical writing.

TESOL

Questions on TESOL theory and methodology; on core areas in linguistics; and on specialized areas in linguistics.

Procedures for the examination

  • Texts set for particular plans in the M.A. program are announced by the department during the first week of each semester.

  • Students may consult appropriate faculty members and copies of all past comprehensive examinations (on reserve in Founders Memorial Library Reserve Room) to prepare for the examination.

  • Examinations are prepared by three graduate faculty members with expertise in the plans of study for the degree.

  • Four hours are allotted for the examination, three for writing and one for revision and correction.

  • Students write the exam anonymously under an assigned letter code so that their identity is unknown to the examiners.

  • Students normally write the exam by computer. Contact the Graduate Secretary if you do NOT want this option.

Grading of the examination

  • When the papers have been written, the Director of Graduate Studies circulates them (identified only by a letter code) to each of the three examiners. Each examiner reads and grades exams and submits a grade of "pass," or "pass with distinction," or "fail" in a sealed envelope to the Director of Graduate Studies. If the results are not unanimous, the Director of Graduate Studies instructs the readers to hold a conference and issue a consensus ballot. When all ballots are returned, the Director of Graduate Studies tabulates the results and reports them, by mail, to each student.

  • The Director of Graduate Studies will arrange a conference with the committee for students who fail the examination so that they may understand the strengths and weaknesses of their performance in preparation to take the examination a second time.

  • The exam may be repeated only once. It may be retaken in any subsequent semester.

Time Limits

Students must complete all requirements for the M.A. degree in six years. If a student drops out of the program (i.e., does not enroll in any courses) for more than two years, he or she must re-apply through the Graduate School.

Graduation Procedures

  • At the time of graduation, students must prepare the list of courses actually completed and submit it to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval. The Director of Graduate Studies will give one copy to the student, place one copy in the student's department file, and send one copy to the Graduate School (which uses it to certify the satisfaction of degree requirements). Any subsequent changes to the Program of Courses must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and forwarded to the Graduate School.

  • Complete an application to graduate (available from the Graduate Secretary).

  • Pay a processing fee.