M.A. in English

I. General Information

The 45 credit M.A. in English is designed for students who are prepared to undertake advanced work in the field. The program provides a range of courses in literatures in English, including British and American literature; composition, and rhetorical theory; and literary history, theory, and critical methods. The motives and destinations of the students in the program vary. Some go on to doctoral study in English, others to teach in high schools or community colleges, still others pursue the degree for their own interest and enrichment.

II. Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study is granted on the basis of satisfactory evidence of preparedness to undertake advanced work and the probability of successful completion of the degree.

Applicants are expected to hold the B.A. in English, with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all English courses. Applicants whose bachelor's degree is not in English may be considered for admission if they have taken 20-30 credit hours in British and American literature and writing (to include British and American literature survey courses, as well as upper division coursework), with a 3.25 GPA. In addition they will need to submit the materials listed below.

Those applicants who do not hold a B.A. in English, with a 3.25 GPA or have equivalent undergraduate coursework, with a 3.25 GPA, may still be considered for admission if they have 16 credits of graduate English courses and submit the materials listed below.

III. Application Procedure

Students must apply to the University and to the English department. The application packet, which contains both forms, is available online and from the Department of English. Send the completed University application, official transcripts and fee to: Admissions, Portland State University, Box 751, Portland, OR 97207. Send the completed Department application, writing samples and transcripts to: Department of English, Portland State University, Box 751, Portland, OR 97207. The PSU catalogue (Bulletin), available from the University Bookstore, covers the University's GPA stipulations.

Submit to University:

• University Graduate Application
• Application fee (by check) $50.00
• Complete set of sealed transcripts*

Submit to English Department (in one self-contained packet):

• Departmental Application
• Statement of purpose—why do you want to do advanced work in English? What led you to this decision? Why Portland State?
• Complete set of transcripts (copies acceptable)*
• Three letters of academic recommendation [Should a professor prefer to send the recommendation directly to the M.A. in English Graduate Coordinator, this is acceptable, but you are responsible to remind him/her of the Feb. 1 deadline.]
• Two recent samples of written work, including at least one scholarly essay
• GRE scores [English subject test not required at this time, but strongly suggested as valuable for our decision]
• Stamped, self-addressed notification postcard

Optional (to Department):

• Graduate Assistant Application and statement of purpose for teaching

*Students who attended PSU as undergraduates must submit a PSU transcript (official or unofficial) to the English Department, but do not need to submit a copy of their PSU transcript to the University. If you are currently taking post-baccalaureate courses at PSU, include a copy of your transcript or list your in-progress courses.

There is a once a year admission deadline for the MA in English program: February 1 of each year for the following academic year. The deadline for Graduate Assistantships is also February 1. Applications must be postmarked by February 1 to be reviewed for admission. If you need assurance that we have received your packet, the Post Office can provide delivery confirmation. Admissions decisions are generally made by April 1. You will be notified by mail of your admissions status at that time.

N.B. Not ready to apply yet? Been away from academic life for a while? If you already have a B.A., why not try a graduate course in ENG or WR as a postbaccalaureate student? Many graduate classes (with some restrictions), if there are spaces, accept postbac students, and it is an opportunity to try out advanced study in the field, as well as to meet our faculty and current graduate students. Graduate credits earned this way may generally be transferred into our Masters program, if you are accepted later, up to 16 credits. The Office of Graduate Studies website has information on applying as a postbaccalaureate student: http://www.pdx.edu/admissions/grad_postbac.html

IV. Enrollment

If you do not begin classes the term you are accepted, you must ask to have your admission forwarded to another term (deferred). Otherwise your admission will be dropped.

V. Advising

Each student will be assigned an adviser upon admission to the program. Students are urged to contact their advisers for help in planning their programs. The adviser's signature is required on various approval forms the candidate submits. The adviser is ordinarily the chair of the student's examination committee.

Advisers are knowledgeable, but following department and University rules and regulations is ultimately the student's responsibility. Students, therefore, should be familiar with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this pamphlet, as well as with University deadlines and regulations published in the PSU Bulletin or available from the Office of Graduate Studies.

VI. Transfer Credit

A maximum of 16 hours of approved graduate transfer credit may be applied to the 45 hour Master's program. Students wishing to transfer credit should file form GO-11, as approved by the adviser, in the Office of Graduate Studies by the end of the first term of enrollment. Transferable credits are graduate credits graded "A" or "B" received from Portland State prior to admission to the graduate program or from another accredited institution.

**The overall time limit for finishing the Master's is seven years. Thus, students who wish to graduate Spring 2007, for instance, would not be able to count in their 45 hours credit from courses taken before Spring 2000.**

VII. Financial Assistance

For graduate students who are Oregon residents, the state sponsors the Oregon Laurels Tuition Remission program for graduate study. Information about the Laurels and other competitive scholarships is available in the PSU Bulletin and from the Office of Graduate Studies. English department nomination is required for three all-university competitions: the Oregon Sports Lottery, the University Club, and the Underrepresented Minority Graduate Student Pipeline scholarships.

The English department is limited in its resources for financial assistance. The department does offer s ome graduate assistantships. A fuller description and application information are provided in Section XVI of this pamphlet. The University Studies Program also offers opportunities for graduate assistantships. Interested students should contact that program for further information.

VIII. Plans of Study

Candidates for the M.A. in English choose one of three paths toward the degree:

• The three areas option, emphasizing comprehensive knowledge of three areas of English study
• The critical thesis option, permitting more specialized study
• The portfolio option, emphasizing reflection, revision and scholarly writing

All Master's in English students must complete ENG 596 (Problems and Methods of Literary Study), at least two ENG 507 seminars and eight credits of British or American literature, the basic content of which was written before 1800. In all three options, with adviser approval, 15 of the 45 credits may be chosen from relevant graduate courses that are offered outside the department. Finally, all Master's students must fulfill the foreign language requirement before they may take their exit exams (see Section IX of this pamphlet).

The Three Areas Option

This is the most popular option. Students choose three areas in which to be examined from the list provided under Advancement to Candidacy in Section XI of this pamphlet. The areas may be historical literary periods, genre studies, literary criticism, cultural studies, rhetoric and composition, and ethnic, post-colonial, and women's literatures. At least one of these areas must be in British Literature. Upon advancement to candidacy, students are given a two-hour written exam for each area (six hours total), followed by a one-hour oral exam. Students must also submit to their adviser for consideration two critical papers from graduate courses previously taken in the program.

The Critical Thesis Option

This option must be approved by the Graduate Committee based on a focused topic and closely-reasoned proposal. Only superior proposals will gain approval. If a proposal is rejected, the student must submit a new proposal the following quarter or consider one of the other two options. In addition to writing their theses, students take a three-hour general examination, testing their overall knowledge of literature and, where applicable, composition and rhetoric. The one-hour oral exam focuses on the thesis.

The Portfolio Option

This option must be approved by the Graduate Committee based on a closely-reasoned proposal that explains why this option best fits the student's circumstances. Students assemble a portfolio of their work, emphasizing three areas chosen from the list provided under Advancement to Candidacy in Section XI of this pamphlet. At least one area must be British Literature. For their portfolios students substantially revise previous work, learning the conventions of scholarly writing for publication, and write a reflective essay. After submitting their portfolios, students write a 10-12 page essay in response to a broad question developed by their committees. Students then take a one-hour oral exam on both the portfolio and the subsequent essay. A three-hour general examination may or may not be required, subject to Graduate Committee consideration. A handout providing more details regarding this option is available in the department office.

IX. Foreign Language Requirement

The English department faculty strongly believes in the value of knowing a foreign language for the study of English literature and language. Students are therefore encouraged to establish proficiency early in their programs.

In any event, before taking the final exams, the student must fulfill the foreign language requirement by successfully completing a qualifying examination or receiving a passing grade in an advanced course in a foreign language. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literature sets the foreign language policy for the University. Students should consult that department for current information about courses and examination times.

X. Policy On Independent Study

From 1 to 4 credits of independent study or internship per term may be arranged under ENG 501 (Research), ENG 505 (Reading and Conference), or ENG 509 (Practicum). The English department recognizes that independent study can be a valuable means of expanding the curriculum and allowing students to pursue special interests. Students wishing to pursue independent study should seek the approval of a faculty member willing to undertake the arrangement. Faculty time to supervise independent study during any given term is limited. By University policy, ENG 501 and ENG 505 coursework applicable toward the degree is limited to 12 hours in a 45-hour total program.

XI. Advancement To Candidacy

To advance to candidacy, the student must hold regular degree status. Any student admitted conditionally by the department should file a G0-7 with the Office of Graduate Studies as soon as the conditions of full admission have been met. Graduate students have a limit of seven years to complete their degree without losing course credits.

Additionally, candidates must:

• maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25
• fulfill the foreign language requirement
• complete ENG 596 and at least two ENG 507s
• complete eight credits of pre-1800 British or American literature
• complete a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours in English
• satisfy other conditions as applicable

In consultation with the adviser, the student prepares the GO-12 (Approved Graduate Degree Program) form. The GO-12 is to be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator the term prior to the term the student plans to take the final examinations.

On the G0-12 form the student lists the 45 credits of coursework to be offered for the degree. Students who choose the three areas option or the portfolio option should indicate on the form the areas they wish to test in from the following list. One area must be British:

• British Literature Beginnings to 1500
• British Literature 1500-1660 (excluding Milton)
• British Literature 1660-1780 (including all of Milton)
• British Literature 1780-1830 (The Romantics)
• British Literature 1830-1910 (Victorian/Edwardian)
• British Literature 1910-present
• American Literature 1607-1798 (Colonial/Puritan)
• American Literature 1798-1890 (19th Century)
• American Literature 1890-1940
• American Literature 1940-present
• Literary Criticism
• Rhetoric and Composition
• Women's Literature
• Ethnic Literatures
• Post Colonial Literatures
• Genre Studies: Poetry, Drama, or Prose Fiction
• Cultural Studies

The student, in consultation with his or her adviser and with the approval of the Graduate committee, selects department faculty examiners for each of the areas chosen, before forwarding the GO-12 to the Office of Graduate Studies. These examiners should be noted on the GO-12. Students are encouraged to prepare a list of readings accomplished for each area and to meet with their examiners. Students may consult examples of past examinations by contacting the Graduate Coordinator.

Thesis candidates also submit their GO-12 forms to the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Committee composes the general exam. The Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the student and the thesis adviser, appoints a member of the Graduate Committee to administer the general exam and to read the thesis. An appropriate second thesis reader is chosen from the department faculty.

M.A. examinations consist of a written and an oral component. M.A. Exams are offered three times a year, during fall, winter, and spring terms. Any exception needs to be negotiated with the Graduate Committee. Thesis students must have a representative from outside the English department on the orals committee. Students in the three-area option have an outside member on the orals committee only at the discretion of the student's adviser.

N.B. By University requirement, graduate students need to be enrolled for a minimum of one credit hour when taking any comprehensive and/or final examination.

XII. Critical Paper Requirement

This requirement applies only to candidates in the three areas option. After passing the written examinations, a candidate in the three areas option presents to the adviser four copies of each of two substantial papers written to fulfill the requirements of graduate coursework in English at PSU. The papers should be from different areas of study and should be unrevised, with comments made by the instructor and grade clearly visible. These papers are read by the student's committee prior to the oral exam and may become a part of the basis of the questioning.

XIII. Thesis Requirements

Candidates in the critical thesis path should plan to submit the thesis in the same term as they take their final written exam. No final oral examination can take place until both the thesis and the written exams have been completed. To allow timely review of the thesis, a candidate should provide a readable copy to each of the readers at least two weeks before the scheduled time of the orals. Thesis orals must be scheduled seven weeks before the end of the term of anticipated graduation.

XIV. Written Examinations

Written Examinations for three areas and creative thesis students are held once a quarter during the academic year, generally three weeks from the start of the quarter. For all candidates, the entire written examination (plus the thesis, if applicable) is read by the whole committee. For the three areas option, each area must be passed by a majority of the three English department committee members. For the thesis option, the general exam is read by the student's committee.

If the candidate fails to pass any part of the written exam, the student's committee meets to recommend a course of action. The candidate's right to retake the exam is not automatic. Usually, however, a committee recommends that the student be allowed to take a second examination over the whole or part(s) found unsatisfactory. The university requires a wait of at least three months before retaking any failed final exam. Should the student fail the second examination, disqualification from the program is automatic.

XV. Oral Examination

For thesis students, at the beginning of the term the student expects to graduate, the adviser files form GO-16 (Appointment of Final Oral Examination Committee) with the Office of Graduate Studies. The oral's committee consists of the written exam committee, the thesis adviser, and a PSU faculty member from outside the English department who acts as the University representative. Adviser and student may request particular outside faculty, but the final approval of the representative rests with the Office of Graduate Studies.

For three-area and portfolio students, the oral committee is the same as the written committee unless the adviser requests otherwise.

For portfolio students, the oral exam is a conversation conducted by the members of the portfolio committee. For an hour you will be asked questions about the portfolio, your take-home essay, and other related issues.

Ordinarily, the adviser chairs the oral's committee. For all three options, questions and discussion usually proceed from what the student has written but may range beyond that. Passing the oral examination requires a favorable majority vote of the committee. The committee may recommend that the student repeat the oral. In unusual circumstances, for instance failure to complete the foreign language requirement, the Office of Graduate Studies may require that even a successful oral be repeated once the deficiency is remedied.

As with the written exams, oral exams are either passed or not. No grades are assigned. If the approval of a thesis is involved, the committee must assign a grade to remove the In Progress grade on ENG 503 (Thesis).

XVI. Graduate Assistantships

The application deadline for English Graduate assistantships is February 1, with appointments to begin the following Fall term. Current forms and information may be requested by writing or calling the department. Students must be accepted in the M.A. program to be considered for an assistantship. The competition for assistantships is keen. Approximately one in ten applicants is offered a position.

Graduate assistants are appointed for three terms and receive tuition remission and a stipend. First-year GAs must attend a one-week workshop the week before school begins in September, and attend a weekly seminar on the theory and practice of composition led by the Director of Writing.

Those wishing to continue for a second year must receive a favorable review of their overall performance by the Director of Writing and the Graduate Committee.

In a two-year period, GAs rotate through a variety of assignments which may include tutoring in the University Writing Center, assisting a faculty member in a writing intensive course in another discipline, assisting in an English department literature course, teaching a section of WR 121 or WR 323, or serving as Assistant Director of Writing.

Graduate assistants are required to work 15 hours a week and must carry at least nine hours of graduate coursework each term of the appointment. By University regulation, GAs may not receive a grade of Incomplete in those nine hours, but thesis credits (ENG 503) listed In Progress do qualify.

XVII. Other Matters

For information on other important issues, including the possibility of dual master's degrees, petitions for exceptions to regulations, validation of out-of-date graduate credit, etc., students are advised to consult the PSU Bulletin or contact Prof. C. Rose, Graduate Studies Coordinator, at 725-3504 or by email at rosec@pdx.edu.