Department of English
M.A. Literature and
Environment Emphasis

Specific Requirements

The M.A. Literature and Environment emphasis offers students the opportunity to do foundational study in literature that concerns the relationship between human beings and the natural world. The emphasis is designed to provide students with training in environmental literature and ecocriticism, with the possibility of interdisciplinary work. Course requirements are designed to serve a range of interests in literary and environmental studies. Students in the Literature and Environment emphasis participate in the activities sponsored by the Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities.

1. General Requirements. See the section above on general master's degree requirements.

2. Course Requirements.

a) Research Methods. English 711, Introduction to Graduate Study, is required and must be taken at the first opportunity. It is customarily offered each fall semester.

b) Ecocriticism and Theory. English 745, Ecocriticism and Theory, is required and must be taken at the first opportunity.

c) Literature and Environment Electives. The student must take at least two courses, including an optional internship, from the current list of approved electives (available from the Director of Graduate Studies).

d) English Electives. Students must take at least two courses in English to complement those listed as Literature and Environment courses. Neither English 711 nor independent studies may be used to meet this requirement.

e) Course in a Related Department. In consultation with the student’s committee, at least one upper-division or graduate course in a related department must be taken and passed with a grade of B or better. Possibilities would include but are not limited to courses in the departments of History, Geography, Anthropology, Philosophy, or Biology. Note: only graduate-level courses count toward the total number of graduate credits required for the degree.

3. Literature and Environment Retreats. Participation in an orientation retreat, held each August, is required of students just prior to their first semester. Participation in a professionalization retreat, held each spring, is also required of students in their first year.

4. Foreign Language or Auxiliary Training Requirement. Competence in one foreign language or (in the Literature and Environment emphasis only) auxiliary training in the discourse of a cognate discipline is required. The foreign language requirement is met as outlined above under general requirements for the master's degree program. The auxiliary training option is met by passing at least two graduate-level courses a related department such as History, Geography, Anthropology, Philosophy, or Biology with grades of B or better. Each student is expected to discuss his or her plans for meeting this requirement with the Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the first semester in the program. Students opting for the auxiliary training requirement must explain how their choice of courses makes a coherent, logical contribution to their program of study. Students choosing the auxiliary training option may use one of their courses to fulfill the "Course in a Related Department" requirement listed above.

5. Portfolio. Annually (normally in spring), each student will assemble a portfolio that documents the student's professional activity. The portfolio should begin with a list of contents, followed by a cover letter to the faculty review committee introducing the student (his or her activities and goals) and the materials in the portfolio. Portfolios should contain a curriculum vitae and may contain other materials such as syllabi designed by the student, conference papers, book reviews, writing samples, articles published or currently under consideration, materials from relevant professional activities, and letters of application for jobs or fellowships. After submission of the portfolio, the student meets with the committee to discuss its contents and to formulate plans for future work.

6. Comprehensive Examination (written). In consultation with the M.A. committee chair, each student will put together a reading list based on his or her particular topic or field of concentration. The list should consist of 10 to 15 items, eight of which should be book-length. The written portion of the comprehensive exam will be designed to demonstrate the student's mastery of the materials on this reading list.  The student will complete a one-day exam on the reading list. The exam questions will be set by the members of the student's M.A. committee, who will then evaluate the written exam.

7. Thesis (Plan A only). The first step is to prepare a prospectus, written in consultation with the student's advisory committee. The prospectus should constitute a sound plan for writing the thesis, and may include a bibliography and a tentative table of contents. The prospectus is normally approved before the student takes the written exam. After passing the written exam, he or she then writes the thesis, working closely with committee members.

8. Thesis Defense. The completed thesis will be defended before the student’s advisory committee in a session lasting not longer than an hour and a half. The defense may be a public event attended by interested members of the university community. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule the oral exam with his or her committee.