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December 15 is the deadline for fall enrollment and October 15 is the deadline for spring enrollment consideration.
Program handbook
Review the MA in English handbook to find out if the program is right for you.
Master of Arts in English
Earn a master's degree in English (M.A.) and get a a deeper understanding of how literature, theory, language and culture can be made relevant in the modern world. Faculty members take their roles as mentors very seriously, giving students the careful attention that helps them define and achieve their professional goals.
Program overview
This graduate program is small and intimate enough (70 to 80 students) that students enjoy a sense of community and benefit from close faculty mentoring.
The Department of English offers four areas of emphasis within its M.A. program. Those emphases allow students to pursue research goals that align most closely with their personal interests. No matter which emphases you choose, you can expect to find qualified and caring mentors within the Department of English faculty. These professors are experts in topics such as rhetoric, composition theory, British literature, American literature, sociolinguistics, cultural studies, digital media, gender studies and public engagement.
Areas of emphasis
This emphasis is designed primarily for students who have some background in linguistics but did not major in the field as undergraduates. The program is an excellent complement to B.A. or advanced degrees in anthropology, composition and rhetoric, English literature, foreign languages, philosophy, psychology or speech pathology. The M.A. can serve as a terminal degree or as preparation for further study in a linguistics Ph.D. program.
This emphasis covers a range of courses about English, American and Anglophone literature. The faculty's research and teaching involve the following critical approaches: cultural studies and theory, narrative and genre studies, textual editing and archival studies, and the study of literature, environment and science. The faculty has particular strength in Renaissance, Victorian studies, the literature of the global 20th century and cultural studies and theories.
The public engagement emphasis is designed to serve students whose career goals could include teaching, working with nonprofits and/or going on for a Ph.D. The interdisciplinary program includes a wide range of courses in literature, writing and rhetoric that fall under the theme of power, place and publics. Beyond the required seminar in public intellectualism, students work with their advisors to tailor coursework according to individual academic and career goals.
This emphasis is designed for students who wish to strengthen their skills as writers while deepening their understanding of literature and language. M.A. writing students may opt for intensive study in composition research and pedagogy or in writing workshops, with cognate work in linguistics, literature or literacy studies.
Admissions to the M.A. program
Applicants to the master's program must have an undergraduate major or minor in English or its equivalent from an accredited college or university and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Potential applicants who do not meet these minimum requirements should talk with the director of graduate studies to determine which undergraduate English courses to take should they wish to prepare for graduate studies in English.
Application deadlines and requirements
For the M.A. program, candidates are accepted for fall (December 15 deadline) and spring (October 15 deadline) semester admission.
Applicants are required to submit for Department of English graduate committee approval:
- Scholarly writing sample approximately 15-25 pages in length, demonstrating readiness for graduate study in English
- 2-3 page statement of intent, including declaration of emphasis area
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
International applicants
The graduate application system in the U.S. tends to be an open application process. Rather than arranging to work with a particular scholar in advance of applying, students generally apply to programs by following the application instructions on the program website. If they are admitted, then they approach a faculty member in the department to supervise their studies.
Degree requirements
The following general requirements apply in all emphases within the master's in English program, except where clearly stated in the specific descriptions for each emphasis. Please consult with an advisor as requirements might vary from student to student.
All requirements must be satisfied during the six calendar years immediately preceding the granting of the degree.
As soon as practical and in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, a student should choose an advisory committee and complete a program of study. The graduate program in English emphasizes a close working relationship between the student and his or her advisory committee. Advisory committees for master's students consist of a chair and a second member of the graduate faculty in the Department of English and one member of the graduate faculty from another University department.
For all emphases except public engagement, the program allows students the option of writing a thesis or of substituting course work for the thesis. The department encourages students to follow the non-thesis plan unless there is a compelling reason to select the thesis plan.
Both the thesis and non-thesis plans require 31 credits of graduate work; in the thesis plan, six of those will be thesis credits. No more than four credits of internship and three credits of English 790 Special Topics (independent study) may be counted toward the degree. Except in the case of required internships, independent study and internship credits may not be used to fulfill course requirements but may be counted for the total number of credits for degrees.
No more than nine total credits applicable to the approved program of study may be accepted from graduate courses taken at another institution and/or taken at the University of Nevada, Reno on graduate special status. These courses must have been completed within the six-year time limit for the Master's degree and must be approved to count toward the degree by the student's committee chair, the director of graduate studies and the Graduate School.
In the non-thesis plan, a minimum of 23 credits must be earned in residence; in the thesis plan, the minimum is 21 credits.
Graduate School regulations require graduate students to maintain continuous registration of at least three credit hours per semester to remain active in the pursuit of a degree. This means that students studying for comprehensive exams or writing theses must (even if they are not in residence) register for at least three credit hours each semester (summers excluded) until they graduate.
All MA students are required to take a substantial portion of their course work at the 700 level. In the Public Engagement emphasis, at least 16 credits must be completed in courses numbered 700 or above. In the literature, rhetoric and writing studies, and language emphases, 19 credits must be numbered 700 or above in the thesis plan, or 16 credits in the non-thesis plan.
Competence in one language other than English is required. French, German, Spanish, Italian, Latin or Greek are recommended, but other languages may be approved by the student's advisory committee. The student is strongly advised to complete the work necessary to meet this requirement before becoming a graduate student, or as soon as possible after beginning graduate study. The requirement may be met either by course work or by examination.
- Course work: Competence is demonstrated by the student completing fourth-semester college-level course work in the language with a grade of C or better in the final term of the course or by the student completing the second semester of a sophomore reading course with a grade of B or better.
- Examination: The student must pass a proficiency exam given by the Department of World Languages and Literatures at the University of Nevada, Reno.
The program requires a comprehensive exam as a part of the degree requirements. In general, the exam includes three parts:
- A professional paper or a writing portfolio
- A written examination over a set reading list or over course work
- An oral exam of about an hour and a half, covering the professional paper or portfolio and the written exam
- Examinations for each program emphasis are detailed below. A student must have completed the professional paper or portfolio and have passed the written exam before taking the oral exam. Failed written or oral exams can be retaken only once. Students must register for English 795, Comprehensive Exam, 1 credit, the semester they will be completing their exams.
In order to register for 795 (comprehensive exam), a student must have met these requirements:
- Filed a completed program of study with the Graduate School
- Completed all but the last semester of coursework toward the degree for the Master of Arts
- Meet the foreign language requirement for the student's degree and area of emphasis
- Meet with the student's committee chair to work out plans for completing the written and oral portions of the exams
- Returned the "approval to register for comprehensive exams" form, completed, to the Department of English office before the end of registration
Students choosing the thesis plan will first prepare a prospectus, in consultation with the chair of the advisory committee, for the committee's approval. The finished thesis, after meeting the approval of the advisory committee, is defended in the final oral examination, which also covers the written exam. In the writing program, the final oral defense is separate from the discussion of the portfolio and written exam. While the thesis is in progress, the candidate should register for the six required hours of thesis credit (English 797), including one hour to be taken during the writing of the prospectus. Documentation and bibliography should follow the current MLA style manual. Precise guidelines for thesis format and submission are available at the Graduate School. Students doing research involving human subjects must check with the Office of Research Integrity in Ross Hall regarding necessary protocols and review procedures.
To graduate in any given semester, the student must file an application for graduation by the dates specified for that semester in the University catalog and meet that semester's deadlines for submission of the notice of completion and (if on the thesis plan) the final copy of the thesis to the Graduate School. Students should be aware that graduation application dates at the University of Nevada, Reno are unusually early: the deadline is generally eight weeks before graduation.
The student is responsible for knowing the degree requirements and for submitting all Graduate School forms on time. Early in their graduate careers, students should become familiar with the most important forms: the program of study, the notice of completion and the application for graduation. Most Graduate School forms are available online. The application for graduation is available on the Graduate School's website.
Teaching assistantships
Teaching assistant positions also are available to M.A. students on a competitive basis. Teaching assistants in the Department of English receive an annual stipend, health insurance and a tuition waiver. Teaching assistants teach three courses per year (2/1 or 1/2 depending on departmental needs), typically in the Core Writing program. New applicants to the English Graduate Program are automatically considered for a teaching assistantship when they apply for admission, unless the applicant specifies they do not wish to be considered. No separate application is needed.
A teaching assistantship in the M.A. program may be held for a maximum of two years. The M.A. degree must be completed within six years from the time you first earn graduate credits that you apply toward the degree. This timeline represents a very general model for your progress toward the degree. The key is to be aware of what you’re doing, keep medium and long-range goals in mind and consult frequently with your mentor/chair.
Example program timeline
Fall semester
- Read degree requirements (general and program-specific) on English website and Graduate School website
- Read the Graduate Student Survival Handbook on the Graduate School website
- Meet with Director of Graduate Studies in English in the early weeks of the semester
- Meet twice with appointed faculty mentor Plan approach to fulfill the requirements for your degree (including language requirements)
- Submit transfer credit valuation form (if applicable) to Director of Graduate Studies
- Meet and talk with faculty members who share your interests
Spring semester
- If you do not have a teaching assistantship but wish to, apply (or reapply) for the teaching assistantship by the deadline
- Choose a committee chair and in consultation with chair, form rest of your committee
- Check progress toward degree requirements, including foreign language requirement
- In consultation with committee chair, consider the thesis vs. non-thesis option (if you choose thesis, begin to consider topics)
- Complete program of study and submit it to Director of Graduate Studies
- Begin focusing plans for the M.A. comprehensive exam/final project(s)/thesis
Summer semester
- Continue preparation for exam/final project(s)/thesis
- Consider doing a summer internship, field institute, or volunteer work
- Consider and begin to research longer-term goals (more graduate school vs. careers, etc.)
- Continue taking language classes if requirement not yet met
Fall semester
- Meet with chair early to discuss progress through degree
- Prepare for the M.A. comprehensive exam and/or work on final project(s)/thesis
- Apply to graduate schools with early deadlines (if applicable)
Spring semester
- Finish coursework
- Apply to graduate schools and/or jobs
- Complete comprehensive exam/final project(s)/thesis
- Submit application for graduation early
- File notice of completion (and thesis) by Graduate School deadline
Additional program information
To audit a class the student must sign up through Admissions and Records. You cannot sign up for an audit through MyNevada. Audit credits do count toward the six credits required to maintain a teaching assistantship or the three credits required to maintain active standing. But audit credits do not count toward the total number of credits required for the degree and audited courses may not be used to fulfill degree requirements. Audit credits are covered by grant-in-aid. Although audited courses cannot be applied to a degree program, they do appear on a student's transcript.
To enroll in the Comprehensive Exam (795), students must have completed their foreign language requirement(s) and filed their program of study. To enroll in thesis (797) or dissertation (799) hours, students must have filed their program of study. Permission forms to register for these course numbers are available from the Department of English office and require your chair's signature.
If a student does not take the exam in the semester for which he or she registered, the instructor assigns a grade of "I" (incomplete) and the student may take the exam the following semester without re-registering. After the student takes the exam, the instructor uses a change of grade form to submit the grade.
If the student does not take the exam the following semester, the incomplete will revert to a "U" (unsatisfactory = fail) unless an incomplete extension form is filed. That form is available from Admissions and Records.
The two most important sources for information about deadlines are the Graduate School's website and the University Academic calendar, accessible from your MyNevada webpage. It is a good idea to consult these sources every semester, print the pages and record key dates in your planner.
The Graduate School's grant-in-aid for TAs is capped at nine credits per semester, but exceptions can be made. If your curricular needs are such that you plan to enroll in more than nine credits in a given semester, notify the director of graduate studies explaining what courses you will be taking and how they contribute to your graduate program. Pending approval of your request, the director of graduate studies will send a letter of exception to the Graduate School, which will consider making an exception to the nine-credit fee waiver cap. There is a processing time involved, so notify the director of graduate studies as soon as you know what courses you plan to take.
Grant-in-Aid for foreign language courses
If you are a TA and are registered for a foreign language course to meet requirements for your degree, you should notify the director of graduate studies of the course. The director of graduate studies will send a letter of request to the graduate school, which will then consider covering your foreign language course through a grant-in-aid fee reduction. However, the Graduate School does not grant fee reductions for an open-enrollment course through the University's 365 Learning. Summer foreign language courses are not covered by grant-in-aid.
The steps to setting up an internship are as follows:
- Enlist a Department of English faculty member to supervise the internship
- Choose an internship and a site supervisor
- Write an internship proposal that both the faculty supervisor and site supervisor agree to
- Pick up the 736 Internship permission form from the English office
- Get your faculty supervisor's signature. (Must determine number of credits; internships are variable credit and can be taken from one to four credits)
- Signatures needed: faculty supervisor, committee chair, site supervisor, director of graduate studies
- Return signed form to English office and they will clear you to register
- Internships may not be used to fulfill course requirements for the degree (unless the degree requires an internship).
No more than four credits of 736 may be counted toward the degree.
The Graduate School grants a leave of absence for medical reasons and other emergencies. To request a leave of absence, a student should fill out an application for leave of absence form, downloadable from the Graduate School. The form should be signed by the student's chair and then the director of graduate studies. As the application states, leaves of absence are treated the same as withdrawals for financial aid purposes. If the student returns to his/her study before the date indicated on the leave of absence application, he/she needs to request to the Grad School to be reinstated. Note that the Graduate School's clock still ticks during the student's leave-six years for M.A.s, eight years for Ph.D.s.
Students in graduate programs at the University of Nevada, Reno are required by the Graduate School to enroll in a minimum of three graduate-level credits in each fall and spring semester to remain in graduate standing. Those failing to do so will be dropped from graduate standing to graduate special status. It is at the discretion of the Department of English, subject to the regulations of the Graduate School, whether students who fail to maintain graduate standing are to be readmitted to the program at any subsequent date. Students who are unable to take the minimum number of credits in a given semester should thus request a leave of absence in writing, using the form available from the Graduate School, if they wish to retain their standing in a graduate program.
To keep a teaching assistantship, a graduate student must continue to make satisfactory progress in a graduate degree program. A teaching assistant must register for a minimum of six graduate credits each semester to maintain an assistantship. In addition, he or she must pass at least 10 graduate credits each year. It should be noted that these are Graduate School minimums; meeting them does not prove satisfactory progress in English.
If you are a teaching assistant in English and you wish to take on additional work of any kind (e.g., tutoring, extra teaching, paid research help to a faculty member), please first talk with your committee chair about the advisability of that extra work. If your chair approves of that extra work in the context of your work for the TA and your progress on your degree, please ask your chair to send an email to the director of graduate studies expressing approval of that extra work. If the director of graduate studies approves the work overload, the English main office will generate a work overload form, which the director of graduate studies signs. The office sends the signed form to the Graduate School. The overload work must be approved by the Graduate School before the TA begins the work.
The Department of English strongly advises students to form their advisory committee and file their program of study form in a timely fashion. M.A. students should complete their program of study form in their second semester of study, while Ph.D. students should do so in their third semester. Filing your program of study on this schedule will reduce delays in your time to graduation. You may not sign up for the Comprehensive Exam (795) until your program of study is filed and your foreign language requirement has been met.
The following is an ordered plan for programs of study, from first to last step. Although it looks involved, we have found that this procedure saves everyone time in the long run. Please bring your transcripts, course records, draft program of study and checklist to all meetings.
- Fill out a draft program of study during or after consultation with your chair.
- With your chair, check the form, looking at transcripts and using degree checklist, making note of how the foreign language requirement has been met. Chair does not sign in this step.
- Meet with the director of graduate studies to check the form.
- After the director of graduate studies OKs the form, type it neatly, print and obtain the signatures of your chair and other committee members.
- Get the signature of director of graduate studies by short appointment. The director of graduate studies oversees the next three steps:
- The Main Office sends program of study to Graduate School.
- The Graduate School checks the form, signs, files and returns copy to the Department of English.
- The Department of English notifies you that your approved program of study is on file or that revision is necessary.