Master of Arts in English sample timeline
First year
Fall
- 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
- 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
- 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
Second year
Fall
- 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
- 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
Note: 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.