Master's Degree

1. A total of 30 hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. No more than 6 hours may be taken at the 600 level. At least 6 hours must be taken at the 900 or seminar level. ENGL 998 does not count as a seminar or 900-level class. Exam option students will take 9 conventional courses (27 hours), plus 3 hours of ENGL 897 or another elective course. Thesis students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 899. Portfolio students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 898.
2. 3 hours (1 course) on Methods or Theory appropriate to different areas of focus in Literary Studies: ordinarily 708, 709, 800, or another course appropriately designated by the Graduate Director. A 998 (Directed Reading) directly focused on questions of methods and theory can fulfill this requirement if approved by the Graduate Director.
3. 3 hours (1 course) on Pedagogy: the 801-802 sequence (required for TAs), 780, or other appropriate course as approved by the Graduate Director.
4. 18 (6 courses with thesis or portfolio option) or 21 (7 courses with exam option) distribution hours to be selected in consultation with advisors (Graduate Director during first year and thereafter advisors with whom students plan to move toward exam or thesis options). At least one course must be pre-1700; at least one must be 1700-1900; and at least one must be after 1900. Two courses (6 hours) outside the department may be included in the 18 distribution hours with approval of the Graduate Director.
5. Exam option (3 hours): the student will generally enroll in 3 hours of ENGL 897 (exam preparation hours) and must pass a 90-minute oral exam based on a 30-item exam list of literary and / or theoretical texts, including at least 6 items from before 1700; at least 6 items from 1700-1900; and at least 6 items from 1900-present. The student may opt to enroll in one additional 3-hour elective course instead of ENGL 897.
6. Thesis Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 899 (M.A. or M.F.A. thesis hours) over 2 semesters of thesis work: (1) a first semester of work with the thesis director leading to polished proposal with a bibliography; and (2) a thesis semester of writing leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the finished thesis (30-40 pages or the digital equivalent).
7. Portfolio Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 898 (M.A. portfolio) over 2 semesters of work: (1) a first semester with the portfolio director, deciding on the shorter scholarly pieces to be included in the portfolio and drafting the cover essay (3-5 pages); and (2) a writing semester for crafting and revising the scholarly pieces, leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the polished portfolio (40-50 pages or the digital equivalent).

1. A total of 30 hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. No more than 6 hours may be taken at the 600 level. At least 6 hours must be taken at the 900 or seminar level. ENGL 998 does not count as a seminar or 900-level class Exam option students will take 9 conventional courses (27 hours), plus 3 hours of ENGL 897 or another elective course. Thesis students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 899. Portfolio students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 898.
2. 3 hours (1 course) on Methods or Theory appropriate to different areas of focus in Literary Studies: ordinarily 708, 709, 800, or another course appropriately designated by the Graduate Director. A 998 (Directed Reading) directly focused on questions of methods and theory can fulfill this requirement if approved by the Graduate Director.
3. 3 hours (1 course) on Pedagogy: the 801-802 sequence (required for TAs), 780, or other appropriate course as approved by the Graduate Director.
4. 18 (6 courses with thesis or portfolio option) or 21 (7 courses with exam option) distribution hours to be selected in consultation with advisors (Graduate Director during first year and thereafter advisors with whom students plan to move toward exam or thesis options). At least one course (3 hours) must be pre-1800; at least one (3 hours) must be post-1800. At least two courses (6 hours), besides the course used to fulfill requirement 2 (Methods or Theory) must focus primarily on Literary Theory. Two courses (6 hours) outside the department may be included in the 18 distribution hours with approval of the Graduate Director.
5. Exam option (3 hours): the student will generally enroll in 3 hours of ENGL 897 (exam preparation hours) and must pass a 90-minute oral exam based on a 30-item exam list of literary and / or theoretical texts, including at least 6 items pre-1800; at least 6 items post-1800; and at least 12 items in theory. The student may opt to enroll in one additional 3-hour elective course instead of ENGL 897.
6. Thesis Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 899 (M.A. or M.F.A. thesis hours) over 2 semesters of thesis work: (1) a first semester of work with the thesis director leading to polished proposal with a bibliography; and (2) a thesis semester of writing leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the finished thesis (30-40 pages or the digital equivalent).
7. Portfolio Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 898 (M.A. portfolio) over 2 semesters of work: (1) a first semester with the portfolio director, deciding on the shorter scholarly pieces to be included in the portfolio and drafting the cover essay (3-5 pages); and (2) a writing semester for crafting and revising the scholarly pieces, leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the polished portfolio (40-50 pages or the digital equivalent).

1. A total of 30 hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. No more than 6 hours may be taken at the 600 level. At least 6 hours must be taken at the 900 or seminar level. ENGL 998 does not count as a seminar or 900-level class. Exam option students will take 9 conventional courses (27 hours), plus 3 hours of ENGL 897 or another elective course. Thesis students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 899. Portfolio students will take 8 conventional courses (24 hours), plus 6 hours of ENGL 898.
2. 3 hours (1 course) on Methods or Theory appropriate to different areas of focus in Rhetoric and Composition, ordinarily 780 (Composition Studies), or another course appropriately designated by the Graduate Director. A 998 (Directed Reading) directly focused on questions of methods and theory can fulfill this requirement if approved by the Graduate Director.
3. 3 hours (1 course) on Pedagogy: the 801-802 sequence (required for TAs), 780, or other appropriate course as approved by the Graduate Director.
4. 18 (6 courses with thesis or portfiolio option) or 21 (7 courses with exam option) distribution hours (6 courses) to be selected in consultation with advisors (Graduate Director during first year and thereafter advisors with whom students plan to move toward exam or thesis options). At least 6 hours in Rhetoric and Composition courses (including at least one seminar) beyond the courses used to fulfill requirements 2 (Methods and Theory) and 3 (Pedagogy).
5. 6 hours of elective courses
6. For students selecting the exam option, 6 hours in second exam area (rhetoric and composition specialty, English language studies, literature, literary theory), including at least one seminar
7. Two courses (6 hours) outside the department may be included in the 18 distribution hours with approval of the Graduate Director.
8. Exam option (3 hours): The student will generally enroll in 3 hours of ENGL 897 (exam preparation hours) and must pass a 90-minute oral exam based on two lists developed in consultation with advisors: a) a 15-item exam list of works in rhetoric and composition, and b) a 15-item exam list of works in a second area: literature, literary theory, English Language Studies, or specialty within rhetoric and composition. The student may opt to enroll in one additional 3-hour elective course instead of ENGL 897.
9. Thesis Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 899 (M.A. or M.F.A. thesis hours) over 2 semesters of thesis work: (1) a first semester of work with the thesis director leading to polished proposal with a bibliography; and (2) a thesis semester of writing leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the finished thesis (30-40 pages or the digital equivalent).
10. Portfolio Option (6 hours): The student must enroll in 6 hours of ENGL 898 (M.A. portfolio) over 2 semesters of work: (1) a first semester with the portfolio director, deciding on the shorter scholarly pieces to be included in the portfolio and drafting the cover essay (3-5 pages); and (2) a writing semester for crafting and revising the scholarly pieces, leading to the oral defense (90 minutes) of the polished portfolio (40-50 pages or the digital equivalent).

If the student elects to take the final oral exam rather than write a thesis, they will ask a member of the graduate faculty of the Department (preferably his/her advisor) to be the chairperson of the examining committee. The other two members of the committee will be chosen in consultation with the committee chair. To be eligible for the examination, the candidate must have completed coursework or be scheduled to complete coursework the semester of the exam. While the exam schedule is always contingent on student progress, in the first two weeks of the semester in which they intend to take the exam, students should work with their committee chair and the graduate program coordinator to schedule it.

At least three weeks before the examination, the student must submit to each member of the examining committee the list of 30 texts, prepared in consultation with the chair of the examining committee, on which they wish to be examined. At the same time, the Graduate Program Coordinator should be given a copy of the student’s list. Failure to meet this deadline will necessitate rescheduling the defense.

Students with committee members who plan to attend the defense via remote technology must be aware of college policy on teleconferencing/remote participation of committee members.

If a student wants to have as a committee member a person outside the university, or a person who is not in a full-time tenure-track professorship at KU, the student must contact the graduate secretary as early as possible. Applications for special graduate faculty status must be reviewed by the College and Graduate Studies. Requests for exam/defense approval will not be approved unless all committee members currently hold either regular or special graduate faculty status.

The exam room is reserved for two hours to allow for committee deliberation. The exam itself is limited to no more than ninety minutes.

If the student elects portfolio option, they will ask a member of the graduate faculty of the Department (preferably their advisor) to be the chairperson of the portfolio committee. The other two members of the committee will be chosen in consultation with the committee chair. While the exam schedule is always contingent on student progress, in the first two weeks of the semester in which they intend to take the exam, students should work with their committee chair and the graduate program coordinator to schedule it.

The portfolio is comprised of shorter scholarly pieces, as agreed upon by the committee, plus a brief cover essay of 3-5 pages, all totaling 40-50 pages of writing (or the digital equivalent).

At least three weeks before the examination, the student must submit the final draft of the portfolio to each member of the examining committee and inform the Graduate Program Coordinator. Failure to meet this deadline will necessitate rescheduling the defense.

Students with committee members who plan to attend the defense via remote technology must be aware of college policy on teleconferencing/remote participation of committee members.

If a student wants to have as a committee member a person outside the university, or a person who is not in a full-time tenure-track professorship at KU, the student must contact the graduate secretary as early as possible. Applications for special graduate faculty status must be reviewed by the College and Graduate Studies. Requests for exam/defense approval will not be approved unless all committee members currently hold either regular or special graduate faculty status.

The exam room is reserved for two hours to allow for committee deliberation. The exam itself is limited to no more than ninety minutes.

If the student elects the thesis option, they will ask a member of the graduate faculty of the Department (preferably their advisor) to be the chairperson of the thesis committee. The other two members of the committee will be chosen in consultation with the committee chair. While the exam schedule is always contingent on student progress, in the first two weeks of the semester in which they intend to take the exam, students should work with their committee chair and the graduate program coordinator to schedule it.

At least three calendar weeks prior to the defense date, the student will submit the final draft of the thesis (no more than 40 pages in length or the digital equivalent) to all the committee members and inform the Graduate Program Coordinator. Failure to meet this deadline will necessitate rescheduling the defense.

Students with committee members who plan to attend the defense via remote technology must be aware of college policy on teleconferencing/remote participation of committee members.

If a student wants to have as a committee member a person outside the university, or a person who is not in a full-time tenure-track professorship at KU, the student must contact the graduate secretary as early as possible. Applications for special graduate faculty status must be reviewed by the College and Graduate Studies. Requests for exam/defense approval will not be approved unless all committee members currently hold either regular or special graduate faculty status.

The exam room is reserved for two hours to allow for committee deliberation. The defense itself is limited to no more than ninety minutes.

Although compelling arguments have been presented for eradicating the designation of "Honors" altogether, “Honors” on the written thesis is necessary for that work to be nominated for CLAS's annual competition for Outstanding M.A. Thesis. "Honors" will be given to theses that are rated "Outstanding" in all or most of the categories on the M.A. thesis rubric.