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Degree Information: Master's
Credits and Courses |
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Students in the M.A. program are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits in 5000 and 6000 level courses. The credit requirement must be met with a minimum of B (3.0). Graduate credit is allowed for two courses (six credits) with the grade of C, but a B average must be maintained for the student to remain in good standing in the program (for every C, the student must have a balancing A). However, certain required courses such ENGL 6499 - Phonology of English, and ENGL 6051 - Syntax I, must be passed with a B or better grade to graduate in English Language/Linguistics. ENGL 5005 - Seminar in Critical Writing, must also be passed with a grade of B or better.
The 30-credit minimum consists of 27 credits in 6000 level courses plus ENGL 5005 (see related section, ENGL 5005, below). Comprehensive Exam and Thesis courses are for the purpose of registration and do not count towards the 30-credit minimum.
A student may take a maximum of six 6000-level credits as free electives in the other specialization offered by the Department (linguistics or literature) or in any other department or field such as Comparative Literature, History, Hispanic Studies, Communication, Translation, Linguistics, Sociology, Education, et cetera. Students should consult their advisers when electing to take courses outside the department. The Graduate Committee may accept a maximum of six credits of graduate courses taken at another university.
A student who wishes to substitute a required course in literature or linguistics must present a petition, with the endorsement of his/her adviser, to the Steering Committee before taking the substitute course.
Students must choose one of these two areas of specialization: literature or linguistics. Students planning to teach in Puerto Rico can further broaden their employment prospects by taking one or two courses concerning teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). These courses are offered through a special ESL program in the Graduate Department of the School of Education.
| A. ENGL 5005 |
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During their first semester of studies, all M.A. students are required to enroll in ENGL 5005 (Seminar in Critical Writing) to enhance competence in writing and in working with scholarly materials. The ENGL 5005 requirement applies to students of both literature and linguistics. ENGL 5005 can also be required as a condition of admission to the Ph.D. program. The class must be passed with the grade of B or better.
In rare instances, a student can be excused from ENGL 5005 if a similar course has already been taken or evidence can be presented to demonstrate highly developed academic writing and research skills. A petition to that effect must be submitted in writing to the Graduate Steering Committee. Students who have taken ENGL 3291-92 as undergraduates in this Department, should consult with the Graduate Coordinator before enrolling in ENGL 5005.
| B. Specialization in Literature |
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The program in literature provides a comprehensive view of the full range of English-language literatures as well as the opportunity for in-depth study and research in specialized subject areas selected by the individual student. To accomplish these aims, students take 30 credits which are divided by sections:
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Credits |
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3 |
credits in Critical Writing |
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3 |
credits in Literary Criticism and Theory |
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9 |
credits in Period Specific courses |
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9 |
credits in Studies in Genre/Author/Topic |
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6 |
credits in free electives (3 in Linguistics and 3 in 6000-level courses from any department) |
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Note: |
6 of the 30 credits must be in pre-1800 literature courses. In consultation with the advisor, Caribbean Specific courses can count towards the 9 credits in Studies in Genre/Author/Topic. |
Literature Courses
(Revised November 2005)
| C. Specialization in Linguistics |
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The program in English linguistics provides an in-depth view of the modern approach to the structure and use of language. It also provides breadth and the opportunity for detailed study and research. Students in this specialization must pass ENGL 6051 - Syntax I and ENGL 6499 - Phonology of English with grades of B or better (whenever possible these courses should be taken during the first year in the program) as well as a minimum of one course from each of the following three groups. The remaining six credits may be taken in the English Department or in any other program (e.g. Programa Graduado de Lingüística ).
Linguistics Courses
(See C above for a list of linguistics courses according to area.)
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