The degree program seeks primarily to engage students in a disciplined study of texts drawn from the full experience of English and American literature. Giving due recognition to the history of the English literary tradition as it has unfolded from the Middle Ages to the present day, our program also alerts students to the exciting developments in the realm of literary theory and offers them opportunities for exploring the interpretation of English literature with the writings of other cultures and with issues raised in other fields.
Seminars meet in the afternoons and evenings for fifteen weeks (September-December, January-May) at Saint Louis University’s Madrid Campus. Students also take two seminars during a six-week summer session at Saint Louis University’s Frost Campus, in Saint Louis, Missouri.
At the conclusion of their course work, students take a one-hour oral examination on a list of primary and secondary works. The list varies depending on the semester in which the student began study in the MA in English program:
Sample Program, Master of Arts (Non-Research degree)
Sample Program, Master of Arts (Research degree)
Program Requirements
Degree candidates must complete ten seminars (3 credits each) and take a one-hour oral examination on a reading list that changes yearly. Students may earn either the Master’s of Arts (Non-Research) or the Master of Arts (Research) degrees. The Research Degree requires a Master’s thesis. Degree candidates interested in writing a Master’s thesis (6 credits) or Master’s essay (3 credits) must register for “Master’s Thesis Research” (ENGL-599) for two quarters or the “Graduate Reading Course” (ENGL-598) for one, respectively. All students are required to enroll in “Methods of Literary Research” (ENGL-500).
Students must take at least three courses with Saint Louis University’s Missouri Campus faculty, either on the Madrid Campus or the St. Louis Campus. Two of these seminars must be taken at Saint Louis University’s Frost Campus in St. Louis, Missouri, either during a six-week summer session or during the academic year. Non-U.S. citizens will need a visa to study at the Frost Campus; please refer to the section on visas below.
Master’s Degree Checklist
Master of Arts (Non-Research)
Master of Arts (Research)
Students may also apply to transfer up to 6 credits of graduate-level English courses completed in non-degree study from other degree-granting graduate programs. Courses must have been completed in the last five years and have received a grade of at least a B (3.0). Applications are reviewed by the College of Arts of Sciences. For more information on credit transfer, see Jaime Ortiz.
