Graduate Program Streams

TEXTS stream:

This stream offers the opportunity for students to study in-depth textual production in a variety of forms from various regions and/or time periods. Individual courses could include a focus on a particular writer’s oeuvre, or a particular genre (for example, silent film, non-fiction essay, the Bildungsroman, psychoanalysis) and the retracing of any significant developments therein.

CONTEXTS stream:

This stream engages the multiple contexts in which texts are produced and received at particular moments in time. It promotes the study of the effects of such issues as globalization, institutionalization, class relations, gender, and race on the production and reception of texts. Individual courses could include, but are not restricted to, the study of particular movements and the presentation of a variety of methods, including cultural studies, interdisciplinary studies, historical approaches, pedagogical and rhetorical practices.

THEORIES stream:

Courses in this stream will provide opportunities for students to illuminate the underlying conceptual logics that govern texts and textual analysis. Theories of writing, critical theory, pedagogical theory, literary theory are all possible contributions to this stream, through which students will further develop their critical thinking process, their deeper sense of the history of the discipline of English, and their understanding of literature, language, teaching, and culture.

As students enter the Advanced Research Seminar, they will have finalized their choice of a degree project that best suits their career plans and use the seminar as a research workshop to prepare for the project selected. Degree project options include:

  • Thesis Completion (ENGL 691) – a formal analysis based on significant research exploring a critical issue within the field of English studies, offering fresh perspectives and successfully defended to the thesis committee (see Thesis Guidelines)
  • Action Research Thesis Completion (ENED 692) – a formal analysis based on significant research exploring a pedagogical problem within the field of English studies, offering fresh perspectives and successfully defended to the thesis committee (see Action Research Thesis Guidelines)
  • Professional Publication – submission of scholarly work to an appropriate journal/website/anthology in the field of English studies representing significant research and analysis. Publication is not a requirement for degree.
  • Comprehensive Examination – with the guidance of a faculty member(s), students will sit for an exam based on the student’s research areas. The exam may be written and/or oral. Successful completion is required for the degree.

Page modified 2/25/12