Program: English, General Emphasis MA - Andrews University

Apr 05, 2025

2016-2017

All students who graduate with an MA in English will be able to:

Demonstrate familiarity with all three branches of the discipline of English: literature, writing and language.

Conduct original research in their chosen area of study and write a scholarly project that reflects the conventions of the discipline.

Students who graduate with an MA in English, General Emphasis, will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced and cohesive knowledge of the scope and sequence of Anglophone literature, its historical and cultural contexts, and its genres, and advanced knowledge and application of critical theories.

The expected length of the MA English program is five semesters.

Total Credits: 33

Degree Core

Core Requirements

ENGL 589 - Graduate Seminar Credits: 3
ENGL 597 - Research Methods Credits: 3
ENGL 670 - Comprehensive Exam Credits: 0
ENGL 520 - The Christian Tradition Credits: 3
Or ENGL 514 - Biblical Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 595 - Project Research Credits: 1,2
Or ENGL 699 - Master’s Thesis Credits: 1–4

Project/Thesis

Candidates must complete one of the following options:

Project paper (30-50+ pages)
Two project papers (each a minimum of 20 pages)
MA thesis (75-100+ pages)

General Emphasis

This program provides a balanced array of courses in literature and literary theory, composition and rhetoric, and language. Additional required courses are:

ENGL 450 - Literary Criticism and Theory Credits: 3
ENGL 589 - Graduate Seminar Credits: 3
and at least one graduate course from each of the three areas of literature, composition, and language.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the English Proficiency Requirements .
Applicants must have earned a minimum of 20 semester hours (30 quarter credits) in English courses as prerequisites, including ENGL 460 (or its equivalent).
- These prerequisites are in addition to the General Education composition requirement.
- It is desirable to have completed an English undergraduate major of at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter credits).
- Students taking the MA: English (TESOL) must have completed ENGL 300 (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite.
- Applicants with fewer English prerequisite credits than the minimum number required must remove the deficiencies by taking additional English courses other than those required for the MA degree.
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by having done one of the following:
- Earned credit through the intermediate college level with a minimum average grade of C.
- Passed an exam approved by the English Department.
- Completed their education through secondary school in a first language other than English.

English Language Requirements

Students whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English-language proficiency before they are accepted into any program in the Department of English. To qualify for admission, students must obtain at least a minimum composite score on one of the following exams, with component score(s) at or above those indicated:

Paper-based TOEFL (ITP) composite score of 600 with no component score lower than 55. An additional written essay exam is required with a minimum score of 80, and an additional speaking evaluation with a score of not less than 3.
Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) composite score of 100, with Reading and Listening component scores of at least 15, Writing component score of at least 17, and Speaking component score of at least 18.
MELAB composite score of 84 with no component score lower than 80.
IELTS composite score of 7, with Reading, Listening, and Speaking component scores of at least 6, and a Writing component score of at least 5.

The exam must be taken within two years prior to enrollment. Students who score below these levels may complete lanugage requirements by enrolling in Intensive English Program courses (ENSL) on campus. Students with a score on the TOEFL ITP of 575-599 (or the equivalent on any of the four other exams) may be eligible for the Language Bridge Program which allows students to take a limited number of degree program courses while completing language proficiency requirements in Intensive English Program courses. Students in the Language Bridge Program must demonstrate language proficiency within two semesters in order to continue in the degree program. Exceptions to these requirements may be granted by the Department of Communications on an individual basis.