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Humanities:
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Program:
English
MA

English

Application Deadline

  • Fall: Jan 15

    • Contact Information

    4138 JFSB
    801-422-4939
    gradenglish@byu.edu
    Website
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    Admission Requirements
    Requirements
    1. Undergraduate English major or its equivalent
    2. Academic writing sample (approximately ten pages)
    3. Advanced (upper-division) course in literary criticism
    4. Statement of Intent
    5. Three letters of recommendation
    For applicants interested in English teaching emphasis:
    1. At least three years of full-time secondary English teaching experience
    2. An interview with BYU English Education faculty
    Program Requirements
    English MA: Emphasis in Literature or Rhetoric & Composition (32 hours)

    1. Core: 14 hours
    • Introductory course (ENGL 600): 2 hours
    • Theory course (either ENGL 630 or ENGL 613): 3 hours
    • Graduate seminars:  three courses in a coherent, approved program of study: 9 hours
    2. Electives: 12 hours
    • Two 600-level literature or rhetoric seminars: 6 hours
    • Two additional graduate-level courses from the following:
      • 600-level literature or rhetoric seminars:  3 hours
      • 600-level writing workshops: 3 hours
      • ENGL 610: Composition Pedagogy (for students teaching Writing 150): 3 hours
      • ENGL 611R: Studies in Teaching Advanced Composition (for students who desire to teach the undergraduate advanced writing courses): 3 hours
      • ENGL 599R: Graduate Internship (by application only) limit of 3 hours
    3. Thesis & Oral Exam: 6 hours
    • ENGL 699R (should be taken during the second year): 6 hours
    • Oral examination of thesis, coursework, and reading list
    Note: In special circumstances, up to six credit hours may be taken outside of the English department with advisor approval. Additionally, one 300- or 400-level undergraduate course may count toward the degree with approvals from the graduate advisor and the teacher of the course. Graduate students in such courses will be graded by graduate standards and normally will complete an additional paper or other work beyond the usual course requirements. Courses below the 300 level and correspondence courses cannot count toward a graduate degree.

    English MA: Emphasis in English Education (32 hours)

    1. Core: 14 hours
    • Introductory course (ENGL 600): 2 hours
    • Theory Course (ENGL 630 or ENGL 613): 3 hours
    • Central Utah Writing Project (SC ED 589R or ENGL 646): 3 hours
    • Special Topics in English Education (2 sections of ENGL 645): 6 hours
    2. Electives: 12 hours
    • Two 600-level literature or rhetoric seminars: 6 hours
    • Two additional graduate-level courses from the following:
      • 600-level literature or rhetoric seminars: 3 hours
      • 600-level writing workshops: 3 hours
      • ENGL 610: Composition Pedagogy (for students who teach Writing 150): 3 hours
      • ENGL 611R: Studies in Teaching Advanced Composition (for students who desire to teach undergraduate advanced writing courses): 3 hours
      • ENGL 599R: Graduate Internship (by application only): limit of 3 hours
    3. Thesis & Oral Exam: 6 hours
    • ENGL 699R (should be taken during the second year): 6 hours
    • Oral examination of thesis, coursework, and reading list
    Note: In special circumstances, up to six credit hours may be taken outside of the English department with advisor approval. Additionally, one 300- or 400-level undergraduate course may count toward the degree with approvals from the graduate advisor and the teacher of the course. Graduate students in such courses will be graded by graduate standards and normally will complete an additional paper or other work beyond the usual course requirements. Courses below the 300 level and correspondence courses cannot count toward a graduate degree.

    English MA: Emphasis in Digital Humanities & Professional Writing Emphasis (32 hours)

    1. Core: 14 hours
    • Introductory course (ENGL 600): 2 hours
    • Theory Course (ENGL 630 or ENGL 613): 3 hours
    • Graduate seminars: three courses in a coherent, approved program of study: 9 hours
    2. Electives: 6 hours. Complete two of the following options:
    • 600-level literature or rhetoric seminars: 3 hours
    • 600-level writing workshops: 3 hours
    • ENGL 610: Composition Pedagogy (for students who teach Writing 150): 3 hours
    • ENGL 611R: Studies in Teaching Advanced Composition (for students who desire
      to teach undergraduate advanced writing courses): 3 hours
    • ENGL 599R: Graduate Internship (by application only): limit of 3 hours
    3. Digital Humanities & Professional Writing Specialization: 12 hours of DH&PW
    • DigHT 590R: Intro to DH (3 hours)
    • Two additional DigHT 590R courses selected from the following: Introduction to
      Programming, Introduction to Print Publishing, Web Publishing, Research in
      Digital Humanities, Print Publishing 2, Web Information Technologies,
      Programming for Text Processing and Analysis, Technology Internship, or other
      DigHT courses by approval
    • ENGL 615: Technical and Professional Communication (3 hours)
    • Oral exam over coursework, reading list, and DH-PW portfolio
    Note: Beyond the three DigHT courses, DH-PW students may seek approval to count one additional course outside of the English graduate program toward the degree. This course may be outside of the English Department, and/or it may be an undergraduate course taught at the 300- or 400-level.
    Program Outcomes
    Effective Presentation and Publication
    English M.A. graduates will produce scholarly work suitable for professional conference presentation, academic publication, and other forms of professional discourse that fit their post-graduate plans.

    Thesis or Portfolio Production and Defense
    English M.A. graduates will produce and defend an article-length scholarly thesis characterized by clarity of organization and expression and salient research into relevant primary, secondary, and theoretical contexts. In an exception to the thesis requirement, English M.A. graduates with an emphasis in Digital Humanities & Professional Writing will produce a portfolio showcasing skills in technical ability with DH tools, substantive research and analysis, and evidence of mastery in professional writing; the portfolio should be suitable for presentation to potential employers or other interested parties.

    Discrete Area Mastery
    English M.A. graduates will persuasively defend, in the oral examination, the coherence of their plan of study and their mastery of a discrete area of the discipline.

    Pedagogy and Teaching
    English M.A. graduate students who teach composition or assist faculty in teaching courses in the English major will exemplify pedagogical understanding and practice that qualifies them to teach similar courses at other colleges and universities.
    Program Stats
    Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
    Total Students 68.0
    International 1.0
    Male 13.0
    Female 55.0
    LDS 68.0
    BYU Undergraduate 36.0
    Five Year Average of Graduated Students
    Average Years to Degree 1.89
    Graduated Per Year 18.6
    GMAT Quantitative Percentile 67.5
    Five Year Average of Admitted Students
    Applied Per Year 30.4
    Admitted Per Year 22.0
    Percent Admitted 72.37
    Average GPA 3.63
    Courses and Faculty

    Department Courses Department Faculty