Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Arts in English Literature

The Department of English offers the degrees of Master of Arts in English Literature, with options for coursework, major research paper, or thesis, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in English. All programs equip students to pursue advanced studies in British, Canadian, or American literature, informed by a broad knowledge of literary history and recent developments in literary criticism and cultural theory.

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in English Literature is intended to refine the critical, scholarly, and creative skills of high-achieving graduates from undergraduate honours programs. An honours BA in English literature with a minimum high second-class standing of B+ is normally required. A 500-word statement of interest in the program is required with the application.

Admission Requirements

• Students applying for the MA with thesis or major research paper options should submit a sample of their academic writing, such as an essay written for an undergraduate English course.
• Students who have completed a BA or equivalent degree with a minimum of six full courses in English with an average of 75 per cent (B+) may be admitted to a qualifying year, which normally comprises 30 units selected to ensure coverage of the major fields of English literature.
• These courses must be successfully completed in each case with a mark of B+ or higher.
• By special permission, one or two graduate courses may be substituted for the equivalent number of undergraduate courses.
• After the requirements of the qualifying year have been satisfactorily fulfilled, students may apply for admission to the regular MA program, depending on the quality of their overall record.

Program Options

The Department offers three options for the MA:

• Thesis
• Major Research Paper
• Coursework The cooperative option can be added to the Major Research Paper and the Coursework only.

Course Requirements

Master's with Thesis

• Compulsory Courses:
  • ENG 6302 Research Methodology (1.5 units)
  • ENG 6303 Professional Development (1.5 units)
  • ENG 6304 Critical Research Methods (3 units)
• 9 elective course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level
• Thesis Proposal: ENG 7997 M. Thesis Proposal
• Thesis: THM 7999 Master's Thesis

Master's with Research Paper

• Compulsory Courses:
  • ENG 6302 Research Methodology (1.5 units)
  • ENG 6303 Professional Development (1.5 units)
  • ENG 6304 Critical Research Methods (3 units)
• 12 elective course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level
• Research Paper: MRP 6999 Major Research Paper

Master's with Coursework

• This one-year program consists of 24 units of coursework.
• Compulsory Courses:
  • ENG 6302 Research Methodology (1.5 units)
  • ENG 6303 Professional Development (1.5 units)
• 21 elective course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level

CO-OP Option

The CO-OP option is available for the Major Research Paper and Coursework options only. CO-OP students must enroll full-time and complete two work terms:

• ACP 6001 Co-op Work Term (6 units)
• ACP 6002 Co-op Work Term (6 units) Each work term is graded P/F (Pass or Fail), based on the employer's report and on a written report completed by the student.

Duration of Program

• Students enrolled in the thesis option are expected to complete all requirements within two years.
• Students enrolled in the major research paper or coursework options are expected to complete all requirements within three terms.
• The thesis must be submitted within four years of the date of initial enrollment in the program.

Minimum Standards

The passing grade in all courses is B.

Research Areas

The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state-of-the-art research conducted by its professors. Research areas include:

• Creating a sustainable environment
• Advancing just societies
• Shaping the digital world
• Enabling lifelong health and wellness

Facilities, Research Centres, and Institutes

The Faculty of Arts has several research centres and institutes, including:

• Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-fran蓷ise
• Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies
• Institute for Science, Society and Policy
• Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
• Morisset Library

Course List

A variety of courses are available, including but not limited to:

• ENG 6111 Directed Readings I
• ENG 6112 Directed Readings II
• ENG 6190 Major Creative Project
• ENG 6300 Old English I
• ENG 6301 Old English II
• ENG 6302 Research Methodology
• ENG 6303 Professional Development
• ENG 6304 Critical Research Methods
• ENG 6310 Middle English Literature I
• ENG 6313 Directed Reading
• ENG 6320 Middle English Literature
• ENG 6321 Middle English Literature III
• ENG 6322 Middle English Literature IV
• ENG 6330 Renaissance Literature I
• ENG 6341 Shakespeare I
• ENG 6342 Shakespeare II
• ENG 6343 Shakespeare III
• ENG 6344 Shakespeare IV
• ENG 6350 Renaissance Literature II
• ENG 6351 Renaissance Literature III
• ENG 6352 Renaissance Literature IV
• ENG 6355 Restoration Literature
• ENG 6356 Restoration Literature II
• ENG 6357 Restoration Literature III
• ENG 6360 Eighteenth Century Literature I
• ENG 6361 Eighteenth Century Literature II
• ENG 6362 Eighteenth-Century Literature III
• ENG 6363 Eighteenth-Century Literature IV
• ENG 6370 Romantic Literature I
• ENG 6371 Romantic Literature II
• ENG 6372 Romantic Literature III
• ENG 6373 Romantic Literature IV
• ENG 6380 Victorian Literature I
• ENG 6381 Victorian Literature II
• ENG 6382 Victorian Literature III
• ENG 6383 Victorian Literature IV
• ENG 6999 Major Research Paper
• ENG 7300 Modern Literature I
• ENG 7301 Modern Literature II
• ENG 7302 Modern Literature III
• ENG 7303 Literature and History of the Disciplines
• ENG 7310 American Literature I
• ENG 7311 American Literature II
• ENG 7312 American Literature III
• ENG 7313 American Literature IV
• ENG 7320 Canadian Literature I
• ENG 7321 Canadian Literature II
• ENG 7322 Canadian Literature III
• ENG 7323 Canadian Literature IV
• ENG 7330 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature I
• ENG 7331 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature II
• ENG 7332 Cultural Studies I
• ENG 7370 History of the English Language
• ENG 7375 Cultural Studies II
• ENG 7376 Book History I
• ENG 7377 Book History II
• ENG 7380 History of Criticism
• ENG 7381 Theory of Criticism
• ENG 7382 Digital Humanities I
• ENG 7383 Digital Humanities II
• ENG 7384 Theory of Criticism II
• ENG 7385 Theory of Criticism III
• ENG 7386 Special Project

Additional Requirements

• The thesis should be about ninety pages in length and defended in an oral examination.
• The Major Research Paper should be about 12,000 words.
• To remain in the CO-OP option, students must be enrolled full-time, maintain a 7.0 cumulative grade point average, and obtain a satisfactory grade (P) for each CO-OP work term.