University of Michigan - Flint

The Master of Arts (MA) in English Language and Literature degree is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences at UM-Flint. It has a flexible curriculum and is offered as a part-time program, with classes in a variety of traditional, online, and mixed-mode formats with meetings during evening hours and weekends. It is designed to provide convenience and flexibility to working professionals.

The MA in English is intended to provide a post-baccalaureate educational opportunity for people who are interested in pursuing advanced study in English. The program is particularly appropriate for:

• In-service teachers
• Librarians
• Those who wish to prepare to teach in junior college or community college English settings
• Those who wish to continue their exploration of English beyond the baccalaureate degree and eventually aim toward a doctoral degree
• Students desiring graduate English study for whom on-campus, high-residency programs are not a viable option
  
  

Flexibility

The program’s hallmark is its flexibility. With only one required core course (ENG 500) among the program’s 30 semester graduate credit hours, the constraints by day or hour of course offering are minimized. The other required elements—one course in theory and one course each in language study, writing, and literary study—can be fulfilled by a variety of classes. Combined with the many possibilities for the optional Individual Scholarship Experience, the program can be tailored to fit each student’s personal and professional needs.

Concentrations

Students may choose to pursue a general degree or to concentrate in a specific area, from among the following:

• British Literature - any periods, genres, movements, or figures from the literature of the British Isles and former Commonwealth states
• American Literature - and periods, genres, movements, or figures from the Colonial period to the present in North American literature
• Composition and Rhetoric - writing, rhetorical theory, composition instruction, and creative writing are all included
• Linguistics and Language - all aspects of language study from child language acquisition to the history of the English Language
• Pedagogy in English - secondary or postsecondary teaching of English, including pedagogy in writing, literature, language study, or literacy (including courses offered through Education)

The concentration option consists of nine to twelve credits in the chosen area and can be completed either by three courses in the area or two courses plus an Individual Scholarship Experience. The optional Individual Scholarship Experience (ISE) is designed to allow students to pursue special projects customized to their areas of interest and expertise. A student wishing to progress into a doctoral program, for instance, may wish to demonstrate mastery of a discipline or literary period by following a course of readings that lead to a comprehensive examination. Others may wish to undertake original research that culminates either in a traditional thesis or in some other significant production that they define in consultation with a faculty mentor. Still others might want to broaden their horizons through a term of study at a foreign university or accredited U.S. graduate program. Secondary teachers might pursue implementation of a new program or course in their school district. The ISE can accommodate all these options— and more.