The MA offers a more flexible program of study than the MAT and provides broad expertise in English Studies including literary analysis, composition, and creative writing. Students may choose up to five elective courses, which will allow them more opportunities to shape their course of study. The MA degree opens employment opportunities teaching English in the schools or community colleges, working in the service and information industries, the news media, advertising, public relations, and in other corporations requiring writing specialists. It also offers a life-enriching continuation of intellectual study. To complete this degree, students should meet the course requirements listed below.

MA Course Requirements (36 credit hours):

• L501 Professional Scholarship in Literature (4 cr.)
• L502 Contexts for the Study of Writing (4 cr.)
• Writing Workshop (4 cr.)
  (W511 Writing Fiction, W513 Writing Poetry, or W615 Writing Creative Nonfiction).
• Five elective courses, at least two of which must emphasize textual analysis (20 cr.) *, and one of which may be L590 Internship in English
• W609 Independent Writing Project (4 cr.)+

* Courses that emphasize textual analysis will appear in the course catalogue with a special designation.

+ A student who wishes to complete a creative writing-based Independent Writing Project must take a total of three writing workshops in at least two genres. Any one of those courses may be taken twice for graduate credit.

Transfer Policy

Applicants may be allowed to transfer up to two graduate courses or 8 credit hours from another graduate institution (or from previous graduate work at IUSB) if those courses demonstrably contribute to the work required for the English MA. Unless transfer courses are clearly equivalent to the required core courses for the MA, those courses will be counted as electives. Candidates should include in the application a request to transfer courses, a brief description of each course identifying how it contributes to the English MA, and supporting documentation such as syllabi, assignments, papers, or other relevant material.

Foreign Language Requirement

Applicants must have completed two college semesters of a single foreign language by the time the MA or MAT degree is conferred. Candidates who have completed these two courses as part of other graduate or undergraduate programs need not take additional courses as part of the MA or MAT program. Candidates who have gained foreign language skills outside of the classroom may take a Foreign Language Placement Exam to demonstrate their achievement of language skills equivalent to those achieved from two semesters of formal study.

Academic Regulations

Students must confer with their academic advisors on a regular basis to determine an effective course of study.

An average grade of B (3.0) is required for graduation, and no course with a grade lower than B- (2.7) will be counted towards the degree. Students are required to maintain good academic standing, i.e., to maintain a 3.0 GPA. Failure to maintain good standing will result in dismissal from the program.