Graduate Student Handbook
Sample Programs of Study
The tables below illustrate typical programs of study for the MA, MFA, and PhD
MA with Thesis = 8 courses + 6
thesis hours (ENG 6971)
MA without Thesis = 10 courses + 2 hours (ENG 6906)
for the MA Exam
| 1st year | 2nd year | |||||
sem. |
Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer |
courses |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 or 1 + thesis hrs |
1 or thesis hrs |
notes |
Establish thesis or exam committee | 2 hours ENG 6906 for MA
Exam (for nonthesis option) Application by 15 Jan. for PhD Program for those wishing to continue. |
||||
MFA = 4 workshops + 5 seminars/electives + 3 reading tutorials + 9 thesis hours (ENG 6971)
| 1st year | 2nd year | ||||
sem. |
Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring |
courses |
workshop, seminar/elective, reading tutorial |
workshop, seminar/elective, ENG 6910 (3 credits) |
seminar/elective | workshop, seminar/elective, reading tutorial ENG 6971 (6 credits) |
workshop, seminar/elective, reading tutorial ENG 6971 (3 credits) |
notes |
Establish thesis committee | Application by 15 Jan. for PhD Program for those wishing to continue. | |||
PhD = 7 courses, after the MA or MFA
| 1st/3rd year | 2nd/4th year | 3rd/5th year | 4th/6th year | |||||||||
sem. |
Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer |
courses |
2 | 2 | 0 |
1 or 2 |
0 or 1 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
notes |
Establish dissertation/area exams committee | Recommended semesters for completing exams | Dissertation | |||||||||
Notes
- The number of courses taken in any semester may vary from this suggested schedule.
- Because this progress schedule may be more difficult for students who transfer directly into the PhD program, such students should make a special effort to establish an Area Examination committee as soon as possible.
- Students not on departmental or university funding are advised to follow this schedule as circumstances permit. Nevertheless, the progress of part-time and full-time nonfunded students will be regularly reviewed in order to insure satisfactory progress. The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and the Graduate Coordinator retain the right to determine “satisfactory progress” in each case.
