Milestones
The M.A. in English is designed to be a 2-year program for full-time students. Accordingly, you should work toward achieving the following goals on the timetable described below. Please refer to the attached schedule of deadlines for additional information about completing your degree requirements.
End of Semester 1:
Complete English 5800 (Bibliography and Research Methods)
Identify your specialty track (Writing/Linguistics, Literature, Folklife/Southern Culture)
English 5280 (Composition Theory), this is required for Graduate Assistants and students on the Writing/Linguistics track
End of Semester 2:
Finalize your degree plan (see catalog or Director of Graduate Studies)
Select a thesis director
In conjunction with your director, select 2 more graduate faculty members to serve on your thesis committee
*Note:
After completing 9 hours of graduate work, you must file a degree plan. If your degree plan is not filed with the Graduate Student Director and the Graduate School Office, you may be blocked from registering for any further coursework.
Beginning of Semester 3 (October):
Completed your thesis proposal
Received approval of proposal from all thesis committee members*
Begin work on thesis or papers in lieu
*Note:
You must have a fully approved thesis proposal on file before you will be allowed to register for thesis hours.
End of Semester 4:
Complete your thesis or paper in lieu
Defend your thesis or complete comprehensive exams with the papers in lieu
Submit final copy of thesis to Graduate School Office by the deadline*
*Note:
The graduate school deadline is always several weeks prior to the end of the semester. Failure to meet this deadline will delay your graduation.
Special Note:
You must allow committee members three full weeks to read your completed (that is, the final draft of the ) thesis prior to your defense. This time will begin after your thesis has been revised to the satisfaction of your thesis director. The committee may decline to allow you to defend if you do not allow them adequate time to read the complete thesis or if the thesis is not been revised according to previous suggestions.