2016-2017

MA in English

Overview
Curriculum
Course Descriptions

The Master of Arts in English at Notre Dame of Maryland University is a 30-credit comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with the content and methodologies required to become better teachers of English at the secondary level and to prepare students for doctoral-level work in English.

The curriculum focuses on breadth of content, providing broad surveys of English, American and world literature while also requiring a depth of knowledge in literary research, history and interpretation. Students will hone their critical thinking and writing skills as they master the concepts and theories central to the study of literature. The program, while comprehensive in scope, is distinctive in its emphasis on gender: Notre Dame's mission focuses on women's ability to transform the world through education, and all courses in this program include literature by women and issues of women in literature.

The program is designed primarily for working adults who choose to pursue the degree part-time. Therefore courses are offered in a sequence, with one course taught per semester (one evening weekly in fall and spring and two evenings weekly during each of the two summer sessions), providing for completion of coursework and comprehensive exams within three years.

The course of study for the Master of Arts in English requires ten courses (3 credits each) in literary research methods, literary theory, literary movements and topics seminars. Students take one required core course in research and theory, which will provide students with the skills needed to do graduate-level work in reading and writing literary criticism. Students also complete eight additional courses; the courses in literary movements provide breadth in literary history; the topics courses provide depth in a particular significant area. Students may transfer up to two graduate courses from another accredited English graduate program, at the discretion of the English Graduate Council.

The program culminates in a comprehensive exam, which students will take at the end of their three years of coursework. A reading list will be provided. The exam may be taken only twice, and the student must pass it in order to earn the master's degree.

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Program of Study

Curriculum

Required Core Courses

ENG-501 Research Methodologies of Literary Criticism (3)
ENG-508 Contemporary Literary Theory (3)

Literary Movements Courses
ENG-518 Medievalism (3)
ENG-519 Renaissance and Neoclassicism (3)
ENG-528 Romanticism (3)
ENG-529 Realism and Victorianism (3)
ENG-538 Modernism and Postmodernism (3)
ENG-547 New Woman Literature (3)

Topics Seminars and Other Courses
ENG-507 Pedagogy of Creative Writing (3)
ENG-511 Topics in Literature (3)
ENG-527 London Theatre Tour (3)
ENG-548 Classical World Literature (3)
ENG-549 Modern World Literature (3)
ENG-551 Literary Utopias (3)
ENG-558 Multicultural American Literature (3)

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Course Descriptions

ENG-501 Research Methodologies Of Literary Criticism

ENG-507 The Pedagogy Of Creative Writing

ENG-508 Contemporary Literary Theory

ENG-518 Medievalism

ENG-519 Renaissance And Neoclassicism

ENG-527 London Theatre Tour

ENG-528 Romanticism

ENG-529 Realism And Victorianism

ENG-538 Modernism And Postmodernism

ENG 547 “New Woman” Literature

ENG-548 Classical World Literature

ENG-549 Modern World Literature

ENG-551 Literary Utopias

ENG-558 Multicultural American Literature

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