Master of Arts (MA) Thesis-based in English

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and Faculty of Arts requirements, the Department requires:

a) 18 units in English at the 600 or 700 level beyond the Honours BA or equivalent.

b) course or its equivalent.

c) A scholarly and/or critical thesis (approximately 100 pp).

Copyediting

While suggestions for editorial changes are a normal part of the collaboration between a student, the supervisory committee and the academic community, having a thesis professionally edited is prohibited by the department.

All students must attend an orientation session.

Students must register for courses by the end of June. Continuing students and new students who are able to do so should consult the course instructors before they register or as soon as they arrive on campus. Final approval to enter a course is given by the Head or Associate Head of the Department.

Students wishing to enroll in English 693, 694, 695, or 698 must submit a portfolio of their own work for evaluation before consent to register will be given. Details of this procedure are available from the Department of English.

Advanced Credit

Application for advanced credit must be made to the Department Head at the time of admission.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the Department of English will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the CG grade for up to three units in a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will not affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

With the approval of the Department, all MA students may take for credit up to 3 units at the 500 level (excluding English 504).

Time Limit

Expected completion time is two years for the thesis-based Master of Arts. Maximum completion time is four years.

Supervisory Assignments

Students are initially assigned an interim advisor to give them time to familiarize themselves with faculty members’ research before securing a permanent supervisor.

Thesis-based: By March 1 of the first year, each student must submit a proposed field of research and the name of a proposed supervisor to the Graduate Executive Committee for approval.

Course-based: By June 1, students will approach a faculty member, normally one with whom they have completed (or are completing) a graduate course, to request supervision for their capstone

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner must be external to the home program.

The thesis examination is open to the public.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for scholarships are advised to have their applications to the Department by December 15.