The M.A. English program includes a thesis requirement. Writing the thesis is a two-step process which normally takes place during a student's last two semesters. In her second to last semester, the student takes ENG 700, which is basically a "thesis proposal" class. It is highly recommended that, at this point, students should be finishing up the last of the nine courses under the distribution requirement (see "Degree Requirements"); ideally, they should also have completed their foreign language requirement.

Upon completing ENG 700, students must find a professor who will supervise their thesis project; this is formalized by having the professor sign off on the "thesis title" form, which is turned in to the Graduate Deputy in order to obtain permission to register for ENG 780 Thesis Project.

The Bulletin descriptions for ENG 700 and 780 make the process clear:

English 700X ..Introduction to Literary Research: Introduction to methods of research as preparation for the MA thesis. Topics include: building a bibliography, using print and on-line research sources; incorporating secondary critical resources; and the varieties of criticism practiced in recent decades. The final assignment is to produce a thesis proposal.

English 780X ..Thesis Project: An extensive research project, normally based on the thesis proposal developed in English 700X, which is supervised by a member of the faculty, and which leads to the submission of a master's thesis. Students may receive credit for this course only after approval of the completed thesis.

Graduate Handbook for Thesis Writing and Research

You may now download a copy of the Thesis Title Form using Adobe Acrobat Reader.