English

Through our graduate programs, Stony Brook’s English Department participates in learning communities around the world. Professionals with Stony Brook English degrees teach in secondary schools, colleges and universities, present research at scholarly conferences, and write for specialized and general-interest audiences.

Students enrolled in the Master of Arts program pursue a course of study that includes courses in historical periods, literary genres, topics in gender, race and cultural studies, and various writing workshops. The program offers students the opportunity to broaden as well as deepen their knowledge of literature while also developing their own writing skills. This course of study leads to the Master of Arts degree and requires 30 credits, including a master’s thesis, for completion. While pursuing the M.A. in English, students may also earn an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in women’s studies, cultural studies, or composition studies.

A. Course Requirements

A master's degree in English requires ten three-credit courses completed with a 3.0 overall grade point average and submission of a master's thesis. Of the ten courses, three, including a required course in the history and structure of the English language (EGL 509 or EGL 510 or approved substitute), must be in linguistics, rhetoric or composition theory (EGL 506 or approved substitute), including problems in the teaching of composition (EGL 592 or approved substitute). Students who demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English are only required to complete two courses in Language and Rhetoric. EGL courses previously taken on the undergraduate level and passed with a grade of B or better may be accepted as fulfilling these requirements but must be replaced with an elective. Students will sign up for three credits of thesis research while writing a master's thesis. The remaining courses must include one course on literature before 1800, and three courses in at least two of the following topic areas (or other courses as approved by the Graduate Program Director):

• EGL 584: Topics in Genre Studies
• EGL 585: Topics in Cultural Studies
• EGL 586: Topics in Gender Studies
• EGL 587: Topics in Race, Ethnic or Diaspora Studies
• EGL 588: Writing Workshop

Note: Topic courses may be repeated as long as content varies. Courses run through the School of Professional Development are not accepted for English M.A. requirements.

B. Independent Studies 

Only one course numbered EGL 599, Independent Study, will be permitted to count toward the total courses required for the degree of Master of Arts in English. EGL 599 cannot be elected during the student’s first semester of work toward the master’s degree. EGL 599 may be elected during the second semester only if the student has a B+ average in the first semester and has no Incompletes at the time of registering for EGL 599. A proposal for an EGL 599 course should be submitted in writing to the faculty member under whose direction the student plans to study. This proposal must be submitted before the end of the semester previous to that in which the student will register for EGL 599. The proposal must be approved in writing by both the directing faculty member and the graduate program committee of the English Department before the student registers for EGL 599.

Only two courses numbered EGL 615, Independent Study, will be permitted to count toward the total courses required for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English. EGL 615 cannot be elected during the student’s first semester of work toward the doctoral degree. EGL 615 may be elected during the second semester only if the student has a B+ average in the first semester and has no Incompletes at the time of registering for EGL 615. A proposal for an EGL 615 course should be submitted in writing to the faculty member under whose direction the student plans to study. This proposal must be submitted before the end of the semester previous to that in which the student will register for EGL 615. The proposal must be approved in writing by both the directing faculty member and the graduate program committee of the English Department before the student registers for EGL 615.

C. Competence in a Second Language 

Students have the option of demonstrating competence in a language other than English in lieu of completing one of the three required courses in Language and Rhetoric. This competence may be demonstrated by having completed the second year of a foreign language at the undergraduate level within the past five years with a grade of B or better; by obtaining a grade of B or better on a 500-level reading/translation course or other graduate course offered in a non-English language or literature; or by examination arranged by the English department. The following languages are automatically accepted for fulfilling this requirement: Greek,

Latin, Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Hindu, and Bengali. Other languages relevant to a student’s graduate program may be approved upon petition to the Graduate Program Director.

D. Master’s Thesis 

Students enroll for EGL 598 while writing a master’s thesis of 30-40 pages under the guidance of a thesis advisor (chosen by the student with approval of Graduate Director) and an additional faculty member chosen by the student and the advisor. A final copy of the thesis and written approvals from the advisor and reader must be submitted to the Graduate School by the last day of classes in the semester in which the student graduates. Students must be registered in the semester in which they graduate.

Transfer Credit and Standards of Performance in English at the M.A. Level: The department permits the transfer of six hours of credit in suitable graduate work done elsewhere that resulted in a grade of B or better. The student must, however, make special application after admission. In all coursework done at Stony Brook, an average grade of B is the minimum required, but no more than two grades below B- will be permitted. The time limit for completion of the M.A. degree is three years for full-time students and five years for part-time students. Any student who plans not to enroll in classes for a semester must apply for an official leave of absence; failure to do so will lead to a lapse in enrollment. To re-apply, the student must pay a $500 readmission fee.

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution;
• An average of at least B in the last two years of undergraduate work;
• An official transcript of all undergraduate work;
• Letters of recommendation from three instructors;
• The applicant’s score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, required of all students by the Graduate School;
• A writing sample (10 double-spaced pages; page count does not include bibliography);
• Acceptance by both the Department of English and the Graduate School.

Scholarships

• W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship 
• Elisabeth Luce Moor Fellowship
• Pride Scholarship Endowment Fund
• Life Member Award