Learning Outcomes

  • Students will develop a working command of the breadth of British and American literature, including both canonical and non-canonical writers and a diversity of critical perspectives.
  • Students will enhance their ability to read and think critically and innovatively about texts, ideas, and their writing strategies.
  • Students will develop the ability to conduct scholarly research and present the results of that research in a form consistent with the requirements of the discipline.
  • Students will develop the ability and the confidence to write lucid and persuasive prose in a variety of modes and to a variety of audiences.
  • Students will gain better understanding of the profession by attending and participating in departmental colloquia involving faculty and graduate students.

Requirements for the
M.A. Degree

Option 1: (30 - 36 credits)

Core Requirements (6 credits)

  • ENGL 500 Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship
  • ENGL 566 Introduction to Literary Theory

Distribution Requirements:

  • Two courses in earlier literary periods dealing with two different national literatures (British Literature prior to 1800, American Literature prior to 1900, or other designated courses)
  • Two courses in later literary periods dealing with two different national literatures (British Literature after 1800, American Literature after 1900, or other designated courses)

Capstone: (0-6 credits)

Requirement may be met by one of the following:

  • A paper that is a substantial development and revision of a seminar paper, or another research-based project to be determined by the student, in consultation with a faculty member, and approved by the Graduate Committee. (This project will typically run to 35 - 40 pages.)
  • Two additional courses of the student's choosing at the graduate level.
  • With the approval of an advisor, a first reader, and the Graduate Studies Committee, a student may complete a 6-credit thesis project, running 80 - 100 pp., or the equivalent if the project includes multimedia work,  to be begun after completion of 24 credit hours.

Option 2: (30-36 credits)

Core Requirements (6 credits)

  • ENGL 500 Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship
  • ENGL 566 Introduction to Literary Theory

Distribution Requirements:

  • As soon as possible and no later than after having completed 12 hours of course work, a student will design their own subsequent course of study, including course work and a final project, around some kind of organizational framework. The student will work with two faculty members to write a rationale for this individually tailored course of study to be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Capstone: (0-6 credits)

Requirement may be met by one of the following:

  • A paper that is a substantial development and revision of a seminar paper, or another research-based project to be determined by the student, in consultation with a faculty member, and approved by the Graduate Committee. (This project will typically run to 35 - 40 pages.)
  • Two additional courses of the student's choosing at the graduate level.
  • With the approval of an advisor, a first reader, and the Graduate Studies Committee, a student may complete a 6-credit thesis project, running 80 - 100 pp., or the equivalent if the project includes multimedia work,  to be begun after completion of 24 credit hours.

Literature and Writing Concentration (30-36 credits)

Duquesne University's  Master of Arts in English Literature and Writing provides students with the best of both worlds: the literature classes of a traditional M.A. in English combined with engagement with a variety of forms of writing across different media and disciplines.

Students complete a total of 30-36 credits to earn a Master of Arts in English with a Concentration in Literature and Writing.

Core Requirements (6 credits)

  • ENGL 500: Aims and Methods of Literary Study (3 credits)
  • ENGL 566: Literary Theory OR ENGL 568: Theories of Composition (3 credits)

Distribution Requirements (9 credits)

  • One literature course in an early period (3 credits)
  • One literature course from a late period (3 credits)
  • One additional literature course (3 credits)

* These courses must cover at least two different cultures (e.g., American, British, World)

English Department Writing Electives (6 credits)

  • Any writing, writing theory, or teaching of writing courses in the Department

*See below for possible Department writing courses

Writing Electives in or outside the Department (6 credits)

  • Any writing, writing theory, or teaching of writing courses in the Department OR Courses in environmental writing, grant writing, media writing, etc. from across campus

*See below for possible writing courses across campus

Capstone (3-6 credits)

Requirement may be met by one of the following:

  • An internship (3 credits)
  • A writing portfolio independent study (3 credits)
  • 2 additional courses (in or outside the Department) (6 credits)

* Students interested in completing a thesis may contact the graduate studies director.
English Department writing, writing pedagogy, and writing theory courses students could take:

  • ENGL 537 The Personal Essay
  • ENGL 537 Writing for Trade Publications/Feature Writing
  • ENGL 561 History and Structure of the English Language
  • ENGL 568 Theories of Composition
  • ENGL 568 Public Writing
  • ENGL 572 Writing for Digital Media
  • ENGL 591 Teaching College Writing 

Writing courses in other graduate schools/departments include:

  • COMM 500 Professional Communication
  • DMA 501 Intro to Media Design
  • ENVI 533 Writing for the Environmental Profession
  • JOUR 560 Multiplatform Editing
  • PHST 501 Grant Writing in the Humanities