The Master of Arts in English Studies and Communication is a 36-credit program for international and U.S. students wanting to develop their understanding of and skills related to the English language, English literature, and English communication. The program goals include the following: 1) to develop an understanding of the history and structure of the English language; 2) to recognize and articulate conventions of literature in American traditions; 3) to recognize and produce writing appropriate to the field of English Studies and Communication; 4) to recognize and practice modes of communication across cultures; and 5) to complete supervised practical work or further studies in the field.
This program may be particularly useful for:
- Current English teachers in the U.S. and foreign countries who want to elevate their overall English language and literature skills for the purpose of teaching English
- English majors in other countries who want to improve their general proficiency in the English language for use in business or industry
- Those with a bachelor’s degree in English who eventually want to pursue Ph.D. study in English or other areas in the humanities
- Those wanting to prepare for teaching English abroad
- Those wanting to obtain a general master’s degree in the humanities (e.g., for teaching introductory courses at certain community colleges or for writing and administrative positions in business or not-for-profit agencies)
Admission
Applicants must meet the graduate admission requirements (see here ). In addition, applicants must have an undergraduate or graduate major or minor in English and evidence of English language competency. Students may be eligible for admission to this program as an Early Entry student. See here for more information.
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in English Studies and Communication degree may be completed in 18 to 24 months. The program requires study in English literature, language, writing, and communication. Students may choose from a range of courses to complete some of their degree requirements.
English Studies and Communication Thesis Option
The English Studies and Communication (ESC) program provides a thesis option for qualifying students, particularly those interested in pursuing doctoral level study. Specifically, students approved for this option must take 3 credits beyond the regular ESC degree (39 credits total) and complete a 27-credit concentration.
Thesis work comprises up to 6 credits. Three credits of coursework-applied toward the elective category-are first completed as ENGL 692 - Research Project or ENGL 695 - Independent Study and are intended for the development of a thesis proposal. With satisfactory completion of ENGL 692 /ENGL 695 and approval of thesis candidacy, the student may enroll in ENGL 795 - Master’s Thesis: . These credits may substitute for ENGL 685 - Practicum in English .
Thesis completion requires adherence to the guidelines outlined in the Thesis Manual, available on the Graduate Office academic forms website.
Admission to Thesis Candidacy
Students meeting the following criteria may be accepted as candidates for the ESC thesis option. Prospects must demonstrate that they have met the qualifications for thesis work through an application for Thesis Candidacy. This form requires the signatures of two or more Valparaiso University faculty, one from the student’s area of concentration, who have agreed to serve on the thesis committee. In addition, the prospect must provide evidence of having completed the prerequisite coursework, submit GRE scores of 302 or above (quantitative plus verbal), have achieved a grade point average of 3.70 or higher in all graduate coursework at Valparaiso University, and have successfully completed ENGL 692 /ENGL 695 with a grade of A or A-. Under certain circumstances, if the student otherwise meets the academic requirements, he or she may petition the graduate program director and department chair to have the GRE requirement waived. Such a waiver is not likely to be approved for a student who intends to apply for a doctoral program in the U.S.
Thesis prospects must have completed 21 credits of ESC before enrolling in ENGL 795 . Since enrollment in ENGL 692 /ENGL 695 is currently permitted after 12 credits are completed, the thesis proposal work may be included in the 21 credits of prerequisite coursework.
Thesis Implementation
A thesis may involve academic or applied research, or creative work. Research projects may be primarily analytical, critical, and synthetic in nature, or they may be primarily empirical (data based). To ensure an appropriate methodology, students carrying out a research project, particularly one that is empirical, may be advised to complete a course on Research Methodology in an appropriate discipline prior to undertaking thesis work.
An important step in the thesis process is selection of the thesis committee. Prospects should not assume that any or all faculty can or will agree to serve on a thesis committee. Rather, through the quality of their graduate coursework, as well as the alignment of their topic with faculty interest and expertise, they will need to demonstrate that faculty mentoring is both deserving and possible.
Thesis work is generally carried out in two phases. ENGL 692 /ENGL 695 is intended for the development of the thesis proposal and should result in a preliminary review of the field and a detailed proposal of study or of the project (e.g., 30-40 pages plus an appropriate list of references or citations). This coursework should be carried out under the supervision of at least one of the faculty who will serve on the thesis committee. If the proposal is approved by the thesis committee, the student may enroll in ENGL 795 - Master’s Thesis: . The thesis itself should represent a significant contribution to the field and be of publishable or exhibition/ exposition quality. Upon completion, the thesis is reviewed by the faculty of the thesis committee and defended by the student at a public forum announced by email one week in advance to the students and faculty of the program. The approved thesis should be deposited to ValpoScholar in accordance with Thesis Manual guidelines.
Thesis work is encouraged during summer sessions when both faculty and students typically have more time available for more intense intellectual interaction.
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