Graduate English Association
Graduate School Forms
The Department of English enrolls more than thirty students in its Master of Arts Program. Students, in consultation with their advisor, tailor their course schedules to their own career objectives and interests, selecting a variety of courses in literature, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, literary theory, cultural studies and professional writing.
Teachers in secondary schools who wish to obtain graduate level teacher certification (M.Ed.) or inquire about the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) should consult the Graduate Coordinator in the Watson School of Education (telephone: 910-962-4142) or visit the Watson School’s website:
www.uncw.edu\ed
Teaching Assistantships and Scholarships
Teaching Assistantships in the amount of $9,500 are available and are awarded on a competitive basis each Spring to the top four or five candidates among the applicants who submit their complete application by the April 1deadline and plan to enter the program the next Fall. These Assistantships are renewable for a second year, assuming satisfactory performance. Teaching Assistants receive training in the teaching of writing and literature and work approximately 20 hours per week, tutoring students in the Writing Place, assisting in faculty’s 101/103/201/110 classes, assisting program coordinators, and eventually teaching English 101/103/201/110. Applicants interested in being considered for an Assistantship should check the appropriate box on the application form.
Alton Yates Lennon Graduate Fellowship
Awarded each year to an incoming graduate student in English working toward an M.A. degree, the award provides funds to be used towards in-state tuition, fees, and books. The award shall be evenly divided between Fall and Spring semesters.
List of Alton Yates Lennon Graduate fellows
Degree Requirements for students entering the program in Fall 2010 or after:
The MA degree in English requires a total of 36 hours of graduate coursework. These hours must be distributed according to the following guidelines:
- 30 of the required 36 hours must be taken in residence.
- Students may select a thesis or non-thesis option. Students pursuing the thesis option must complete 30 semester hours of graduate course work, register for ENG 599 thesis (6 hours) in their last two semesters, and present and defend a thesis, acceptable to the student's thesis committee, prior to graduation. Students pursuing the non-thesis option will complete 36 hours of graduate course work.
- As many as 6 of the 36 hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, subject to the approval of the English Department's Graduate Coordinator. A student enrolled in the UNCW English Graduate Program who wished to take one or more graduate English courses elsewhere for graduate credit must obtain prior approval from the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Students may substitute one course (3 hours) from outside the department for an English course with the prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
- Students must successfully complete a qualifying written comprehensive examination. Normally the examination is taken in the third semester of full-time enrollment.
- All degree requirements must be completed within five calendar years of the student's first semester of registration in the graduate program.
Degree Requirements for students entering the program prior to Fall 2010:
The MA degree in English requires a total of 30 hours of graduate coursework. These hours must be distributed according to the following guidelines:
- 24 of the required 30 hours must be taken in residence.
- 6 of the 30 hours will be dedicated to writing the thesis, which is generally a two-semester project. While working on the thesis, students enroll in 3 hours of ENG 599: Thesis in their final two semesters (6 hours total).
- As many as 6 of the 30 hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, subject to the approval of the English Department's Graduate Coordinator. A student enrolled in the UNCW English Graduate Program who wished to take one or more graduate English courses elsewhere for graduate credit must obtain prior approval from the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Students may substitute one course (3 hours) from outside the department for an English course with the prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
- Students must successfully complete a qualifying written comprehensive examination. Normally the examination is taken in the third semester of full-time enrollment.
- Each student will present and defend a thesis acceptable to the student's committee of three faculty members, prior to graduation. The thesis defense is open to the public.
- All degree requirements must be completed within five calendar years of the student's first semester of registration in the graduate program.
Course Requirements
All students are required to take English 501: Introduction to Research Methods in English. In addition, all students are required to take either English 502: Introduction to Literary Theory, or English 552: Rhetoric and Culture. Beyond the two required courses, students are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Coordinator to tailor their program of study to their personal and professional needs.
Please address all inquiries to:
Dr. Colleen A. Reilly, Graduate Coordinator
Department of English
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-962-7548 voice
910-962-7186 fax
email: reillyc@uncw.edu
Do not send any application materials to the graduate coordinator or
the department; these should be sent to the The Graduate School
