Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Apply diverse critical perspectives in the analysis of literatures in English.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of the importance of historically, socially, and culturally diverse voices.
  • Read and think critically about texts, ideas, and their expressive strategies.
  • Conduct scholarly research and locate, assess, and synthesize sources.
  • Communicate the results of research to scholarly and non-scholarly audiences.
  • Engage in professional development activities, including departmental colloquia and alumni panels, in preparation for a range of careers.
  • Write lucid and persuasive prose in a variety of modes and to a variety of audiences.

Requirements for the
M.A. Degree (30 - 36 credits)

Core Requirements (6 credits)

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

Distribution Requirements (24 credits)

Two courses each in earlier literary periods.

British Literature prior to 1800

  • ENGL 502 Medieval Drama
  • ENGL 503 Chaucer
  • ENGL 508 Medieval Literature
  • ENGL 510 Medieval Literature & Culture
  • ENGL 511 Shakespeare
  • ENGL 519 Shakespeare Adapt
  • ENGL 529 18th Century

American Literature prior to 1900

  • ENGL 541 Early American Literature
  • ENGL 549 19th Century American Literature


Two courses each in later literary periods.

British Literature after 1800

  • ENGL 533 Romantic Novels
  • ENGL 539 19th Century Special Topics
  • ENGL 550 British 20th Century
  • ENGL 552 English Literature 1890-1945
  • ENGL 554 British Literature Post 1945

American Literature after 1900

  • ENGL 557 American Modernism
  • ENGL 558 20th Century Special Topics
  • ENGL 571 20th Century Poetry
  • ENGL 588 20th Century Poetry & Visual Culture

Capstone Requirement (0-6 credits

  • 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. 
  • 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 write a thesis (6 credits). 

 

Literature and Writing Concentration (30-33 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