English, M.A.

(Major Code: 15011) (SIMS Code: 112101)

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

Students will be admitted only in the fall semester. Submit applications by February 1.

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Admission and Registration . Students may be admitted to the master’s program in English in one of two categories:

Classified Graduate Standing
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following minimal requirements:
1. 24 units of upper division work in English. (Students choosing the comparative literature specialization may substitute literature in a language other than English or comparative literature courses.)
2. 2.85 overall on a 4.0 Grade Point Scale.
3. 3.0 grade point average in the English major. (Students choosing the comparative literature specialization must possess a 3.0 grade point average in either literature in a language other than English or comparative literature courses.)
4. The applicant normally must achieve a minimum score of 156 on the verbal section of the new Graduate Record Examination, and a minimum of 5.0 on the GRE analytical essay examination.
Conditional Classified Graduate Standing
1. Conditional acceptance may be granted if there is a deficiency in any of the above requirements. A student accepted conditionally must customarily achieve an average of 3.25 in nine units of English or comparative literature courses with no grade less than B- before proceeding to further study and is limited to 12 units. Any units taken above this quota will not count toward the 30 units for the master’s degree in English.
2. English major unit deficiencies. Students who lack 24 units of credit in upper division courses in English or in literature in a language other than English or comparative literature courses will be considered for conditional standing if they meet the requirements of 2.85 overall and achieve a minimum score of 156 on the verbal section of the new Graduate Record Examination and a minimum of 5.0 on the GRE analytical essay examination. After the completion of 24 units for the undergraduate major, students will be considered for classified graduate standing if they meet the other requirements. Students choosing a comparative literature specialization may substitute 24 units of upper division coursework in literature in a language other than English or comparative literature courses for part of this requirement.

Advancement to Candidacy and Language Requirement

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, including the language other than English requirement, as stated in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . Each candidate, with the approval of the graduate director, may fulfill the language other than English requirement in one of several ways: (1) by passing a local examination administered by one of the university’s departments in language(s) other than English, (2) by completing one three-unit upper division literature course in a language other than English with readings in the original language with a grade of C (2.0) or better, or (3) by passing an examination to be determined by the graduate adviser if the chosen language is one not taught in a department at San Diego State University.

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete a 30-unit program of study, approved by the department’s director of graduate studies, with at least 27 units of 600- and 700-numbered courses. The major includes a specialization in one of five program areas: American literature, British literature, children’s literature, comparative literature, or rhetoric and writing. Students specializing in literature may choose Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (portfolio assessment).