English Literature - Master

English Litterature

The Master's Programme in English Literature provides a comprehensive study of literature from across the Anglophone world. Courses highlight how literature shapes and is shaped by history, its relevance for contemporary issues such as climate change and conflict resolution, and its ability to challenge and refine a reader's ways of thinking.

Building on a diversity of critical approaches, the program helps students refine their abilities to think analytically and creatively.

Outcome

After completing the master's degree in English literature, candidates will have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge: 

The candidate:

• has gained advanced knowledge about English literature from a diversity of national contexts and periods, with specialized knowledge in the area chosen for the thesis
• understands and can engage with diverse theoretical approaches to literary and cultural texts
• can apply knowledge from one literary sub-field within a new sub-field
• can analyse and interpret literary texts in relation to history, genre, and socio-cultural debates

Skills:

The candidate can:

• evaluate and engage with literary criticism expressing diverse perspectives and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments
• analyse existing literary theories and interpretations and work independently on theoretical or interpretive problems
• use relevant methods of historical and literary research and creative thinking to develop ideas in an independent manner
• formulate research questions and carry out an independent research project about English literature in the form of a master's thesis and related presentation with the support of supervision and in accordance with the norms of research ethics

General Competence:

The candidate is able to:

• communicate sophisticated content to specialists and the general public using appropriate literary critical terminology
• apply his or her knowledge and skills in new areas in order to carry out advanced assignments and projects
• contribute to new thinking in the field of English literature

Course Structure

In moving from coursework to the master's thesis, students move toward a more specialized focus and more independent research. This research is supported by each student's supervisor and by a series of organized work-in-progress seminars targeting the skills needed for master's-level research.

The programme consists of:
60 credits coursework in English literature (ENG-3000-level)
60 credits Master's thesis (ENG-3992)

The mandatory coursework includes:
ENG-3192 Literary and Cultural Theory; and

One course from each of these categories:
3000-level Period-Based Studies (such as Modernism, Major Authors or Contemporary Poetry)
3000-level Studies in Genre (such as Short Fiction or Development of the Novel)
3000-level Literature and Society Courses (such as Literature and Justice; or Literature and the Environment)

Literary and Cultural Theory and Period Studies courses are offered in the fall. Studies in Genre and Literature and Society courses are offered in the spring. The remaining 20 credits of coursework may be fulfilled by choosing from any ENG-3000 courses offered in literature/culture. Specific courses being offered vary, and will be stated in the course catalogue for the current semester.

Students wishing to substitute courses from other relevant fields (typically selected to support research for the master's thesis or during an exchange) may apply to have this substitution approved on an individual basis (up to 20 credits).

The master's thesis is theoretically-informed work of independent research on a limited topic within English literature. Theses are 70-100 pages in length (1.5 spacing, Times New Roman 12).

Students are assigned a supervisor appropriate for their topic. The topic of research will be decided upon in collaboration with a member of the English section.