English
Master of Arts Program
The Master of Arts in English degree is intended for students who wish to extend and consolidate their knowledge of the field before moving on to work at the Ph.D. level and for students aiming at careers in secondary education, publishing, or related fields that require advanced skills in critical thinking, research, and writing. Candidates pursuing the M.A. degree will be expected to complete courses granting at least 30 hours of graduate credit. Three of these course credits must be in a theory course (ordinarily thought of as a course primarily concerned with the study of texts in literary and/or cultural theory) from among the Department鈥檚 regular offerings, and three must be in the Introduction to Advanced Research course (or an equivalent Methods course). Students may devote up to six of the required 30 credits to independent work under the supervision of Department faculty, resulting in one or more longer papers. Students who wish to pursue this option should consult with the Program Director early in their graduate careers.
Students must also pass two examinations鈥攁 language and a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam requires students to demonstrate knowledge about literary periodization and to use close-reading skills. It is three hours in length, is offered in December and May, and must be taken no later than the fall semester of the second year of study.
The language exam is offered at the same time as the comprehensive examination and may be taken at any point in the student鈥檚 program. A wide range of languages will be accommodated for this requirement, and it may be waived if (1) the candidate supplies an undergraduate transcript showing two courses beyond beginning level in a foreign language with grades of B or above (taken within three years of entering the M.A. program), (2) the candidate successfully completes a 12-week intensive language course administered by the Graduate School of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College, or its equivalent, or (3) the candidate has native-level proficiency and completed a university degree using that language.
Master of Arts Concentration in Irish Literature and Culture
The concentration in Irish Literature and Culture degree offers English Department M.A. candidates the opportunity to design an interdisciplinary course of study drawing from a wide range of fields, including literature, Irish language, history, women鈥檚 studies, American studies, fine arts, music, and cultural studies. Candidates seeking the degree must fulfill the course requirements of 30 credits within two years. At least twelve of these must be in Irish literature courses in the English Department, an additional three in an Irish Studies course offered by another University department, and at least six in Irish language. Remaining credits are taken as electives. To complete the degree candidates must pass an oral examination focusing on a specific period, genre, or theme they have chosen in consultation with members of the Irish Studies faculty. Students interested in pursuing the concentration in Irish Literature and Culture should register with Professor Marjorie Howes at the beginning of their second year.
English faculty offering graduate courses in Irish Studies include Professors Marjorie Howes, Joseph Nugent, and James Smith. In addition, the distinguished visiting scholar holding the Burns Library Chair in Irish Studies will teach graduate courses in the program. For further information about the Irish Studies Program, please see the website at聽bc.edu/irish.
Master of Arts in Teaching
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is administered through the Lynch School of Education and Human Development in cooperation with the Department of English. It requires admission to both the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and to the Department of English. Course requirements vary depending upon the candidate鈥檚 prior teaching experience; however, all master鈥檚 programs leading to certification in secondary education include practical experiences in addition to coursework. Students seeking certification in Massachusetts are required to pass the Massachusetts Educators Certification Test. For further information on the M.A.T., please refer to Master鈥檚 Programs in Secondary Teaching in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development section of the University Catalog or call the Lynch School鈥檚 Office of Graduate Admissions at 617-552-4214.
Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Fellowships
Students in the first year of the M.A. program are eligible to receive financial aid in the form of tuition remission. Second year students are eligible for Teaching Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships conferring a stipend.
Certificate in Digital Humanities
In our increasingly digitized world, the question isn鈥檛 whether to use digital technology, but how. Institutions of higher education, as well as employers in many other sectors, recognize that digital humanities skills such as text analysis, mapping, and coding have transformative potential. 天美传媒app鈥檚 Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities offers a coordinated curriculum that is feasible for graduate candidates to complete alongside existing degree requirements. The program combines interdisciplinary methodological training with discipline-specific coursework to provide students with training and institutional recognition of their accomplishments in this fast-growing field.A joint effort of the History and English Departments and Boston College Libraries, the program offers M.A. and Ph.D. candidates the opportunity to diversify their skill sets and produce projects such as digital archives, data visualizations, online exhibits, and scholarly websites. This project-based approach puts a premium on collaboration and interdisciplinary inquiry. In the process, Certificate holders will enhance their employment prospects in both traditional academia as well as in publishing, government, museums, libraries, archives, and other alt-ac fields.
Eligibility
Candidates wishing to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities must first be enrolled in a graduate degree program at Boston College. They will be able to pursue coursework in accordance with their preparation under any of the following disciplines:
- Classical Studies
- English
- History
- Economics
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Romance Languages and Literatures
- Sociology
- Theology
Doctor of Philosophy Program
Normally, no more than four students join the doctoral program each year (one additional student is sometimes admitted on an Irish Studies fellowship). These small cohorts allow for a flexible program that is shaped to suit the individual interests and needs of each student.
All students accepted into the program receive stipends and tuition remission. Stipends are guaranteed for five years as long as the student is making satisfactory progress toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Course Requirements
Four required doctoral seminars are to be taken in consecutive semesters over the first two years of the program, along with three electives and a pedagogy seminar that prepares students to teach the First-Year Writing Seminar. A student鈥檚 program may also include graduate courses in related disciplines, small reading groups, or individual tutorials. Students participate in a professional development seminar in years one through four.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate an ability to read one foreign language, as determined by a two-hour examination in which a short text must be competently translated with use of a dictionary.聽
Examinations
Each student will direct a course of study toward completion of two oral examinations鈥攁 Field exam at the start of the second year and a Focus exam at the start of the third year.
The Field examination is based on a pre-set reading list and covers the academic field in which the student is likely to seek employment. The Focus examination, which is narrower in scope, is based on a reading list that the student creates in consultation with a faculty committee and includes a written component.
Prospectus, Dissertation, and Defense
At the start of the fourth year the student submits and defends a dissertation prospectus, which includes an overview of the proposed topic, texts to be covered, research questions, research methods, chapter breakdown, timeline, and bibliography. The prospectus is approved by the student鈥檚 dissertation committee, which has at least three faculty readers (one of whom may be a faculty member from outside Boston College). Submission of the dissertation is followed by an oral defense. Candidates are responsible for acquainting themselves with all university requirements, fees, and deadlines pertinent to dissertation submission and graduation. This information can be obtained from the Graduate School of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean鈥檚 office.
Teaching
As part of their program, Ph.D. students engage in a carefully organized sequence of teaching experiences. In the second year, students spend one semester assisting in a course taught by a faculty member. In the third and fourth years, students design and teach their own courses: First-Year Writing Seminar, Literature Core, an elective in the student鈥檚 own field, and another course selected to provide the best range of teaching experience for each individual student. Faculty mentoring is a part of every phase of this program.
Graduate Colloquium
A committee composed of M.A. and Ph.D. candidates organizes and schedules graduate colloquia, at which faculty members, outside speakers, or candidates lead discussions on literary topics. In alternate years, the spring colloquium will be a full-day graduate conference. All graduate candidates and faculty are strongly encouraged to attend.
Good Standing
Candidates for the degree are expected to remain in good standing in accordance with department guidelines set out for the timely completion of the degree. Continued financial support and participation in the program depends on maintaining good standing.