The MA program in English Language and Literature is designed to provide students with an in-depth study of literature from theoretical and comparative perspectives. It is open to candidates who are proficient in English and have taken their BA degree in English Language and Literature, or to graduates of appropriate disciplines who demonstrate the ability for intensive literary study. Coursework is conducted in seminars, and assessment is based on essays and/or a written examination.
The core unit of the MA program, required for all students, consists of four courses. Two are to be taken during the fall semester: Issues in Critical Theory I and Masterpieces of Western Literature, and the other two in the spring semester: Issues in Critical Theory II and Masterpieces of English Literature. Three elective courses and a non-credit seminar are also required. While elective offerings vary by term, courses in both English Literature and Comparative Literature are offered regularly, including Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism, Shakespearean Drama, and Gothic Studies. Those whose knowledge of English Literature is not considered adequate will be required to take preparatory courses at undergraduate level on a non-credit basis, usually for a period of up to two terms. The time thus spent will not be deducted from the maximum period for fulfilling the requirements of the MA degree. Before beginning the thesis, students must complete the MA Seminar in English Literature. Students must complete a total of 21 credits and submit an original research project of 20,000-30,000 words, usually by the end of the second year.