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English and Humanities (M.A.)

Marymount's Master of Arts in English and Humanities is a flexible, student-centered, interdisciplinary program of study that immerses students in the unique cultural resources and opportunities of the Washington, DC, area while deepening their understanding of the human condition. Graduate study in the humanities enhances historical consciousness, fosters clear and critical thinking, and hones writing and presentational skills. The program’s small seminar classes engage students with the world of ideas through close textual study, individual research, and classroom discussion.

The MA program in English and Humanities prepares students for an array of academic and alternative academic futures. The program prepares students for further advanced study and entry into competitive doctoral programs; for career development or advancement in secondary and community college teaching; or for master's-level careers invested in research, writing, editing, and the nonprofit sector.

This program requires the completion of 33 credit hours of coursework. Students can elect to cap their coursework with either a thesis or an internship practicum. Students planning to pursue advanced work in a doctoral program are encouraged to complete a thesis, which requires an oral defense, while those seeking professional enhancement and/or a career change are encouraged to complete an internship practicum, which also requires public presentation.

Degree-seeking students in the English and Humanities MA program are also eligible to pursue the Teaching English at the Community College (TECC) graduate certificate jointly. (See program details.)

The MA program allows students to build their course of study in one of three tracks:

  • In the literature track, students engage with and analyze texts from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Literary study enhances cultural awareness and aesthetic appreciation, fosters sensitivity and mental suppleness through the consideration of multiple viewpoints, and encourages critical thinking.
  • In the language and composition track, an emphasis is placed on linguistic and rhetorical study, with a practical edge. This course of study heightens understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of language and perfects students’ abilities to critique and improve their own writing in light of its purpose and audience.
  • In the humanities track, students engage in humanistic inquiry from a variety of disciplinary perspectives suited to their interests and professional needs, including history and politics, the history of art and architecture, philosophy, literature, and comparative religion.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to

  • write and create substantial academic papers and projects in which they analyze source material, develop original arguments, and demonstrate clarity, organization, grace of expression, and audience awareness;
  • analyze source material with informed consideration of its historical, cultural, critical and/or theoretical context;
  • deliver professional and engaging oral presentations of their academic work that focus on their arguments and ideas, and that show thorough research and preparation; and
  • fully acknowledge the use of all forms of intellectual property.

Admission Requirements: In addition to meeting the universitywide requirements for graduate admission applicants must

  • provide evidence of a bachelor’s degree with a major in a humanities discipline, such as English, history, philosophy, art history, or comparative religion, comprising at least 18 credits in the discipline;
  • submit official transcripts of all postsecondary education reflecting a grade point average (overall or in the major) of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale;
  • submit a sample 8- to 10-page critical paper; and
  • submit two letters of recommendation.

Also, see language requirement, which follows.

Consortium Courses: A maximum of six (6) semester credits, selected in conjunction with the director of the graduate program in English and Humanities, may be taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Students should not enroll in a consortium course during the semester of their anticipated graduation. Taking a course outside of Marymount during the student’s final semester may delay his or her graduation.

Language Requirement: Preference will be given during the admission process to students who demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a second language, either by transcript or by credit on a standardized test (such as CLEP). Students without the language requirement on entry are encouraged to complete six to eight (6-8) credits in language (broadly defined) while at Marymount in addition to the existing course requirements.

Nondegree Admission: Applicants wishing to enroll for limited coursework may do so as nondegree students for a maximum of nine (9) credits and two consecutive semesters. See nondegree studies for more information.

Provisional Admission: Applicants may also be admitted on a provisional basis, which requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first term of courses.

International Students: Nonnative speakers of English should review International Applicants for TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic test score requirements. Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution where the language of instruction is English are exempt from this requirement.

Transfer Credits: A maximum of six (6) semester credits of transfer or consortium graduate credit may be applied toward the degree, if approved by the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the registrar.

Degree Requirements — English and Humanities

33 credits

Courses designated HUM may be taught by faculty from different disciplines. Disciplinary focus will be noted in student records, and it may affect how the course fulfills degree requirements.

Unlisted graduate courses may be taken as related electives upon approval from the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the director of the graduate program in English and humanities.

Literature Track

Foundation Courses

Six (6) credits as follows:

EN 501Building Textual Interpretation

3

EN 502Engaging Critical Theory

3

Program Courses: Literature

12-18 credits, chosen from the following:

EN 522Out of the '30s: Literature, Social Advocacy, and the Great Depression

3

EN 527Dante's Florence and the Divine Comedy

3

EN 533Shakespeare: Text and Performance

3

EN 542Origins of the Novel: Text, Context, and Critique

3

EN 545Social Upheaval and Dramatic Structure

3

EN 549Topics in Counter-Cultural Literary Movements

3

EN 572The Canterbury Tales and the Late Medieval World

3

EN 576Literary Proponents of Culture in the 19th and 20th Centuries

3

EN 580Independent Study

3

EN 590Major Author(s)

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

Program Courses: Language and Composition

Three to six (3-6) credits, chosen from the following:

ED 561Teaching Language Pragmatics

3

EN 550General Linguistics

3

EN 551Composition: Theory and Practice

3

EN 552Applied Phonology

3

EN 554Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures

3

EN 558History of the English Language

3

EN 559Studies in Creative Writing

3

EN 561Topics in College Composition

3

EN 571Technology for College Literature and Writing

3

EN 580Independent Study

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

Program Courses: Related Electives

Three to six (3-6) credits, chosen from the following:

FA 502Theories and Methods of Art History

3

FA 585Art and Culture in Early Modern Northern Europe

3

HI 503Foundations of Historical Thought

3

HI 550The Intellectual History of the American Revolution

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

HUM 599Independent Study

3

ID 554Historic Preservation Seminar

3

IT 502Creating Websites

3

IT 550Ethics, Law, and Policy in the Information Age

3

MGT 537Nonprofit Management

3

PH 504Philosophy and the Humanities

3

TRS 565Violence, Religion, and Peacemaking

3

Capstone Course

Three (3) credits, chosen from the following:

EN 690Practicum

3

OR

EN 695Master's Project

3

Language and Composition Track

Foundation Courses

Six (6) credits, as follows:

EN 501Building Textual Interpretation

3

EN 502Engaging Critical Theory

3

Program Courses: Language and Composition

12 credits, chosen from the following:

ED 561Teaching Language Pragmatics

3

EN 550General Linguistics

3

EN 551Composition: Theory and Practice

3

EN 552Applied Phonology

3

EN 554Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures

3

EN 558History of the English Language

3

EN 559Studies in Creative Writing

3

EN 561Topics in College Composition

3

EN 571Technology for College Literature and Writing

3

EN 580Independent Study

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

Program Courses: Literature

Six to nine (6-9) credits, chosen from the following:
EN 522Out of the '30s: Literature, Social Advocacy, and the Great Depression

3

EN 527Dante's Florence and the Divine Comedy

3

EN 533Shakespeare: Text and Performance

3

EN 542Origins of the Novel: Text, Context, and Critique

3

EN 545Social Upheaval and Dramatic Structure

3

EN 549Topics in Counter-Cultural Literary Movements

3

EN 572The Canterbury Tales and the Late Medieval World

3

EN 576Literary Proponents of Culture in the 19th and 20th Centuries

3

EN 580Independent Study

3

EN 590Major Author(s)

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

Program Courses: Related Electives

Three to six (3-6) credits, chosen from the following:

FA 502Theories and Methods of Art History

3

FA 585Art and Culture in Early Modern Northern Europe

3

HI 503Foundations of Historical Thought

3

HI 550The Intellectual History of the American Revolution

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

HUM 599Independent Study

3

ID 554Historic Preservation Seminar

3

IT 502Creating Websites

3

IT 550Ethics, Law, and Policy in the Information Age

3

MGT 537Nonprofit Management

3

PH 504Philosophy and the Humanities

3

TRS 565Violence, Religion, and Peacemaking

3

Capstone Course

Three (3) credits, chosen from the following:

EN 690Practicum

3

OR

EN 695Master's Project

3

Students in this track may wish to supplement their studies by completing the certificate in teaching English at the community college. See the certificate program for requirements.

Humanities Track

Foundation Courses

Six (6) credits, chosen from the following:

EN 501Building Textual Interpretation

3

FA 502Theories and Methods of Art History

3

HI 503Foundations of Historical Thought

3

PH 504Philosophy and the Humanities

3

Additional foundation courses beyond the first 6 credits may be taken as program courses.

Program Courses: Humanities

12-15 credits, chosen from the following:

FA 502Theories and Methods of Art History

3

FA 585Art and Culture in Early Modern Northern Europe

3

HI 503Foundations of Historical Thought

3

HI 550The Intellectual History of the American Revolution

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

HUM 599Independent Study

3

PH 504Philosophy and the Humanities

3

TRS 565Violence, Religion, and Peacemaking

3

Program Courses: Related Electives

Nine to twelve (9-12) credits, chosen from the following:

ED 561Teaching Language Pragmatics

3

EN 502Engaging Critical Theory

3

EN 522Out of the '30s: Literature, Social Advocacy, and the Great Depression

3

EN 527Dante's Florence and the Divine Comedy

3

EN 533Shakespeare: Text and Performance

3

EN 542Origins of the Novel: Text, Context, and Critique

3

EN 545Social Upheaval and Dramatic Structure

3

EN 549Topics in Counter-Cultural Literary Movements

3

EN 550General Linguistics

3

EN 551Composition: Theory and Practice

3

EN 552Applied Phonology

3

EN 554Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures

3

EN 558History of the English Language

3

EN 559Studies in Creative Writing

3

EN 561Topics in College Composition

3

EN 571Technology for College Literature and Writing

3

EN 572The Canterbury Tales and the Late Medieval World

3

EN 576Literary Proponents of Culture in the 19th and 20th Centuries

3

EN 580Independent Study

3

EN 590Major Author(s)

3

HUM 524Myth, Symbol, and Language

3

HUM 525King Arthur and Camelot: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

3

HUM 528Visions of Freedom in the Modern World

3

HUM 560Lies and Secrets

3

HUM 574Gender, Race, and Empire

3

ID 554Historic Preservation Seminar

3

IT 502Creating Websites

3

IT 550Ethics, Law, and Policy in the Information Age

3

MGT 537Nonprofit Management

3

Capstone Course

Three (3) credits, chosen from the following:

HUM 690Practicum

3

OR

HUM 695Master's Project

3