Print and PDF Options

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://calendar.carleton.ca.

Department of English Language and Literature
(Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
613-520-2309
http://carleton.ca/english

This section presents the requirements for programs in:

Program Requirements

M.A. English (4.5 credits)

Requirements - Coursework pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  4.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908 and ENGL 5909)4.0
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Research Essay pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  3.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5909)3.0
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
3.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 5908 [1.0]
Research Essay
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Thesis pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  2.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908)2.0
2.  0.5 credit in ENGL 50050.5
3.  2.0 credits in:2.0
ENGL 5909 [2.0]
M.A. Thesis
An oral examination on the thesis will be required. A prospectus for the thesis must be submitted to the graduate committee by December 1 after registration in September, or at the end of three months for any other registration
Total Credits4.5

M.A. English
with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies (4.5 credits)

Requirements - Coursework pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  0.5 credit in:0.5
AFRI 5000 [0.5]
African Studies as a Discipline: Historical and Current Perspectives
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
AFRI 5800 [0.0]
Scholarly Preparation in African Studies
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
ENGL 5008 [0.5]
Studies in African Literature
ENGL 5010 [0.5]
Studies in Caribbean Literature
Or an ENGL course approved by the Graduate Coordinator of the Institute of African Studies
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
5.  3.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908 and ENGL 5909)3.0
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Research Essay pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  0.5 credit in:0.5
AFRI 5000 [0.5]
African Studies as a Discipline: Historical and Current Perspectives
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
AFRI 5800 [0.0]
Scholarly Preparation in African Studies
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
ENGL 5008 [0.5]
Studies in African Literature
ENGL 5010 [0.5]
Studies in Caribbean Literature
Or an ENGL course approved by the Graduate Coordinator of the Institute of African Studies
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
5.  2.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5909)2.0
6.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 5908 [1.0]
Research Essay (in the specialization)
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Thesis pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  0.5 credit in:0.5
AFRI 5000 [0.5]
African Studies as a Discipline: Historical and Current Perspectives
2.  0.0 credit in:0.0
AFRI 5800 [0.0]
Scholarly Preparation in African Studies
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
ENGL 5008 [0.5]
Studies in African Literature
ENGL 5010 [0.5]
Studies in Caribbean Literature
Or an ENGL course approved by the Graduate Coordinator of the Institute of African Studies
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
5.  1.0 credit in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908)1.0
6.  2.0 credits in:2.0
ENGL 5909 [2.0]
M.A. Thesis (in the specialization)
Total Credits4.5

M.A. English
with Collaborative Specialization in Climate Change (4.5 credits)

Requirements - Coursework pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in:1.0
CLIM 5000 [1.0]
Climate Collaboration
2.  0.0 credit in:
CLIM 5800 [0.0]
Climate Seminar Series
3.  2.5 credits in ENGL at the 5000-level (excluding ENGL 5908 and ENGL 5909)2.5
4.  0.5 credit in a graduate seminar with sufficient Climate Change content in ENGL or another department, as approved by the Coordinator of the Climate Change Specialization.0.5
5.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Research essay pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in:1.0
CLIM 5000 [1.0]
Climate Collaboration
2.  0.0 credit in:
CLIM 5800 [0.0]
Climate Seminar Series
3.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
4.  2.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908)2.0
5.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 5908 [1.0]
Research Essay (in the specialization)
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Thesis pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in:1.0
CLIM 5000 [1.0]
Climate Collaboration
2.  0.0 credit in:
CLIM 5800 [0.0]
Climate Seminar Series
3.  1.0 credit in ENGL at the 5000-level (excluding ENGL 5909)1.0
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
5.  2.0 credits in:2.0
ENGL 5909 [2.0]
M.A. Thesis (in the specialization)
Total Credits4.5

M.A. English
with Collaborative Specialization in Digital Humanities (4.5 credits)

Requirements - Coursework pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  2.5 credits in 5000-level ENGL (excluding ENGL 5908 and ENGL 5909)2.5
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
3.  0.5 credit in:0.5
DIGH 5000 [0.5]
Issues in the Digital Humanities
3.  1.0 credit in DIGH (DIGH 5011, DIGH 5012, or annually listed DIGH course)1.0
4.  0.0 credit in:0.0
DIGH 5800 [0.0]
Digital Humanities: Professional Development
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Research essay pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  2.0 credits in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5909)2.0
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
3.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 5908 [1.0]
Research Essay (in the specialization)
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
DIGH 5000 [0.5]
Issues in the Digital Humanities
5.  0.5 credit in Digital Humanities (DIGH 5011, DIGH 5012, or annually listed Digital Humanities course)0.5
6.  0.0 credit in:0.0
DIGH 5800 [0.0]
Digital Humanities: Professional Development
Total Credits4.5
Requirements - Thesis pathway (4.5 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in ENGL at the 5000 level (excluding ENGL 5908)1.0
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 5005 [0.5]
M.A. Seminar
3.  2.0 credits in:2.0
ENGL 5909 [2.0]
M.A. Thesis (in the specialization)
4.  0.5 credit in:0.5
DIGH 5000 [0.5]
Issues in the Digital Humanities
5.  0.5 credit from:0.5
DIGH 5011 [0.5]
Graduate Practicum in Digital Humanities
DIGH 5012 [0.5]
Directed Readings and Research in Digital Humanities
- or annually listed DIGH course
6.  0.0 credit in:0.0
DIGH 5800 [0.0]
Digital Humanities: Professional Development
Total Credits4.5

Ph.D. English (5.0 credits)

Requirements:
1.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 6003 [0.5]
Theories and Foundations in the Production of Literature
ENGL 6004 [0.5]
Approaches to the Production of Literature
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 6002 [0.5]
Proseminar
3. 2.0 credits of approved courses2.0
4.  1.0 credit in:1.0
ENGL 6900 [1.0]
Comprehensive Examination
5.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ENGL 6902 [0.5]
Dissertation Proposal
6.  0.0 credits in:0.0
ENGL 6909 [0.0]
Thesis
Total Credits5.0

ENGL 6002, ENGL 6003 and ENGL 6004 are required courses. Optional English courses will be selected from a list approved annually by the department. Students may take up to 1.0 credit of approved courses offered in other departments. Students may also choose directed reading courses with the core faculty of the program.

Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to complete one comprehensive examination. It has a 1.0 credit value. The comprehensive examination (ENGL 6900) will focus on relevant theoretical and methodological issues and will take the form of a written and oral examination set and marked by members of core faculty. This will normally take place at the beginning of the second year of full-time doctoral study.

Language Requirements

Students must demonstrate reading ability in a language other than English, normally by completing a university-level language reading course approved by the department with a minimum grade of B- or a pass/fail translation exam, administered by the Department of English. This requirement should be satisfied prior to the submission of the dissertation proposal. The choice of language used to fulfill this requirement may be determined either by its appropriateness to supporting the student’s doctoral research or by its suitability for the student’s professional development.  Students whose transcripts demonstrate that they have already completed an MA level language requirement are exempt from this requirement.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal must be defended at an oral examination.  A student may proceed to writing the dissertation after they have the approval of their Dissertation Supervisory Committee that their project is ready to go forward.

English (ENGL) Courses

ENGL 5002 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Theory I

Selected topics in literary and cultural theory.

ENGL 5004 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Transnational Literatures

Topics in transnational, diaspora and postcolonial literatures and theory. Topics vary from year to year.

ENGL 5005 [0.5 credit]
M.A. Seminar

Examines topics such as research resources and methodologies, current issues in literary theory and professional concerns. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

ENGL 5006 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Theory II

Selected topics in literary and cultural theory.

ENGL 5007 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Indigenous Literatures

Selected texts of Indigenous literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5008 [0.5 credit]
Studies in African Literature

Selected texts of African literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5009 [0.5 credit]
Studies in South Asian Literature

Selected texts of South Asian literature and culture. Topics vary from year to year and may be organized by theme, author, or genre.

ENGL 5010 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Caribbean Literature

Topics in Caribbean literatures and theory. Topics vary from year to year.

ENGL 5101 [0.5 credit]
Historical Linguistics: English

A theory-intensive course that will study the development of English starting with Proto-Indo-European progressing through Common Germanic to the stages of English itself. Topics include phonological sound changes, phonemic inventories, and morphological and syntactic typology.
Also listed as LING 5802.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4802, for which additional credit is precluded.

ENGL 5120 [0.5 credit]
Book Arts Workshop

This course immerses graduate students in the practical arts and histories of book production. At least part of the course will take place in the Book Arts Lab in MacOdrum Library, where students will acquire skills in printing, bibliography, and/or bookmaking.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

ENGL 5207 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Old English

Topics in the early medieval period. Topics vary from year to year and may include Old English, Old Norse, Latin texts in translation, or pre-Chaucerian texts.

ENGL 5208 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Middle English Literature

Studies in the literature and culture of England between 1100 and 1550. Topics vary from year to year and may include texts in Middle English, French and/or Latin (French and Latin texts are usually studies in translations).

ENGL 5303 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Early Modern Literature I

A study of early modern authors, texts, and problems. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5305 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Early Modern Literature II

A study of early modern authors, texts, and problems. Topics will vary from year to year.

ENGL 5402 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Eighteenth-Century Literature

Selected texts of eighteenth-century literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5408 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Romanticism

Selected texts of Romantic literature and culture. Topics vary from year to year and may be organised by theme, author or genre.

ENGL 5501 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature I

Selected readings in nineteenth-century British literature and culture. Topics vary from year to year and may be organized by theme, author, and/or genre.

ENGL 5503 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature II

Selected readings in nineteenth-century British literature and culture. Topics vary from year to year and may be organized by theme, author, and/or genre.

ENGL 5606 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Twentieth-Century Literature

Selected texts of twentieth-century literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5608 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Modernism

Special topics in studies in modernism will vary from year to year.

ENGL 5609 [0.5 credit]
Studies in American Literature I

Selected texts of American literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5610 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Contemporary Literature I

Selected texts of contemporary literature and culture. Topics may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5611 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Contemporary Literature II

Selected texts of contemporary literature and culture.

ENGL 5708 [0.5 credit]
Studies in American Literature II

Topic may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5804 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Canadian Literature I

Topics vary from year to year and may include issues of genre, selected themes, literary movements, or developments in theory.

ENGL 5806 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Canadian Literature II

Topics vary from year to year and may include issues of genre, selected themes, literary movements, or developments in theory.

ENGL 5900 [0.5 credit]
Selected Topic in English Studies I

Topic may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5901 [0.5 credit]
Selected Topic in English Studies II

Topic may vary from year to year.

ENGL 5908 [1.0 credit]
Research Essay

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

ENGL 5909 [2.0 credits]
M.A. Thesis

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

ENGL 6002 [0.5 credit]
Proseminar

Exploration of recent critical theory and discussion of issues related to the profession. Graded SAT/UNSAT.

ENGL 6003 [0.5 credit]
Theories and Foundations in the Production of Literature

Survey of foundational theoretical texts from the fields of book history, manuscript and print cultural studies, media studies, and cultural theory.

ENGL 6004 [0.5 credit]
Approaches to the Production of Literature

With a focus on one or more approaches, this course studies how literary and cultural production are shaped by economic, historical, institutional, sociological, legal, and technological forces.

ENGL 6101 [0.5 credit]
Directed Reading

This tutorial is designed to permit students to pursue individual research. Topics will be chosen in consultation with at least one faculty member and the graduate supervisor.

ENGL 6102 [0.5 credit]
Studies in the Production of Literature

Explores selected studies/themes related to the production of literature.

ENGL 6103 [0.5 credit]
Selected Topics in the Production of Literature

Selected topics/themes related to the production of literature.

ENGL 6900 [1.0 credit]
Comprehensive Examination

This examination will include a range of texts in the student's field of specialization.
One four-hour written exam, and one week later, a one-to-two hour oral exam.

ENGL 6902 [0.5 credit]
Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal is approved by the student's dissertation committee and defended at an oral examination. The dissertation proposal is completed after the comprehensive examination requirement has been satisfied. Graded SAT/UNS.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

ENGL 6909 [5.0 credits]
Thesis

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

A standing of B- or better must be obtained in each credit counted towards the master's degree.

Each program is designed to be completed within the three-term academic year. Each program is of equal status.

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree
Full-time master's candidates are expected to complete all requirements in twelve months or three terms of registered full-time study. Part-time master's candidates are expected to complete their degree requirements within an elapsed period of three calendar years after the date of initial registration.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Academic Standing

Doctoral students must normally obtain a grade of B- or better in each course counted toward the fulfilment of the degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

The normal admission requirement for the master's program is a B.A. (Honours) (or the equivalent) in English language and literature, with at least a high Honours standing (normally B+ or better).

Possession of the normal entrance standing is not in itself, however, an assurance of admission into the program.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who hold a three-year non-honours B.A. degree with at least a high Honours standing (normally B+), with a major in English language and literature or a related discipline, may be admitted to the qualifying-year program. Normally, these students will be required to complete 4.0 or 5.0 credits in English, as determined by the department, and to maintain a high Honours standing (normally B+) before being considered for admission into the master's program. For more information regarding the qualifying year, see the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Accelerated Pathway

The accelerated pathway in the Department of English Language and Literature is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study. Students in their final year of a Carleton B.A. Honours in English with demonstrated academic excellence and an aptitude for research may be invited to apply for this option.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

Students accepted into the Accelerated Pathway will be allowed to enroll in up to two 5000-level graduate seminars during their final year of study. These courses will count towards the requirements for up to 1.0 credits of 4000-level courses in their BA Honours degree.  Students who obtain satisfactory standing as determined by the graduate committee in these  5000-level courses may receive advance standing with transfer credit of up to 1.0 credit, which can reduce their time to completion if they are subsequently accepted into a Carleton University Master's degree in English. 

A special committee is responsible for inviting students to apply for entrance to this pathway. A minimal overall CGPA of 11.0 is normally required for consideration; invited students should submit two reference letters from English Department faculty members and a writing sample to both Undergraduate Supervisor and Graduate Supervisor of the English Department. If accepted into the accelerated pathway, students must consult with both the Undergraduate and Graduate Supervisors to determine which graduate seminars they will take.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants will normally hold a master's degree in English (or equivalent) with at least an A- average (10 G.P.A.)

Applicants judged to be deficient in preparation may be asked to complete course work in addition to the Ph.D. program requirements.