Cultural Studies Concentration

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MA-ENGL-CULT

The Master of Arts in English at Mason offers students the opportunity to enhance their skills of reading, writing, research and teaching with courses that encompass the wide range of contemporary English studies. Students can work in and across concentrations in literature, professional writing, rhetoric, cultural studies, film, folklore, linguistics, and the teaching of writing and literature. It offers the MA in field-specific concentrations as well as the opportunity to combine a concentration in one field with a certificate from another one. Many students use the MA for professional enhancement, or as an entry into teaching, professional writing, or doctoral study.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 30 credits in one concentration. 

Students in the concentration of cultural studies must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a foreign language in one of the following ways: submitting an undergraduate (or continuing education) transcript that includes courses corresponding to intermediate proficiency; completing a Mason foreign language course numbered 202 or higher; passing a proficiency exam administered by the English department.

Concentration in Cultural Studies (CULT)

Required Courses  
ENGH 500 Research in English Studies 3
ENGH 676 Introduction to Cultural Studies 3
CULT 802 Histories of Cultural Studies 3
Two Courses  
Select 6 credits from the following: 6
Introduction to Literary Theory  
Seminar in Global Culture  
Seminar in Film and Media Studies  
Feminist Theory and Criticism  
Selected Topics, Movements, or Genres of Literature in English 1  
Literary Theory and Criticism 1  
Three to Five Courses of Literature  
Select 9-15 credits from the following: 9-15
Graduate Literature Survey  
Topics in Literary and Cultural Studies  
Special Topics in the History and Criticism of Children's Literature  
Topics in Folk Narrative  
Topics in Folklore Studies  
Seminar in British Literature  
Seminar in American Literature  
Seminar in Advanced Research  
Seminar in African-American Literature  
Seminar in Global Culture  
Seminar in Film and Media Studies  
Advanced Topics in Folklore Studies  
Selected Topics, Movements, or Genres of Literature in English  
Literary Theory and Criticism  
Projects in Literary Studies  
Optional Project or Thesis  
Select 3-6 credits of a project or a thesis from the following: 3-6
Project: 2
 
Projects in Literary Studies (3 credits)  
Thesis: 3
 
Thesis (6 credits)  
Total Credits 30
1

ENGH 685 Selected Topics, Movements, or Genres of Literature in English, and ENGH 705 Literary Theory and Criticism may be repeated once with permission of the director of graduate studies.

2

Students who choose a project take 3 fewer credits of literature.

3

Students who choose a thesis take 6 fewer credits of literature.