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Master of Arts Degree in English Creative Thesis Option
Students interested in pursuing a Thesis Option in
English should consult with the MA Graduate Advisor of Record and a
prospective supervising faculty member early in their Programs of
Study. University-wide requirements for Thesis Option (Option I) are
detailed in the UTSA Graduate Catalog. The Thesis Option in English is
consistent with these requirements, and it is the student’s
responsibility to follow the University-wide requirements. The student
should also obtain and follow the English Graduate office’s guidelines
for the MA in English Thesis Option, including all thesis option
requirements outlined under Program of Study, Intent to Write a
Thesis, and Master’s Thesis Committee.
Thesis Option: Students who have completed 24 or more semester
credit hours in an approved program of study with a grade point
average of 3.5 (or better) may submit a thesis proposal, and upon
approval by a supervising professor (the prospective Chair of the
Thesis Committee) and the M.A. Graduate Program Committee, the student
may elect to include 6 hours of ENG 6983, or ENG 6986 Master’s Thesis
in their 12 elective hours. Students choosing to write a creative
thesis must have completed, among their approved electives, 6 hours of
ENG 5143, ENG 5153, or ENG 6043, 3 hours of which must be in the genre
of the thesis.
After the student has met the required GPA, and consulted with the MA
Graduate Advisor of Record, the student should discuss the option with
a prospective supervising professor. In addition to meeting all other
requirements, the student interested in a creative thesis should note
the following:
For the creative option, it is expected that the Chair of the
student’s Thesis Committee be a member of the English Department's
Creative Writing Committee. A list of the members of this committee is
available from the department office. After the student receives
approval for the creative thesis, (form available from the English
Graduate office), it is highly recommended that the student then
obtain approval to participate in at least three additional hours of
ENG 6043, with or without credit, concurrent with being enrolled in
ENG 6983. Normally, students are expected to complete the six hours of
a creative thesis over consecutive semesters.
The creative thesis option is intended to give serious writers with
substantial workshop experience an opportunity to complete a
significant book-length body of creative writing. The creative thesis
option requires both dedication and discipline, as students are
required to produce and edit numerous drafts of their work. This
option is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate her/his own
discipline, self-motivation, and ability to complete a lengthy
project.
When meeting with supervising faculty members, student should prepare
copies of new and ongoing work for every meeting, unless otherwise
arranged. Students should allow no less than two weeks for the Chair
and committee members to review thesis draft work. A student who
repeatedly fails to produce work or who fails to meet the required
deadlines will be dropped from this option.