The English Language program includes specializations in history and structure of language, discourse and genre analysis, and history and theory of rhetoric. Faculty members in the Language program teach and supervise research in descriptive linguistics, historical linguistics, cognitive linguistics, functional grammar, semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, stylistics, genre studies, and history and theory of rhetoric. Students in the English Literature program can take advantage of Language graduate courses; recent offerings include courses on reported speech and its rhetorical versatility across genres; the uses of classical rhetoric for contemporary critical practice; and cognitive approaches to the language of literature. By the same token, Language students can take advantage of the wide variety of Literature courses our department offers.

Program Components: Coursework + Options

MA without Thesis and MA with Thesis:

The Department of English at UBC offers the MA either with or without a thesis. Either degree qualifies the student to apply for the PhD program. Typically, approximately one-third of any given MA cohort in the department is working on a thesis-based MA.

For the MA in Literature or Language, without thesis, students are required to complete 30 credits of course work, of which not more than 6 credits may be 300 or 400 level courses.

For the MA in Literature or Language with thesis, students are required to complete 21 credits of course work, of which not more than 6 credits may be 300 or 400 level courses; and 9 credits for the MA Thesis and Oral Examination.

Supervision:

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding supervisor contact for Master of Arts in English (MA)

Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. No commitment from a supervisor prior to applying is necessary, but contacting faculty members is encouraged.