Graduate Progam Information:
Marnie Leonard (970) 491-2403 Marnie.Leonard@colostate.edu

Graduate Study

Master of Arts in Literature

Thesis or Final Project

If you choose to do Plan A, you will need 32 hours of credit, or 9 courses, one of which can be a 2-hour independent reading course or internship. Six of these hours will be your master’s thesis, which would, typically, be somewhere around 100 pages long. This option is best for those who wish to spend a larger percentage of their graduate time (6/32 hours) on a single subject in which they are deeply interested, who are fast and efficient researchers and thinkers, and who write quickly, clearly, and correctly. Writing a thesis may give you a satisfactory sense of completion and it may serve as training wheels for a later dissertation or book.

If you choose to do Plan B, you will need 35 hours of credit, or 11 courses. Independent studies and internships may count towards the 35 hours of credit. Two of these hours will be your final project, which might, typically, be a potentially publishable article of some 25 pages, though other forms (such as websites, syllabi, and annotated bibliographies) are possible. This option is best for those who want more flexibility (just 2/34 hours on a single subject and a less prescriptive final product) or who wish to write something for possible publication or for conferences. Because students who choose Plan B typically finish the degree more quickly, many consider this the better option.

In either case, you should talk about your choice with your advisor and other faculty members.

For information about course offerings and registration procedures for the upcoming semester or summer session, please view the Rambler, the Department's student newsletter.

This information is not intended to replace your advisor or the information in the CSU General Catalog, the Class Schedule, or the Department Checksheets.

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