M.A. Programmes in English Lit.

[James McNally]

I am looking for information on Master's programmes in English.
Preferably in Canada, but info on U.S. programmes would also be
welcome. Could anyone tell me which programmes have good
reputations for English Literature? I am planning on attending in
September 1992, and so am gathering information now. Any response
would be appreciated.

[Bill Baker]

Like most non-science disciplines, the graduate programs of the best
English lit. departments are very oriented to cranking out PhD's,
not MA's. They tend not to even accept people working toward MA's;
they usually award 'em to PhD candidates who have crashed and
burned (read failed their qual's). This is mainly true of the top
American programs such as Yale's and Brown's. Some good public
universities have MA programs in which you are specifically *not*
allowed to continue on for a PhD. I think the University of
Washington is one. It is a kind of Catch-22: You're not sure if
you're inspired enough to grind all the way to a PhD., but only the
mediocre, uninspiring schools have real MA programs.