English

M.A, Ph.D

The English Department at Queen’s University is a professionally oriented research department whose faculty members are distinguished by both their scholarly pursuits and their commitment to teaching. In addition to regular course work, students take courses on pedagogical and professional skills ranging from academic counselling to grant applications. Ph.D. students receive thorough teacher training through staggered Teaching Assistantships, which progress from marking-based Teaching Assistantships to tutorial-based instruction, culminating i nmany cases with a Teaching Fellowship.

Queen’s English students have superb success rates in national scholarship competitions and in securing tenure-track positions upon graduation.

Throughout the year, a variety of events offer graduate students the opportunity to enrich their experience at Queen’s. Students can participate in conferences, graduate colloquia, and an array of discussion groups. The Graduate English Society organizes a Works in Progress forum for graduate students and faculty, as well as numerous extra-curricular social and sporting events. Graduate students also participate in the hiring of new faculty and host visiting speakers in the Department.

Ph.D. candidates benefit from the Special Topic Presentation, part of the Comprehensive Examination. Following on a traditional written exam, the presentation allows students to prepare an annotated bibliography and an independent piece of research, on a topic related to their dissertation, and present it to an audience of faculty and fellow students in an informal, supportive environment.

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"The English Department at Queen’s University offers an exceptionally rewarding graduate experience. During the first year of the Ph.D. program, coursework provides students with an opportunity for intense intellectual development and has the added benefit of helping to build a strong, lasting community among the students. However, I found that the most gratifying experience from the program relates to the quality of graduate supervision; my supervisors were insightful, collegial, generous, and prompt with their feedback. They guided me in developing a dissertation that I am not only proud of, but has also led to further publishing and career opportunities."

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.A.: 12 months
• Ph.D.: 4 years

Method of Completion

• M.A. Pattern I: Course work
• M.A. Pattern II: Course work + thesis

• Ph.D.: course work, two-part comprehensive examination (Field Examination and Special Topic Presentation), dissertation

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes

  M.A. - view this information as a pdf (301KB)  PhD - veiw this information as a pdf  (305KB)

Travel Opportunities

Our students have opportunities for funded travel to give conference papers and to undertake research on their dissertations.

Supervisors and Fields of Study

We require that M.A. applicants considering Pattern II contact and secure the participation of a potential supervisor before applying.

Pre-dissertation Ph.D. students are assigned an interim faculty mentor upon admission to the program, and choose their own supervisor and second reader prior to the submission of their thesis proposal.

Fields of Study: British Literature to 1800 and British Literature from 1800
* the list below includes cross-appointed faculty

• Medieval Literature: Margaret Pappano, Francois Rouget, Scott-Morgan Straker, Jane Tolmie, Ruth Wehlau
• Renaissance Literature: Gwynn Dujardin, Elizabeth Hanson, Margaret Pappano, Scott-Morgan Straker, Marta Straznicky
• Restoration & 18-Century Literature: Chris Fanning, F.P. Lock, John Pierce, Leslie Ritchie
• Romantic Literature: Mark Jones, Sheley King,Robert Morrison, John Pierce, Leslie Ritchie, Tracy Ware
• Victorian Literature: Maggie Berg, Chris Bongie, Catherine Harland, Shelley King
• Modernist Literature: Gabrielle McIntire, Patricia Rae, Michael Snediker, Glenn Willmott
• American Literature: Mark Jones, Gabrielle McIntire, Laura Murray, Patricia Rae, Michael Snediker, Molly Wallace
• Canadian Literature: Petra Fachinger, Sam McKegney, Leslie Ritchie, Craig Walker, Tracy Ware, Glenn Wilmott
• Postcolonial Studies: Chris Bongie, Peta Fachinger, Rosemary J. Jolly, Laura Murray, Asha Varadharajan,
• Literary Theory: Mark Jones, Gabrielle McInire, Margaret Pappano, Michael Snediker, Sylvia Soderlind, Asha Varadharajan, Glenn Willmott
• Gender Studies: Maggie Berg, Michael Snediker, Marta Straznicky, Jane Tolmie

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of our Ph.D. program have been highly successful in the academic job market. Queen’s graduates are now teaching at UBC, Victoria, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Manitoba, Dalhousie, McMaster, Western, and the University of Toronto, as well as at universities in the UK, the US, and Australia. The academic job market is extremely competitive, so we consider this placement record an exceptional achievement. Other graduates have gone on to careers in writing, publishing, law, civil service and information services.

Please see the "Where are they now?" graduate news section of the Department of English website for information on the career patehs of our graduate alumni.

Funding Information

• M.A.: Minimum $12,000 (includes Teaching Assistantship)
• Ph.D.: Minimum $20,000 (includes Teaching Assistantship)

We encourage all students to apply for conference travel award supplements.  As part of our professionalization seminar, all graduate students are coached in grant-writing techniques, and apply for external funding from agencies such as SSHRC and OGS. Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

 

Academic Prerequisites

M.A.:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree with minimum upper second-class standing
• Cumulative minimum average of 80% in 10 full-year English Literature courses (or equivalent)
• Applicants are expected to have taken courses in most major fields of English literature from the medieval period to the present, and in literary theory.
• Applicants are advised that a full-year introductory-level university course in a second language is highly desirable. For those already proficient in a second language, this degree requirement can be met by taking a language exam in the fall of the M.A. year.

Ph.D.:

• First-class M.A. degree or equivalent
• Favoured applicants will have a well-balanced selection of courses in English literature from the medieval period to the present, and in literary theory.
• Applicants are advised that a full-year introductory-level university course in a second language is highly desirable.

Other Requirements

• Statement of Intent
• Writing sample (Ph.D. applicants only) to be sent directly to English Department

Test Requirements

If English is not your native language, you will need a total TOEFL score of at least 627 (paperbased), or 109 (Internet-based) as well as a TOEFL Test of Written English section score of 6.0 (paper-based) or 30 (Internet-based) to be permitted to apply to our graduate program.

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"I have been at Queen's for both my Master's and my PhD, and I can say it's an outstanding program. The library collections are among the best in the country. The size of the program, which is what first drew me to Queen's, is ideal; it's large enough to allow for courses on a wide range of subjects and periods, but small enough to maintain an intimate seminar atmosphere. And, probably most importantly, the faculty are both accomplished and approachable - at the same time."

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Program Profiles

• Elias Da Silva-Powell - Using his graduate skills to help broaden his horizons
• Ryan Melsom - a specialist in West Coast Canadian Literature