MA in English Literature - Master's degree in English Literature

Coordinator of Graduate Studies: Dr. Carra Glatt, carra.glatt@biu.ac.il and Prof. William Kolbrener, kolbrew@mail.biu.ac.il

Our Master's degree in English Literature Program - Overview

The Department of  English Literature & Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University offers a range of possibilities for students interested in pursuing an advanced degree in English literature.

Our Master's degree in English Literature gives students a chance to expand their knowledge of English and American literature and develop high-level academic writing and research skills.

The Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers a Master's degree in English Literature for writers of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and literary translation. 

Click here for instructions on how to apply to our Master's degree in English  program.

Click the following links or scroll down for more information about:

 

Are you interested in Masters Degree in English Literature? - for more information related to The MA program in English Literature in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics in Bar-Ilan University, kindly contact our office here.

Master's degree in English Literature 

Taken over three years (or less, depending on the student's other time commitments), our Master's degree in English Literature   program offers an opportunity to study English and American literature at a high level and in a wide range of historical and theoretical contexts. Students also have the unique opportunity to combine literary studies with courses in literary translation and/or creative writing.

Students in this track take a broad selection of courses and write a variety of papers in order to complete their degree requirements. The course requirements for this track are:

Print track requirements

Master's degree in English Literature - Writing Requirements

Master's degree students in the regular MA track must write three seminar papers (17-20 pp) in three of their courses, one in each semester starting in the second semester of studies. In their other courses they will write other assignments, to be determined by the instructor in each course.

Please note: This Master's degree in English Literature is a terminal degree and does not allow the student to apply for Ph.D. studies.

 

Master's degree in English Literature with a Research Thesis

Taken over three years (or less, depending on the student's schedule), this Master's degree in English Literature track is intended for students with a high degree of skill in critical writing, and allows them to conduct independent research. Students in this track take a smaller number of courses than in the regular Master's degree in English Literature track and then write an MA thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. An MA thesis may then serve as the basis for an application to a PhD program.

All Master's degree in English Literature students in English literature are automatically accepted to the regular track. Students who wish to switch to the thesis track may apply to do so at the end of the first year by writing to the graduate coordinators, Dr. Carra Glatt (carra.glatt@biu.ac.il) and Prof. William Kolbrener (kolbrew@mail.biu.ac.il). The department's Graduate Committee will review the student’s progress to decide whether they will be allowed to proceed to a research thesis or remain in the Master's degree in English regular program. The decision will be based on the student's level of academic writing.

Master's degree in English Literature students in the thesis track are required to complete the following:

 

Master's degree in English Literature - Writing Requirements

Master's degree in English Literature students in the thesis track must write two long papers (approx. 17-20 pages) in their seminars. The rest can be short papers. The students themselves will choose the seminars in which they want to write long papers. It is hoped, but not required, that one of these papers will be suitable for expansion into a thesis.

In addition, students write an MA proposal and a thesis. The proposal must be submitted by the end of the first semester of the second year of study.

For more information about the Master's degree in English Literature with thesis track, click here.

 

Master's degree in English Literature With a Concentration in Creative Writing

If you have a B.A. in literature, or in any other field, and are interested in a program that combines practical training to develop your skills as a creative writer with graduate level courses in English and American literature, you might want to apply to the Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Track in Creative Writing. Our team of published, award-winning writers offer workshops in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and literary translation, which students take in combination with advanced literature seminars. Applicants to Master's degree in English Literature With a Focus on Creative Writing must present a portfolio of their work in poetry or in prose fiction with their application. Students who choose the Literary Translation genre will combine high-level study of English literature with workshops in literary translation and write a translation thesis as their final project. For information on a Master's degree in English Literature With a Focus on Creative Writing admissions and requirements, click here or write to barilanwriting@gmail.com. See the program's website for details.

Please note: A Master's degree in English Literature With a Focus on Creative Writing is a terminal degree and does not allow the student to apply for Ph.D. studies.

 

General Information for Master's degree in English Literature Students

Libraries

Short courses or series of lectures intended to help graduate students are offered periodically at the Main Library. Students can learn how to make the best use of the library resources, including online catalogues, databases, the interlibrary loan service, etc.. Announcements of these course offerings are posted in or outside the Department Library. You are welcome to consult Smadar Wisper, our librarian.

You should be able to access the library catalogues and the online databases from your home computer. Ask our librarian, Ms. Smadar Wisper, for instructions

Master's degree in English Literature - Foreign Language Requirement

M.A. Students studying in the department are exempt from the Foreign Language courses requirement.

Basic Jewish/General Studies Courses for M.A. students

Master's degree in English Literature students who hold an undergraduate degree from Bar-Ilan will take two additional hours of coursework in Jewish Studies. Master's degree in English Literature students who come from other institutions of higher learning will take four hours of coursework in Jewish Studies. Students who are not Jewish may request to take General Studies courses in lieu of Jewish Studies- click here for more information. 

Are you interested in Masters Degree in English Literature? - for more information related to The MA program in English Literature in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics in Bar-Ilan University, kindly contact our office here.