German MA Examination and Thesis Guidelines
Non-Thesis Option (Exam)
For the exam option students will submit a written examination and undertake an oral defense. The written examination will consist of three papers that demonstrate the student's mastery of a range of areas covered in the Master's Program. The examination committee will choose two seminar papers representative of the student's work in the Master's Program; in consultation with the committee, the student will thoroughly revise these papers for submission at least one month before the date of the oral defense. These two papers should demonstrate the student's ability to analyze cultural and/or linguistic formations. The third paper will consist of a reflection that addresses the two papers submitted and more generally the student's development of a personal theoretical and methodological standpoint in the course of the Master's Program. The oral defense will address both the written examination and the student's general mastery of the fields of German-language culture, literature, and linguistics. The student may be asked to repeat the examination or be granted a passing grade with the recommendation not to continue graduate study towards the PhD. Students who fail the examination in whole or in part may repeat it (or the failed portion) only once at the discretion of the faculty.
The Graduate Liaison notifies candidates and the Graduate College of the examination results. Candidates for the thesis degree must follow the guidelines listed below for the MA thesis.
Thesis Option
Students in the thesis degree program should choose an area of specialization for the thesis as early as possible. After a thesis topic is chosen, students, with the approval of the graduate advisor, select three members of the graduate faculty in the major field to serve as the thesis committee. A member of the graduate faculty specializing in the student's major area acts as the thesis director and chair of the committee. The topic and thesis title are reported to the Graduate College on the Application For Approval Of The Master's Thesis Topic And Committee Membership.
A maximum of six thesis hours (5980) is allowed toward the MA degree. After initial enrollment in thesis credit, students must maintain continuous enrollment during each regular semester (summers excepted) in at least two hours of thesis credit (5980) until the degree is completed or the candidacy discontinued. Exceptions will be made for military service. However, enrollment in 5980 is mandatory in any semester or summer session during which the student is actually doing thesis work, regardless of the number of other hours of enrollment. An oral defense of the thesis is required.
Students must comply with departmental and Graduate College regulations concerning thesis preparation and submission of the reading copy to the Graduate College. After completion of the thesis, the student must file the report of the final examination with the Graduate College and submit copies of the thesis to the library.
Students are responsible for complying with all Graduate College regulations concerning applications for graduation and payment of fees.
