Virginia Zimmerman
Professor of English Specialization: children's and young adult literature, Victorian literature, material culture and time
Master of Arts
The Bucknell master of arts in English is designed for those who plan to:
The master of arts program features one-on-one mentoring and admits four to five students each year. The graduate program consists of eight seminars in English or seven seminars in English and one in another humanities discipline. Graduate students are embedded in the undergraduate seminar courses and are given an enhanced version of the syllabus, with additional readings, longer writing assignments and dedicated office hour appointments to produce graduate-level work. All seminars require the permission of the instructor. An extensive schedule of guest writers and lecturers enriches the program of study.
Note: Due to the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, Literary Studies has temporarily suspended admissions to its graduate program. No applications to the graduate program will be accepted during 2021.
Admission comes with a Graduate Assistantship stipend of approximately $12,000 and a tuition remission scholarship that covers the tuition for four courses, two each semester. Summer funding support is also available on a competitive basis for students entering their second year of the program.
An undergraduate English major is strongly recommended. A writing sample and general GRE test results are required. We encourage personal interviews by phone or in person.
Graduate students in English may not enroll in more than one independent study (ENLS 619) course without special written permission from the Graduate Committee and should propose independent studies only if the material they wish to cover is not available in regularly offered seminars.
Students are required to have the permission of the instructor to enroll in all English 600-level courses. The sequence of courses normally taken by master's degree candidates is as follows (timeline information is included in italics).
First year, fall semester:
First year, spring semester:
Second year, fall semester:
Second year, spring semester:
Electives are chosen from among the 600-level English courses, courses on language in translation, appropriate courses in history or the social sciences, humanities courses (philosophy, religion, history, comparative humanities, classics or art history), or modern language literature courses. Graduate students in English may enroll in no more than one independent study (ENLS 619) course without special written permission from the Graduate Committee and should propose independent study only if the material they wish to cover is not available in regularly offered seminars.
A thesis (typically 90-120 pages, including notes and bibliography; critical, creative or theoretical) is required. A thesis proposal, developed with the approval of the adviser, should be submitted by Oct. 15 of the student's second year. The oral examination will be conducted by the thesis adviser and at least two other members of the faculty (in English or another appropriate department).
Virginia Zimmerman — Director of Graduate Program, English Department:
Acts as the formal academic advisor in the English MA program as well as the person who coordinates the Graduate Assistantships. Feel free to approach with questions and/or concerns about academic progress, the English graduate program, GA appointment, or other professional matters.
121 Vaughan Literature Building
Professor of English Specialization: children's and young adult literature, Victorian literature, material culture and time