In order to graduate, students in the Master's in English program must receive a passing grade on a written comprehensive examination. A student is eligible to write the examination only after he or she has completed all other degree requirements, or is completing the final course(s) in the term of the exam. If a student does not pass the examination, the department may recommend that the dean grant permission for the student to write another examination at the next regular time. The examination may not be taken more than twice.

Each fall, the MA in English exam committee chooses 4-6 literary texts drawn from a variety of literary periods, genres, and traditions, along with a single critical essay that introduces a topic or theme developed prominently in these literary works. Some literary texts that have appeared on the exam in the past include King Lear, Song of Solomon, Villette, and The Beaux Strategem. Some recent topics have included: "the carnivalesque," love and knowledge, and literary tradition and adaptation. To take the exam, students must have completed their coursework or be taking their final courses in the quarter in which the exam is offered.

The exam takes place in the computer lab in SAC on a Saturday in March/April and in September of each calendar year. Students may bring to the exam only the works on the reading list. These texts may be annotated, but no secondary material or other sources will be allowed, except for a dictionary or thesaurus. The exam is divided into two periods--three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, usually 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00.

In the morning half of the exam, students write two short essays (from a choice of four topics) which demonstrate their ability to perform close and meticulous readings of the formal and thematic features of individual passages drawn from the literary texts.

The afternoon question asks students to draw sustained and supportable connections among all of the texts on the exam, both literary and critical. The afternoon question will be sent one week in advance to students by e-mail. The committee encourages them to prepare diligently to write this question, but not to bring in actual drafts or notes.

In advance of each exam, the program director in English will hold at least one orientation session to assist student in their preparations for the test.

The MAE exam committee will evaluate the exams and deliver the results to the MA program director about a month after the exam date. The Director will notify students via e-mail. The exam grades are Distinction, Pass, and Fail.