{"id":806,"date":"2014-06-04T14:07:41","date_gmt":"2014-06-04T19:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/english\/?page_id=806"},"modified":"2025-11-24T15:40:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T21:40:05","slug":"masters-project-and-examination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/english\/students\/graduate\/graduates-resources\/grad-handbook\/masters-project-and-examination\/","title":{"rendered":"Master’s Project and Oral Examination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The master\u2019s project allows students to demonstrate the research skills and knowledge they have gained throughout their master\u2019s studies. While master\u2019s projects are usually scholarly papers that might appear in an academic journal, projects may conform to other genres of writing, depending on plan requirements and the expectations of the Master\u2019s Examination Committee. The oral exam is generally one-and-a-half hours long. Because the master\u2019s project is not a thesis<\/strong>, students do not<\/strong> have to follow Graduate School format requirements for the master\u2019s thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project and Exam Requirements by Plan:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plan A: Literature and Cultural Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final project is a paper of at least 30 pages, which grows out of and significantly expands some aspect of the student\u2019s literary studies. The oral examination usually lasts an hour and a half and covers the final project and a separate 30-text reading list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Customarily, most if not all items on the list will be drawn from coursework. The list should be at least 1\/3 Literature and at least 1\/3 Cultural Theory. Literature items should be drawn from at least 3 courses; Theory items from at least 2 courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan B: Rhetoric and Professional Writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final project is a research paper, substantive project, or portfolio that grows out of and significantly expands some aspect of the student\u2019s studies in rhetoric and professional writing, and is appropriate to the student\u2019s professional goals. The oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, covers the final project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Students who elect to complete a project or portfolio should expect to prepare a 30-page report justifying the project or portfolio in relationship to the relevant scholarly literature and\/or in terms of empirical methods or studies conducted by the student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan C: Creative Writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The project is a collection of fiction and\/or poetry, a novel, a dramatic script or other substantial work of imaginative writing. The oral exam focuses upon the candidate\u2019s writing project and knowledge of the art and craft of writing, as well as on a list of 30 related texts that are important to the candidate as a writer and are representative of their literary background and interests. The exam lasts approximately an hour and a half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Master\u2019s students intending to apply to the doctoral program in Creative Writing should schedule an additional 60 minutes for their examinations. Sometimes called a \u201cqualifying exam,\u201d this additional portion of the exam may take place following the first or it may be scheduled at a later date. It focuses on the student\u2019s ability to undertake advanced literary studies and requires 15 additional texts and a recent sample of the student\u2019s academic writing. At least one member of the MA Examining Committee for prospective doctoral students should be from outside the Creative Writing concentration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan H: Media, Cinema and Digital Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final project is a paper of at least 30 pages, which grows out of the student\u2019s area of study. The oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, covers the final project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing the Project and Reading List (When Required)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After completing 12 to 15 credits, students should think seriously about possible topics for their master\u2019s project. This is the time for students to ask a faculty member to chair the Master\u2019s Examination Committee. Students who have an idea for their master\u2019s project, but do not know whom to ask to serve as chair, should consult with their plan coordinator, the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies or another faculty member. The chair will be the person who guides the student through the master\u2019s examination and heads the Master\u2019s Examination Committee. The chair of the committee must be a current UWM faculty member with graduate faculty status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The student and chair choose a topic and format for the project that suits both the student\u2019s professional interests and the requirements of the master\u2019s program. They work together to establish a time frame within which to finish various stages of the project. The project must be completed and the exam taken within one year after completing 24 credits.<\/strong> Students in Plan A and C also consult their chair in creating the reading list. This list should reflect the student\u2019s master\u2019s studies and areas of interest. It should not duplicate the bibliography of the master\u2019s project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Establishing an Examination Committee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Examination Committee consists of three faculty members. In addition to the chair, at least one other member must be a current UWM English Department faculty member (not retired) with graduate faculty status. Students should consult the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies if this is not the case. In addition, the student must complete the Master\u2019s section of the Declaration of Committee form<\/a>. Return the form to the Graduate Studies office via email (gradeng@uwm.edu<\/a>) when it is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Examination Committee approves the project and reading list, if applicable, and administers the exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once students decide on the topic of their master\u2019s project, they should discuss their choices for the remaining two members of the Examination Committee with their chair. Students should do this early<\/em> as some faculty make advance commitments. Students describe the proposed project to the other two faculty members they want to have on the committee and ask whether they are willing to serve. When students have all three committee members, they must inform their chair, their plan coordinator and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies to obtain their approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For approval of the Masters Examination committee, the student will complete the Declaration of Committee form available\u00a0online<\/a>. All Committee members must also be approved by the Graduate School to be on student committees. The Associate Chair will inform the student if a Committee member is not authorized to be on student exam committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scheduling the Oral Exam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is highly recommended that students complete their project and schedule the oral exam either during or soon after the last semester of coursework. Students must have completed at least 18 credits and have the master\u2019s project completed or near completion before scheduling the dates for the oral exam. Students should talk with their chair about a schedule that fits their needs and satisfies the requirements in a timely fashion. Students must have their Summary of Coursework form approved by the student\u2019s advisor, plan coordinator, and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies before scheduling the master\u2019s exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masters students who have applied to the doctoral program should take the exam in time for the student\u2019s committee to make a recommendation on admission to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies before the last day of classes in the semester in which the student is to graduate. Recommendation for doctoral studies by the student\u2019s master\u2019s examination committee and approval by the Associate Chair are required for admission to doctoral studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least two weeks before the exam, students should inform the Graduate Program Associate about the date and time of the exam and the members of their committee. The Graduate Program Associate will schedule a room for the exam and send a confirmation to the student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students must<\/strong> submit a final copy of their master\u2019s exam materials (project, reading list, and academic writing sample, if applicable) to the members of their Examination Committee no later than two weeks<\/strong> before the scheduled oral exam date. Failure to submit the materials on this schedule may result in the postponement or cancellation of the examination.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance on the examination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The candidate will receive one of the following three judgments, recorded on the Warrant for Master\u2019s Examination:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Pass: Recommended for Admission to the PhD Program.
    <\/strong>This recommendation applies only to those students applying to the PhD program during the semester they complete the MA degree and who have designed and written their MA projects as preparation for the PhD program. If the student applies to the PhD program, this recommendation will accompany the student\u2019s application to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, who makes the final decision regarding admission to the doctoral program. Plan C applicants must also receive the endorsement of the Creative Writing Advisory Committee before consideration for admission by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Pass: Recommended for MA only.
    <\/strong>The student is judged to have fulfilled the requirements for the master\u2019s degree. The student is free to apply for admission to the PhD program, but should expect to present new evidence of qualification to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. In Plan C, this recommendation may simply indicate that the student has chosen not to take the additional exam required for application to the PhD program, and may elect to do so at a later time. Students recommended only for the MA may retake the exam once. The exam must be retaken within one academic year of the original exam. Students will not be permitted to hold a Teaching Assistantship, either for the academic year or for the summer session, while preparing to retake the examination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fail:
    <\/strong>The student\u2019s performance on the written project and\/or oral examination is judged unsatisfactory. The student may be asked to revise the project, retake the examination, or both. The exam may be retaken only once. Students will not be permitted to hold a Teaching Assistantship, either for the academic year or for the summer session, while preparing to retake the examination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Students are notified of the result of their examination within 24 hours after the exam is over. In addition, within 10 days of the exam, the Chair of the Master\u2019s Examination Committee must<\/strong> submit a letter to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies (with a copy to the student) briefly assessing the student\u2019s performance, based on the project and the oral examination.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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