In collaboration with several other academic units at UW-Milwaukee, SOIS offers students the opportunity to obtain two Master’s degrees concurrently—one in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and one in a subject area.
Degree Requirements
- The number of degree credits needed for each of the coordinated programs is usually 12 fewer than the sum of the two programs if they were not taken simultaneously. All degree requirements of each component must be satisfied.
- The MLIS portion of the coordinated degrees can be completed online.
- Prerequisite to the award of either degree in this program is the simultaneous award of its counterpart degree.
MLIS Component
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) component of each of the coordinated programs includes 30 credits of SOIS courses. These include the MLIS core courses (12 credits). The remaining 18 MLIS credits are selected from the School’s offerings in accordance with the student’s goals in the coordinated degree program.
MLIS/MA English
The MLIS/MA English Coordinated Degree Program prepares students for positions as humanities librarians.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
An applicant must meet the UWM Graduate School requirements plus all admission requirements of both the School of Information Studies and the coordinated degree department. Please review the admission details of each program and contact an advisor with any questions.
Credits and Courses
Students interested in the English MA/MLIS program are expected to follow all the requirements and standards as described in this section of the Catalog with the following exceptions: the 21 credits required for the MA in English in the coordinated degree program are to be taken within the Department. Courses in related areas must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in English. For more information on this program, see the Library and Information Science page.
Basic Required MLIS Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| INFOST 501 | Foundations of Library and Information Science | 3 |
| INFOST 511 | Organization of Information | 3 |
| INFOST 571 | Information Access and Retrieval | 3 |
| INFOST 799 | Research Methods in Information Studies | 3 |
| Other MLIS courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Important
You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.
English Courses
Students in the MA/MLIS program may subtract 9 elective credits from their chosen concentration below.
Students admitted to the master’s program earn the degree by completing a minimum of 30 credits of graduate coursework in English, writing a final project, and passing an oral examination at the conclusion of their coursework.
Although students must enroll initially in one of the four plans of study described below, students who demonstrate a capacity for doctoral work, and wish to earn a Ph.D. at UWM, are advised to proceed as rapidly as possible to the PhD program. Ordinarily students are not allowed to proceed beyond 30 credits without having been admitted to the doctoral program. No more than 27 credits earned at the master’s level may be included in the 54 credits required for the Ph.D.
Plan A (Literature and Cultural Theory)
A minimum of 30 credits, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGLISH 703 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in Literature (must be taken in first semester) | 1 |
| ENGLISH 720 | Modern Literary Theory | 3 |
| Select 9 credits in literature courses (at least 3 credits pre-1800) | 9 | |
| Select 3 credits in 800-level seminar in literature or cultural theory | 3 | |
| Select 6 credits in cultural theory | 6 | |
| Select 8 credits of electives 1 | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Which may include up to 5 credits of ENGLISH 790.
Additional Requirements
- A final project, which shall be a paper of at least 30 pages which grows out of and significantly expands some aspect of the student’s literary studies.
- An oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, which covers the final project and a separate 30-book reading list.
- All credits must be 600-level or above, with no more than 6 credits at the 600 level. (ENGLISH 701 must be counted as an elective.)
Plan B (Rhetoric and Composition)
A minimum of 30 credits, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses 1 | ||
| ENGLISH 712 | Theories in Public Rhetorics and Community Engagement: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 713 | Research Methods in Rhetorics, Literacies, and Community Engagement: | 3 |
| ENGLISH 750 | History of Rhetoric and Writing Studies: | 3 |
| Select 21 credits of electives 2 | 21 | |
| Writing for Nonprofits | ||
| Topics in Advanced Communications: | ||
| The Rhetoric of Argument | ||
| Information Design | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Technical Editing | ||
| Seminar in Rhetoric and Professional Writing: | ||
| Writing Pedagogies | ||
| Topics in Public and Professional Writing: | ||
| Advanced Internship in Writing and Community Engagement | ||
| Issues in Writing Research: | ||
| Master's Project 3 | ||
| Seminar in College Writing Pedagogy: | ||
| Seminar in Public Rhetorics and Community Engagement: | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
ENGLISH 712, ENGLISH 713, and ENGLISH 750 may be taken twice with different topics with the second iteration counting toward Electives.
- 2
No more than 6 credits may be from courses below the 700 level. Students may take up to 6 credits of ENGLISH 749 and may take ENGLISH 711, ENGLISH 755, ENGLISH 854, and ENGLISH 855 up to three times with different topics.
- 3
Electives may include up to 6 credits of ENGLISH 790. Please consult your advisor for guidance on enrolling in ENGLISH 790 and preparing for the MA project and exam.
Additional Requirements
- A final project, which shall be a research paper appropriate to the student’s professional goals.
- An oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, which covers the final project and a reading list of at least 30 texts not listed in the project bibliography or works cited list.
Plan C (Creative Writing)
A minimum of 30 credits, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits in 600- or 700-level literature courses (at least 3 credits at the 700 level) | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| Narrative Craft and Theory: and Seminar in Fiction Writing: | ||
| Poetic Craft and Theory: and Seminar in Poetry Writing: | ||
| Select 6 credits in writing courses at the 600 or 700 level | 6 | |
| Select 12 credits of electives 1 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Which may include up to 6 credits of ENGLISH 790.
Additional Requirements
- No more than 12 credits may be earned in 600-level courses.
- A final project, which shall be a collection of fiction and/or poetry, a novel, or other substantial work of imaginative writing.
- An oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, which covers the final project and a reading list of at least 30 texts representative of the student’s literary background and interests.
Plan H (Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Take 15 credits across these courses: | 15 | |
| Media Studies | ||
| Film Theory and Criticism (Subtitle) | ||
| Seminar in Media Studies: | ||
| Seminar in Film Studies: | ||
| Seminar in Digital Studies: | ||
| Proseminar (take 2 credits) | 2 | |
| Proseminar in Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies | ||
| Electives: 7-12 credits electives at graduate level (can include 700 & 701) | 7-12 | |
| Master's project: 1-6 credits of English 790 | 1-6 | |
| Total credits | 30 | |
- *
If students take more elective credits, then they may take fewer credits in the master's project, or vice versa, so long as their total credits add up to 30. Students should consult the Coordinator to decide how many credits of the master's project are recommended.
Additional Requirements
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a Major Professor to advise and supervise the student’s work as specified in Graduate School regulations. The coordinator of the student’s concentration serves as an initial advisor.
Final Project
A research paper or other project appropriate to the student’s professional goals.
Oral Examination
Usually lasting an hour and a half, the oral exam covers the final project and a reading list of at least 30 texts not listed in the project bibliography or works cited list.
Regulations Concerning Final Projects and Oral Examinations
- Students should consult with their advisors before completing 24 credits to determine a final project. Ordinarily, it is a revised and expanded course or seminar paper of at least 30 pages. The project should demonstrate the student’s skills in research, critical analysis, argumentation, and prose style. For students in Plan C (Creative Writing), the project is a substantial portfolio, the exact character of which is determined in consultation with the student’s MA Committee. The project serves both as a concluding effort at the master’s level and also as an indication of a student’s potential for doctoral study.
- In consultation with the student, the Director of Graduate Studies appoints an MA Examining Committee. At least two of the three members must be English Graduate Faculty. The MA Examining Committee administers the final Oral Examination, covering the project and a separate reading list of at least 30 texts, to be selected by the student and approved by the Committee.
- The project must be submitted and the oral examination completed within one year after the completion of 24 credits. Students should remember that a maximum of 27 credits at the master’s level is applicable to the PhD 54 credit requirement.
- The Examining Committee offers a recommendation regarding the student’s qualifications for further graduate study at the doctoral level. The Committee Chair puts this recommendation in writing and places it in the student’s academic file.
- Students who fail the oral examination may be required to revise their final project, retake the examination, or both. The oral examination may be retaken only once. No additional credits may be earned for the revision of the project after a failed examination. For further information regarding the MA project and examination, see the English Graduate Program Handbook.
Time Limit
The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.
English MA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the English Master’s program will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of the field, including familiarity with major questions, theoretical approaches, intellectual developments, and methods of professional writing that characterize the student’s program of study.
- Frame, analyze, and respond to complex issues related to the student’s field, and formulate judgements about those issues in extended and in-depth critical analysis.
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Library and Information Science MLIS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the master’s program in Library and Information Science (MLIS) will be able to:
- Critically assess the philosophy, principles, culture, ethics or values of library and information science.
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to develop and evaluate library and information services and systems.
- Outline how library and information services may serve the needs of a diverse global society.
- Apply knowledge of research methods in library and information science to investigate an issue of relevance to the field.
See the full list of ALA Core Competencies here.