MS English (Literature)

The MS English Literature program offers a stimulating curriculum designed to refine analytical and critical thinking skills. The coursework has been designed to offer niche courses that can lead to exciting research opportunities in the thesis component of the programme. The pedagogical philosophy at work during the coursework seeks to develop the ability to read extensively and critically, manage information and organize written drafts for enhanced readability, think creatively to come up with innovative interpretations and ideas for further development. The 6 credit hours thesis offers an experience of supervised research where tutelage changes to mentorship and scholars come into a close interaction with their supervisors to write and defend their theses.

*The MS programme allows students to opt for the degree by coursework only as per the HEC’s policy.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The key aims and objectives of the MS programme are to:

• Offer the scholars exposure to specialized courses in their chosen field.
• Inculcate research skills through projects and research-based assignments during the coursework.
• Offer a rich experience of supervised research that ensures an understanding of the different stages and processes involved in research.
• Help the students form a sound basis for higher learning and independent research.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The MS English Programme is open to students who meet the following criteria

• MA English/MA TEFL/MA ELT (Or equivalent degree in the field of English)
• BS English (16 years of education)
• First division or 60% marks in bachelor or master’s degree or equivalent
• 45% marks in annual system MA English
• FUI entrance test and interview and/or valid GAT General Test score of at least 50% at the time of admission or any HEC recognized equivalent test

The MS English programme is targeted towards students with above average English proficiency who are keen to undertake research in the field both within the parameters of the MS programme and beyond it.

DURATION

The MS Programme is a full-time taught programme offered in two modes, i.e., Research Mode (Degree Completion via Research), and Coursework Mode (Degree Completion via Coursework). 

RESEARCH MODE (DEGREE COMPLETION VIA RESEARCH)

The Research mode is split into two phases. The first phase is course work of 24 credit hours split between two semesters. Successful completion of the coursework with a CGPA of or higher than 2.5 will entitle the scholar to proceed to the phase of writing a research thesis. Candidates with less than 2.5 CGPA will have the option to improve courses to attaching 2.5 CGPA.  The maximum number of improvement courses will be as per FUI rules. The improve courses will be offered/allowed as per FUI rules. The scholar will come up with a research proposal—research synopsis of around 5000 words—after clearing their course work with the required CGPA and upon approval from the competent authority start their research thesis.

COURSEWORK MODE (DEGREE COMPLETION VIA COURSEWORK)

The MS Programme may also be completed by coursework only. Students who want to opt this route will study courses of thirty credit hours (24 in the first two semesters and 6 more in another semester). The department will offer courses for completing the programme by coursework only in the Spring semester. Students will still need a CGPA of 2.5 or above to be eligible for the award of degree.

Below is a summary of the credit hours detail and duration of the MS English programme

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

COURSEWORK

Assessment of the students for each course (other than thesis) in the MS programme will be carried out according to the following formula.

Total                      100

The assessment of MS English scholars will be governed by FUI’s grading scheme which is summarized below

Marks Letter Grade

0-63                                                    F

64-69                                                 C

70-75                                                C+

76-79                                                 B

80-84                                                B+

85-100                                               A

RESEARCH WORK

Scholars opting for Research Mode in the MS programme are required to undertake research as a compulsory requirement of the successful completion of the programme. The following guidelines will govern the research work and its assessment

Eligibility

• Research work can be initiated only after the successful completion of the course work of 24 credit hours with a CGPA of 2.5/4 or higher.

If a student requires an extra semester or more for the completion of the coursework or for obtaining CGPA of or higher than 2.5 the start of the research work will be delayed till such time the requirement is met.

Research Supervisor

• A teaching faculty with an MS degree awarded at least four years prior to the commencement of the researcher’s thesis may supervise a thesis. The proposed research supervisor must possess at least an MS English degree or equivalent. FUI’s BASAR will approve the supervisor for each research scholar.
• A supervisor with MS English as the highest degree can supervise a maximum of five researchers at any given time.
• The research supervisor must fulfil any FUI requirement that is in vogue/applicable at the given time.
• No PhD supervisor may supervise more than 12 MS theses at any given time. If a supervisor is working with 5 PhD researchers the maximum number of MS supervisees will be 7.

Synopsis and Approval

• Each research scholar must prepare and submit a research synopsis in consultation with their supervisor after completing the coursework. The researcher will be required to defend the synopsis before the Departmental panel constituted for the purpose.
• Once the Departmental panel approves the synopsis the synopsis will be presented before the GSC, which will recommend the topic of synopsis /thesis for the final approval of BASAR (Rule 14b(5)).
• The formal commencement of research work will only be after BASAR’s approval. 

Research Thesis

• Each researcher must write a thesis of 25,000 to 35,000 words.

FUI statutes regarding MS English programme will supersede these criteria if there is any incongruity between the criteria laid down here and any future revision in the FUI statutes regarding the assessment of the MS scholars.

De-registering Researchers

Research supervisors will furnish the department with research progress reports at the end of every semester detailing the progress the researcher has made in the thesis in that semester, or lack thereof. In case a researcher get two reports where the supervisor is not satisfied with the researcher’s progress the issue will be taken up by the departmental committee and the Dean may request the GSC to deregister the researcher. This would mean that the researcher would not be able to pursue the thesis anymore and will have to complete the programme by coursework.

Anti-Plagiarism Measures

The formal submission of the thesis means submitting a word or pdf document to the Research Coordinator via the supervisor. The Supervisor will email the thesis to the coordinator. The thesis will then be run through plagiarism checking software. It will be deemed free of plagiarism if it scores less than nineteen percent (19%) on the similarity index. The MS English program will strictly implement any and all measures given in the FUI’s Anti-Plagiarism Policy.

Thesis Evaluation

• Each thesis will be sent to an internal and an external examiner appointed by the HoD Department of English and approved by the GSC. The supervisor may recommend two faculty from the approved list of thesis examiners for the HoD to recommend one to the GSC. Any change in the examiner will also have to be approved by the GSC.
• The researcher will submit a revised thesis in the light of the evaluation reports.
• The researcher will be called to defend their thesis only after the examiners are satisfied with the revisions made in the thesis.
• The viva-voce defense will be convened with the approval of the Rector sought through the Exams cell.
• The result of the viva-voce examination will be conveyed to the Exams Cell to be formally notified for the award of the degree.
• The researcher will submit at least two copies of the thesis for the completion of the programme. One copy will be kept in the department and the other will be submitted to the Library.

Thesis Submission Deadline

• The HEC has directed that all requisites for the award of the MS English degree must be completed within eight semesters / four years of the start of the programme. To ensure there is sufficient time for processing the thesis, evaluation, incorporation of changes, viva defense, submission of final revised thesis and notification of result etc. researchers are required to submit the thesis within six semesters/three years of the start of their programme.

PROGRAM STURUCTURE

The MS English Literature coursework will comprise courses of 24 credit hours, to be completed in two semesters, to be selected from the following list of courses.  Four Core courses of 12 credit hours in total will be offered in the first two semesters at the discretion of the department and based on the availability of resources.  Students will have the option to select four courses of 12 credit hours in total from the elective courses list given below.