While individual students may have to compromise their desires to study particular subjects for credit toward the degree, these compromises help to ensure the ongoing strength of the program. Seminar instructors may admit up to three graduate students, but graduate students must see them early in the first week of preregistration to reserve a spot. Similarly, graduate students may take one course listed at the 100-level by special permission of the Graduate College, the Graduate Director of the English Department, and the instructor. But in practice, this will not happen very often. However, they must have the prior approval of the instructor and the Graduate Director, and they must not take more than one 397 for credit toward the degree.
Students attending part-time normally carry a course load of three to six hours a semester.
Students attending full-time without a Graduate Teaching Fellowship normally carry a course load of nine hours, and students with a GTF six to nine. At pre-registration each semester, all graduate students should discuss their proposed schedules with the Graduate Director whose signature is required for enrollment in any of our seminars. The schedule of courses for the subsequent semester is published on or about November 1 and April 1 each year.