Students electing the thesis option complete a master’s thesis on an appropriate topic, chosen in consultation with a thesis director and approved by the thesis committee, which also conducts the oral examination. The committee consists of the director, one other member of the graduate English faculty, and one member of the graduate faculty from outside the department (who generally serves as the representative of the graduate school). Students who write a thesis take an oral exam after obtaining approval on the thesis. The oral examination covers coursework as well as the thesis.

Students who elect the thesis option are responsible for following Graduate School guidelines for writing and submitting the thesis. Following the oral examination, the student is responsible for making appropriate revisions and submitting the thesis to the Graduate School by the deadline published by the Graduate School. Students should be aware of these deadlines.