Hello all,
I’m writing to remind you that registration for Spring 2026 classes starts on Monday, October 20. I’ve pasted some information about registration below and have attached the information
as a pdf file. I have also attached the Spring 2026 course descriptions.
Unlike in prior years, there is no pre-registration period. You can register on CUNYfirst when your registration time arrives. Please note that we are not offering 636 (Theory) this term,
but you can use 736 to satisfy that requirement. If you’ve already taken 636, you’re can also take 736 as an elective.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an advising appointment, feel free to reach out to Cliff or me.
Best,
Bill
Registration for English MA Courses
Registration for Spring 2026 begins on October 20, 2025, for currently matriculated MA, MAT, and MSEd students in good academic standing (i.e., a minimum 3.0 GPA and no outstanding INCs). The registrar has eliminated the pre-registration
period, which means that you will be able to enroll yourself in the courses that you want on October 20. We are still available to advise you on your classes and urge you to reach out if you would like to discuss your progress toward the degree.
Accelerated students who will still be undergraduates in Spring 2026 and are in good academic standing are also eligible to preregister for English MA courses. To register for graduate classes in the Spring 2026, accelerated students should
schedule an appointment with one of the directors of graduate studies. The appointment can be in-person or over Zoom.
Please carefully read the following preregistration instructions and FAQs, including a breakdown of program requirements for MA, MAT, MS Ed, and Accelerated students. Spring 2026 course descriptions are attached separately. Note: the majority
of our graduate English courses in Spring 2026 will be meeting in person, with a few fully online courses (ENGL 732, 733, and 781-02).
Please note that we are not offering 636 (Literary Theory for Graduate Study) this semester. If you need to fulfill this requirement, you can take 736 (Studies in Criticism) as a substitute. 736 this term is themed “The Novel and The Archive.”
If you already took 636, you could still take 736 as an elective.
If you have any questions or need advising, please email the current Directors of Graduate Studies in English—Bill Orchard (william.orchard@qc.cuny.edu)
and Cliff Mak (Clifford.Mak@qc.cuny.edu).
Can I take a course with the same number twice for credit?
Some courses may be repeated for credit as long as the specific course topics and texts are substantially different. This term, the classes that can be repeated for credit are: 720.
ENGL 781 (Special Seminars) may also be repeated for credit, as long as the specific course topics and texts are substantially different.
ENGL 636, 701, 732, and 733 cannot be repeated for credit.
What are my English course requirements?
For MA students (30 credits):
•
ENGL 701
•
ENGL 636
(736 can substitute for 636 this semester)
•
7 open electives (any English graduate class offered at the 600 or 700 level, excluding ENGL 751–763, which are reserved for MFA students)
•
ENGL 791 (thesis essay)
For Accelerated BA/MA students (up to 9 credits):
•
ENGL 701
•
2 electives (any English graduate class offered at the 600 or 700 level, excluding ENGL 751–763, which are reserved for MFA students)
•
For MAT students (9 credits):
•
1 pre-1900 elective
•
1 open elective (any English graduate class offered at the 600 or 700 level, excluding the creative writing workshops and craft classes, ENGL 751–763, which are reserved for MFA students)
•
ENGL 781
•
For MS Ed students (15 credits):
•
ENGL 702 or ENGL 703
•
2 pre-1900 electives
•
1 open elective (any English graduate class offered at the 600 or 700 level, excluding the creative writing workshops and craft classes, ENGL 751–763, which are reserved for MFA students)
•
ENGL 781
What if the class that I want is full when I register?
You can request to be placed on a wait list. Wait listed students will be able to register for the class when a space becomes available. In past semesters, we have been able to accommodate almost all students who are on wait lists. To be placed on a wait list,
contact Bill or Cliff (not the instructor and don’t use the waitlist function on CUNYfirst).
For MAT and MS Ed students, what courses fulfill the pre-1900 requirement?
In Spring 2026, English 720, 781-01, and 781-02 satisfy the pre-1900 requirement.
Can I register for ENGL 791, the thesis course?
English 791 requires additional advising and paperwork, so this is not course for which you can register for right now. The Directors of Graduate Studies will hold an information session on how to enroll in the
thesis class in November.
Can I register for summer courses?
Registration for summer classes is not open yet. We’ll send more information about this before registration opens next year. We know that we will be offering four courses:
Medieval Lit and Addiction on the American Stage in the four-week session, and
Comics and Graphic Narrative and American Poetry in the seven-week session.