English
Degree: M.A., Graduate
Certificate
Coordinator: Frederik N. Smith
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN ENGLISH
The master's program in English is designed to accommodate students seeking
a Master of Arts degree with or without graduate licensure in teaching.
Flexible enough to meet the needs of the individual, the program can serve:
those seeking personal enrichment through increased knowledge and
understanding; those preparing to pursue a Ph.D. in English or other advanced
professional degrees; and those seeking professional advancement in such fields
as writing, publishing, or teaching on the primary, secondary, or college
levels. The Department offers a broad range of courses in literature,
writing/rhetoric, and language, including second language studies. Students
interested in licensure to teach English as a second language in K-12 settings
should refer to the M.Ed. Program in Teaching English as a Second Language in
the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education. For more particular
information than that given below, students may request a copy of the
"Graduate Student Handbook" from the Department.
Additional Admission Requirements. In
addition to the general requirements for admission to the
1. Thirty hours of undergraduate coursework in English beyond the freshman level, or evidence of equivalent academic preparation for graduate study in English, as approved by the Department.
2. A satisfactory score on the Aptitude portion of the Graduate Record
Examination or on the Miller Analogies Test.
Degree Requirements. The program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit with grades of A or B. (A course in which a student receives a grade of C is not allowable as part of the 36 required hours.) Eighteen semester hours must be in English courses at the 6000-level, open only to graduate students. A student must choose one of four tracks: literature, writing/rhetoric, language, or general. A thesis option (see course description for ENGL 6996) and a non-thesis option are both available; the thesis may be in creative writing.
Of the 36 hours of graduate credit, 30 must be in English courses; the remaining 6 hours may be taken in English or in another discipline. If the hours are to be taken outside of English, the student must submit a written request to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies, explaining how these hours will enrich his/her program.
Students who have an "A" teacher's license may obtain a "G" license at the completion of the degree by taking 6 of their 36 graduate hours in Education. Also, graduate courses in English may be applied toward subject matter requirements for an "A" license, but courses so used may not also be applied toward subject matter requirements for a "G" license.
No more than 6 hours of ENGL 6890 (Directed Reading), may be applied to the
degree without written permission of the Chair of the Department.
All M.A. candidates, regardless of which emphasis is chosen, are
required to take ENGL 6101 (Introduction to English Studies) and ENGL 6160
(Introduction to the English Language). Following are descriptions of the four
tracks.
The literature track includes five literature courses, at least three
of which are historically oriented. Two of these courses must be in one
national literature and the third in a different national literature. In
addition, one writing/rhetoric course, one literary theory-intensive course,
and three electives are required. At least one course must be a
designated seminar.
The writing track includes four writing/rhetoric courses, one
writing/rhetoric theory-intensive course, two literature courses, and three
electives. At least one course must be a designated seminar. The writing
track may focus on creative writing, technical/professional writing, or writing
and pedagogy.
The general track includes one theory-intensive course, two
writing/rhetoric courses, two literature courses, and five electives. At least
one course must be a designated seminar.
The English language studies track includes two writing/rhetoric courses, two literature courses, and four courses selected from the following:
|
ENGL 4161 |
Modern Grammar |
|
ENGL 4165 |
Language and Culture |
|
ENGL 4166 |
Comparative Language Studies for Teachers |
|
ENGL 4260 |
History of the English Language or: |
|
ENGL 6162 |
History of the English Language |
|
ENGL 4263 |
Linguistics and Language Learning or: |
|
ENGL 6163 |
Language Acquisition |
|
ENGL 6161 |
Introduction to Linguistics |
|
ENGL 6070 |
Topics in English (Approval of Graduate Coordinator required) |
In addition, students will choose one course from the following:
|
ENGL 4254 |
Teaching English/Communications Skills To Middle and Secondary School Learners |
|
ENGL 4400 |
English Composition Practicum |
|
ENGL 4264 |
Literacy in Community/Family |
|
ENGL 6195 |
|
Depending on individual goals and the quality of their undergraduate preparation, students may choose to substitute a course from outside the Department such as: TESL 5101 (Second Language Diagnosis and Evaluation); FORL 4200 (Secondary Methods--Foreign Languages); or ANTH 4120 (Intercultural Communications).
Courses beyond 36 hours of graduate credit may be required to remove
deficiencies or to satisfy requirements for graduate licensure, or may be
recommended to develop areas of need, to pursue particular interests, or to
gain specific experience.
Comprehensive Examination. Students entering
in Fall 1995 and after must satisfactorily complete a
written examination for their chosen track. The examination will be based
primarily on a reading list available from the Department well in advance. The
written examination may not be attempted sooner than the last semester of
coursework, exclusive of thesis credits.
Assistantships. A number of graduate
assistantships are available each year. In order to be fully competitive,
applications must be submitted by March 15. Further information is available in
the Department.
Internships. The Department of English
offers a number of internships for graduate students (limited to 3 hours
credit), which provide program-related experience in local television and radio
stations, non-profit and government agencies, and local businesses and
corporations. Further information is available in the Department.
Loan Fund. The Anne R. Newman Graduate
Student Loan Fund makes emergency money available to graduate students for the
semester's tuition, fees and books, or other expenses related to the pursuit of
an M.A. in English. Further information is available in the Department.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES
The Graduate Certificate Program in English Language Studies enables
professionals to focus and solidify or update their work with language teaching
and research applications. As technology-supported applications of language
theory increase, and as teaching and research opportunities change in response
to demographic and educational demands, both in the U.S. and in the global
community, this Certificate grounds the participants in both current theory and
practice and makes courses in the English Language Studies Concentration
available to persons with related degrees and professional aspirations.
Admission Requirements. Students are
admitted to the
Certificate Requirements. The Graduate Certificate in English Language Studies requires 12 hours in approved courses, including at least 6 hours at the 6000-level. A typical program might include four courses from the following: ENGL 4161 (Modern English Grammar), ENGL 4165 (Language and Culture), ENGL 6161 (Introduction to Linguistics), ENGL 6163 (Language Acquisition), ENGL 6195 (Teaching College English). Students must earn a grade of "B" or better in all courses presented for the certificate, and must complete the program within four years from the time of first enrollment in a certificate course.
It is expected that students will structure their program to gain a concentration in theory and content either of applied linguistics or second-language. Substitutions from the broader emphasis and program will be allowed with approval of the Certificate Coordinator and the Director of the Emphasis in English Language Studies, who will act as advisers for those enrolled in the Certificate program.
Students whose dominant language is not English additionally will take one or both courses in a two-semester sequence in Second Language Writing: Theory and Applications. The first elective course, offered as a topics course in rhetoric, covers the theory of second-language writing. The second part of the sequence, offered as an independent study, consists of a workshop in written discourse, with special emphasis on western academic discourse. It includes documentation and bibliographic searching techniques at the graduate level.
Transfer credits are not accepted in the Certificate program. Students
seeking licensure for the teaching of English at levels K-12 should consult the
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