Graduate Program

The graduate program in English leads to a Master of Arts or Master of Science and prepares students for:

  • Teaching at the secondary and community college levels
  • Further graduate study in pursuit of the doctoral degree
  • Entry into various professions where critical thinking, communication skills and writing are valued and employed.

For students who choose the literature option, graduate study in English provides an opportunity to develop skills in literary scholarship and criticism through an intensive study of British and American literature. The program emphasizes independent research—using both print and electronic sources—and the writing of scholarly papers based on a critical understanding of literature’s aesthetic and humanistic values and of its social, historical and cultural significance. The program also offers students the opportunity to take courses and to pursue interests in contemporary critical theory, creative writing, technical writing, linguistics and the teaching of English.

Students who choose the English education option may receive the M.S. degree with initial teacher licensure or add an M.A. or M.S. endorsement to an existing license.

Requirements for the M.A. or M.S. in English

For the M.A.:

  • 24 hours of coursework
  • 6 hours of ENGL 699, Research and Thesis
  • Comprehensive written examination
  • Thesis defense
  • Reading proficiency in a foreign language

For the M.S.:

  • 33 hours of coursework
  • Comprehensive written and oral examinations

Core courses required of all students:

  • English 600, Introduction to Literary Scholarship
  • English 621, Principles of Literary Criticism (may be replaced by an elective if a course in literary criticism was taken as an undergraduate)
  • English 663, Linguistics (may be replaced by an elective if a course in linguistics or the history of the English language was taken as an undergraduate).

Courses required for the literature option (M.A. and M.S.):

  • 9-15 hours of courses in British or American literature
  • Elective courses up to 24 hours (M.A.) or 33 hours (M.S.)

Courses required for the English education option without initial licensure (M.A. and M.S.):

  • ENGL 502, Teaching Writing (may be replaced by an elective if an equivalent course was taken as an undergraduate)
  • ENGL 563, Grammar and Language for Teachers (may be replaced by an elective if an equivalent course was taken as an undergraduate)
  • ENGL 629, Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature
  • EDEF 606, Educational Research
  • Elective courses up to 24 hours (M.A.) or 33 hours (M.S.)

Courses required for the English education option with initial licensure (M.S.):

  • ENGL 502, Teaching Writing (may be replaced by an elective if an equivalent course was taken as an undergraduate)
  • ENGL 563, Grammar and Language for Teachers (may be replaced by an elective if an equivalent course was taken as an undergraduate)
  • ENGL 525, Adolescent Literature or ENGL 629, Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature
  • EDEF 606, Educational Research
  • A 600-level Educational Technology (EDET) course satisfying
  • licensure requirements
    EDUC 640, Internship in Teaching (6 hours)

Supporting courses not for graduate credit (required if not completed before entering the graduate program):

  • EDUC 309, Foundations of Education
  • EDSP 362, Current Trends in Education of Exceptional Individuals
  • EDRD 416. Content Reading and Literacy
  • EDUC 441, Field Experience, Grades 6-12
  • ENGL 426, Teaching English in the High School (2 hours, taken in the same semester as EDUC 441)
  • ENGL 428, Planning and Teaching Seminar (1 hour, taken in the same semester as EDUC 640)
  • Elective courses if appropriate, up to 33 hours