Masters Degrees in English Literature & Language, USA

The M.A. in English offers three tracks: one in literature; one in writing, teaching, and criticism; and, one in creative writing. In the literature and writing, teaching, and criticism tracks, students may choose between thesis and non-thesis options. Students in the creative writing track must write a creative thesis. The master of arts in English helps students attain a number of goals. It offers opportunities for the study of language, literature, rhetoric and composition, pedagogy, creative writing, and literary and cultural critical theory. The diverse and comprehensive selection of courses cultivates scholarly knowledge and enhances cultural literacy in an atmosphere that engages students intellectually and creatively. The program prepares students to enroll in advanced graduate programs (for the Ph.D. in literature or composition and rhetoric, for example), to teach literature or writing in secondary schools or two-year colleges, and to enter a range of other professions in which writing expertise and analytical thinking are valued.

Curriculum

Required core modules for all English MA students:

• ENG 500 The Discipline of English Studies
• ENG 501 Critical Theory

For additional modules taught on the literature track, please see the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/arts-humanities/english/english-ma-literature-track/

For additional modules taught on the creative writing track, please see the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/arts-humanities/english/english-ma-creative-writing-track/

For additional modules taught on the writing, teaching and criticism track, please see the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/arts-humanities/english/english-ma-writing-teaching-criticism-track/

Culture and Community

The English Department sponsors a vibrant cultural life that includes a renowned Poetry Center, readings by notable authors, two student literary journals (Daedalus and Literati), an English Club, an English Alumni organization, numerous student awards and scholarships, and local chapters of the Sigma Tau Delta English honors society and the National Council of Teachers in English (NCTE). Our students and faculty are also actively involved in the university’s ongoing sustainability efforts. All of these opportunities enable students to expand their learning experience beyond the classroom and collaborate with others who share their passions.

Careers

To the question "What can you do with an English degree?" we say: "What can't you do?" Our graduates enjoy successful careers in publishing, journalism, education, management, law, marketing, advertising, social media, human resources, and business. Many seek advanced degrees in English, law, information & library science, and other fields. Whatever career path you pursue, English will prepare you for any profession that values the kind of interpretive analysis, creative problem-solving, and polished communication central to the discipline of English Studies.

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Literature

The English Department offers MAs in the areas of Literature, Renaissance Studies, and Composition/Rhetoric.

Department faculty mentor students at all stages of their graduate experience, from coursework to teaching to examinations and the writing of master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.

Graduate students in our Department not only have the opportunity to learn in an engaging environment but also to teach in one as well. Beginning in their first (for PhD candidates) and second (for MA candidates) years, they gain valuable classroom experience in composition classes, literature surveys, and courses they design themselves. Our program's scholarly and pedagogical preparation, as well as our detailed attention to professional placement, has enabled students to develop careers as teachers, scholars, publishers and editors.

Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies

"Bringing the Globe to Alabama"

The Strode Program is a privately endowed program to promote the study of English literature from Skelton to Milton. The endowment provides for lectures and residencies by distinguished scholars and fellowships for graduate study at the University of Alabama in the field of English Renaissance Literature.

Hudson Strode served on the University of Alabama faculty from 1916 to 1963. He was a prolific author and celebrated teacher of Shakespeare and of creative writing. The Strode program was endowed by Professor Strode and his wife, Thérèse.

Focus: The Graduate Student

The intellectual work and educational activities sponsored by the Strode Program, from fellowships to lecture series, from the Strode Seminar to summer research awards, converge upon a single focus: the graduate student. We have a lively and talented group of students specializing in English Renaissance literature in preparation for careers in colleges and universities, or for other professional or personal goals. The faculty is committed not only to teaching students but also to mentoring them, fostering a community of future scholars.

Our students have won departmental and college awards for teaching and they have won university-wide fellowships for dissertation research. A recent Ph.D. received the College of Arts and Sciences annual award for best dissertation. Topics treated in the dissertations produced by our students are diverse—from readings of Spenser which deploy the theories of Derrida and Lacan to studies of the representation of female sexuality which draw upon seventeenth-century London court records; from adaptations of Shakespeare for teen films to performance criticism of regional and university theatrical productions. Essays written by our students—on Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, on the agency of the letter in Hamlet, on class conflict in Coriolanus, on Leo Africanus and early modern imperialism, and on queer kinship in The Merchant of Venice—have appeared in Early Modern Literary Studies, English Literary History, English Literary Renaissance, Studies in English Literature, and Shakespeare, among other journals and essay collections.

We have an excellent record of placing Ph.D.s in tenure-track professorships. In the past ten years, 100% of our Ph.D. graduates who went on the academic job market eventually landed tenure-track jobs. Recent graduates have joined the faculty at Cornell College, High Point University, Mercer University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Xavier University, and Youngstown State University. M.A. students have matriculated to Ph.D. programs at Emory, Northwestern, Rutgers, University of California, University of Georgia, University of Oxford, University of Tennessee, and University of Washington, to name a few. Other M.A. students have gone on to law school, library school, the Peace Corps, high school teaching, or other opportunities.

Composition and Rhetoric

The graduate curriculum in CRES (Composition, Rhetoric, and English Studies) provides a solid foundation in English studies with a particular focus on the teaching of writing and studies in language, literacy, and rhetoric. The doctoral program is designed for those seeking academic positions as composition specialists (researchers, teachers, or administrators) in postsecondary English departments that emphasize writing instruction. The MA program is ideal for those who wish to do community college teaching or administrative work, and for students wishing to continue on to the PhD.

The graduate curriculum provides core courses in composition-rhetoric as well as elective opportunities in literature, linguistics, communication studies, education, and interdisciplinary areas such as gender and race. CRES students have opportunities to teach first-year writing, technical writing, and sophomore literature surveys. We also offer opportunities for writing center work and writing program administration.

Our graduates have obtained tenure-track positions at community colleges and four-year institutions such as Central Piedmont Community College (Charlotte, NC), Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa, AL), North Carolina Wesleyan College (Rocky Mount, NC), Judson College (Marion, AL), Charlotte School of Law (NC), Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL), the University of Houston, Itawamba Community College (Fulton, MS), Chattanooga State Community College (TN), Hinds Community College (Jackson, Mississippi), Marion Military Institute (Marion, AL), Louisiana Tech, Murray State (KY), the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the University of Texas-El Paso, Alabama A&M, St. Louis Community College (Meramec Campus), LaGrange College (GA), East Tennessee State, the University of South Alabama, Eastern Illinois University, and the University of North Alabama.

Application to all graduate programs offered by the Department of English is made through the University of Alabama Graduate School online application, which can be accessed by following the link on the English Department's Admissions page.

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The Department of English, General Literature and Rhetoric offers students the opportunity to study literature and language in their many manifestations. Although English and American literature and the practice of creative and expository writing are primary, the department conceives of neither literature nor writing in a narrow or parochial way. Literature courses deal broadly with genres and themes from the past and present, and teach students how to read and analyze texts; creative writing courses foster, in qualified students, the development of serious creativity; rhetoric courses deal with both the theory and practice of communication, as well as the history of oral and written argument.

Recent doctoral graduate employment placements include: Assistant Professor at Pfeiffer University, Assistant Professor at University of California Channel Island, Lead Editor and Writer at Kathy Layne & Associates, Assistant Professor at Virginia State University, Assistant Professor at Ithaca College.

MA English/American Literature with a creative writing concentration also available.

All applicants must submit the following:

- Online graduate degree application and application fee
- Transcripts from each college/university which you have attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement (2-3 pages) describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your career aspirations, your special interests within your field, and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to your program's admissions committee.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Official GRE scores
- Writing sample: All applicants: critical writing sample (10-20 pages). Creative writing applicants: portfolio of creative work (not more than 40 pages of fiction or 20 pages of verse)

And, for international applicants:
- International Student Financial Statement form
- Official bank statement/proof of support
- Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores

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• A letter of intent written by the applicant expressing professional goals as applied to the program.
• Submission of three letters of recommendation, using the required recommendation form.
• A writing sample, preferably a recent essay written showing evidence of scholarly research and writing. For applicants who have significant work experience, a substantial piece of workplace writing may be substituted.
• Résumé or curriculum vitae.

E-mail: [email protected] • Phone: 315-267-2165

Visit http://www.potsdam.edu/graduate to view the full application checklist and online application.

The Master of Arts program in English and Communication challenges students to develop integrated competencies in the highly sought skills of reading, writing, and speaking. The program focuses attention on the many uses of language and on the nature of language itself. It requires students to become familiar with the connections between the written and the spoken word, and with the varied ways that language is shaped to serve aesthetic, social, and practical ends. By fostering research and analytic skills, the program prepares students for a variety of career opportunities. Program Start Dates: Fall.

Required Program Courses
Minimum of 36 credit hours

GECD 601, Introduction to Research Methods .......................3 credits
GECD 606, Thesis Workshop .............................................3 credits
Electives .....................................................................21 credits (Students will select, with prior advisor approval, seven grad- uate English and Communication courses; at least 12 credit hours must be completed at the 600 level. Nine credit hours may be taken at the 500 level in any courses with LITR, COMP, or COMM designators.)
GECD 690, Thesis .........................................................9 credits

Uniqueness of Program

The MA English and Communication program is home to scholars of literature, rhetoric, speech communication, composition, and linguistics, making it unique within the SUNY system. It best serves students who wish to study in more than one of these disciplines. Students’ thesis projects can be rooted in one of these disciplines, or they may cross or blur disciplinary boundaries. A comprehensive approach to these distinct, yet related, fields defines the core graduate experience at Potsdam, making our program ideal for a variety of purposes. We also take a lot of pride in providing personalized attention, professional/academic achievement, unique program design, and flexible course scheduling. Graduates of our program have obtained positions as faculty at community colleges; editors and publishers of speeches, documents, and multimedia; and employees for business, governmental agencies, and/or the corporate world in a multitude of capacities.

Testimonials

“The program helped me grow as a writer, critical reader/thinker, and oral presenter. It prepared me to work as a professional and taught me a lot about how to interact with students and provide meaningful feedback.” —Becca Jewell

“The program nurtures a longer-term project focus, as compared to semester-based projects. I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom to design my own projects and the unpredictable, yet focused, discussions during class.” —Josh Clark

“I gained a better understanding of the world and an enhanced ability to analyze, synthesize, and critically think. In my view, studies like these prepare us to understand, analyze, dissect, and influence the academic and non-academic conversations that define our politics, work environments, and society at large.” —Adam Bulizak

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The Applied Linguistics/TESOL program is designed to prepare competent professionals in the field of applied linguistics specializing in teaching English to speakers of other languages. With a structured yet flexible curriculum that draws on courses taught by other linguists within the university, along with supervised classroom teaching opportunities both in a first-year writing program and also in an intensive English program, our program strives to help students acquire the linguistic knowledge, cultural understanding, and teaching skills necessary for a successful career in applied linguistics/TESOL.

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We are now reading applications for the January 2017 residency. The application deadline is Nov. 20, 2016.

We are pleased to continue our merit-based scholarship program for incoming students. Before the January 2017 residency, we will award merit-based scholarships in three separate rounds. In order to be considered for the first round, submit your application and supporting documents before Sept. 30, 2016.

Visit the website http://www.ut.edu/mfacw/

MFA in Creative Writing

The University of Tampa Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a low-residency program designed to help poets, fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers advance their command of craft through exposure to literature from a writerly perspective and with supportive critique and mentoring. The course of individualized study covers four semesters over two calendar years, followed by a fifth culminating residency. Our program focuses on individualized instruction, while fostering the rich interplay of participation in an extended literary community; as working writers, all of us seek to deepen the understanding of writing as an ongoing engagement with discovery and transformation.

Students attend four, 10-day working residencies on UT’s historic campus in downtown Tampa, on the banks of the Hillsborough River. Each residency is followed by a semester-long one-on-one tutorial with a faculty mentor focused on the student’s written work and readings as negotiated in an individual plan of study. View a photo gallery of the inaugural class (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.336373403051241.78945.268982289790353&type=1).

As part of the requirements for the degree, the student completes many drafts and revisions, resulting in the master's thesis, a substantial manuscript of original work in the selected genre. Along the way, the student reads and comments on works that have shaped the genre, completes a 25-page critical essay in the third semester and assembles an annotated bibliography that conveys the importance and influence of great writers on their own work. In the fifth, culminating residency, the student teaches a seminar on a pre-arranged topic of interest and gives a public reading of his/her own work. Each semester grade is pass/fail accompanied by a narrative evaluation composed by the student’s mentor. All students have the opportunity to serve in an editorial capacity on Tampa Review Online, the 100 percent MFA student-edited cousin of the award-winning Tampa Review.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.ut.edu/apply

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Learn to analyze and interpret literary works through a global lens, applying insights from ethics, anthropology, history, and more.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

Through the master’s degree in the field of English you build:
-A deeper understanding of literary text style and structure analysis through a variety of critical paradigms.
-The ability to identify topics and develop questions that inform meaningful scholarly inquiry.
-An enhanced knowledge of the philosophical, historical, and cultural forces that shape literary works.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The degree includes nine courses—at least three taken on campus—and a thesis.

-Get started. You begin by completing three admission courses from the program curriculum. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and ability to perform well as a Harvard student.
-Apply to the program. While you are completing your third admission course, you submit your application. We have application periods in the fall, spring, and summer.
-Continue your studies, online and on campus. As you progress through the program, you choose from courses offered on campus or online, in the fall, spring, or summer. To fully experience Harvard, you take at least three courses on campus as part of your degree.
-Complete your thesis. Working with a thesis director, you conduct in-depth research on a topic relevant to your work experience or academic interests, producing publishable quality results. You’ll emerge with a solid understanding of how research is executed and communicated.
-Graduate with your Harvard degree. You participate in the annual Harvard Commencement, receiving your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in extension studies, field: English.

COST

Affordability is core to our mission. Our 2016–17 graduate tuition is $2,550 per course; the total tuition cost of earning the graduate degree is approximately $25,500.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

The Student Financial Services staff can assist you in identifying funds that will help you meet the costs of your education. You can find more information here: http://www.extension.harvard.edu/tuition-enrollment/financial-aid

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The M.Ed in Reading is a 36 credit program that grants a master’s degree and fulfills all PDE requirements in order for students to apply for their PA Reading Specialist Certification for grades K–12. If you have your Initial Teaching Certification (or even a master’s degree already) and want to focus on Literacy education, then our program may be right for you.

Curriculum

Professional Education Requirements

Select two of the following, chosen under advisement:

EDA 511 Inclusion & Collaboration
EDA 542 Foundations of Special Education
LAN 569 Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) PK-12
EDE 551 Child and Adolescent Development I
EDF 501 Research Methods For Teachers
EDF 510 Educational Foundations
EDF 589 Sociological Foundations Of Education
EDP 550 Advanced Educational Psychology
EDP 569 Adolescent Development & Learning
EDT 500 Integrating Ed Tech For Effective Instruction
EDR 604 Literacy Program Evaluation & Data Analysis

Professional Education Electives:

EDR 535 Language, Learning And Literacy

Reading Education Requirements:

EDR 505 Orthographic Knowledge Language And Lit Dev
EDR 507 Comprehension & Vocabulary: Dev & Instruc
EDR 509 Writing Development and Instruction
EDR 512 Literacy Practicum and Seminar I
EDR 514 Reading In The Content Areas
EDR 515 Teaching Reading with Child's and Adolescent's Lit
EDR 516 Problems in Literacy Development
EDR 519 Issues of Diversity in Teaching Reading
EDR 532 Literacy and Practicum Seminar II
EDR 541 Organization and Supervision of Literacy Programs

For detailed information about these modules please visit the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/education-social-work/literacy/reading-med/

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The PA Reading Specialist Certification, K–12 is a 30 credit program for students wanting to fulfill PDE requirements for Reading Specialist Certification only. Students in this program take 30 credits of Literacy core courses, in addition to any PDE 49.13 Competency deficiencies that exist at intake. This program does not result in a master degree; upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to apply for their PA Reading Specialist Certificate.

Curriculum

Required Literacy Modules (30 Credits):

EDR 505: Orthographic Knowledge, Language, and Literacy Development
EDR 507: Comprehension and Vocabulary: Development and Instruction
EDR 509: Writing Development and Instruction
EDR 514: Reading in the Content Areas
EDR 515: Teaching Reading with Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature
EDR 516: Problems in Literacy Development
EDR 512: Literacy Practicum and Seminar I
EDR 519: Issues of Diversity in Teaching Reading
EDR 532: Literacy Practicum and Seminar II
EDR 541: Organization and Supervision of Literacy Programs: K – 12

For more information regarding the curriculum for this course please visit the website:

https://wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/literacy/prospectiveLiteracy.aspx

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For students who are not seeking either a M.Ed. in Reading or Reading Specialist Certificate, we offer an 18 credit literacy certificate. This program is for students who already have their Initial Teaching Certification and want to improve their classroom practice in Literacy. This program also benefits students who already have their master’s degree but would like to focus on Literacy education.

Curriculum

Literacy courses required (18 credits):

EDR 505: Orthographic Knowledge, Language, and Literacy Development
EDR 507: Comprehension and Vocabulary: Development and Instruction 3
EDR 509: Writing Development and Instruction 3
EDR 514: Reading in the Content Areas 3
EDR 515: Teaching Reading with Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature
EDR 512: Literacy Practicum and Seminar I

For more information regarding the curriculum of this course, please visit the website:

https://wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/literacy/prospectiveLiteracy.aspx

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This program is designed for current Reading Specialist seeking to expand their professional services with recognition of the continuation of their specialised education validated by PDE. The Coaching Endorsement recognises the completion of additional coursework that prepares reading specialists to lead and support colleagues as they teach children to read and write.

Curriculum

Literacy Coaching Courses Required for Endorsement (12 credits):
(Students may transfer in three (3) credits based on transcript analysis)

EDR 602: Literacy Coaching and Professional Development
EDR 604: Literacy Program Evaluation and Data Analysis
EDE 605: Educational Leadership and Change Theory
EDR 606: Practicum and Seminar in Literacy Coaching

For detailed information about these modules please see the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/undergraduate/education-social-work/literacy/#coursestext

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The Master of Arts in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program is built with students’ long-term success and employability in mind. Graduates with an M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media from NSU will be prepared to pursue doctoral studies as well as a variety of careers in publishing and/or education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for editors and writers will keep pace with other professions over the next several years, while demand for certain specialties, such as technical writing, will increase 10% faster than the average for all occupations from 2014-2024. Further, the mandatory composition course requirement of most colleges and universities nationwide ensures the continued demand for qualified faculty in composition and rhetoric. As part of the program, students have the opportunity to contribute to Digressions, the student-run literary magazine.

M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media graduates:

• Teach rhetoric, composition, and related courses at universities, colleges, tech schools, and high schools
• Work as professional writers and editors
• Work in web design and development
• Work for professional organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English and the College Board
• Work as researchers and technical writers for private sector, non-profit, and/or political organizations

Program Format

The Master of Arts in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program is offered weeknights on NSU's main campus.

Learning Outcomes

The successful M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media graduate is expected to:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of what effective writing is in a variety of rhetorical contexts.
• Evaluate writing curricula and pedagogical practices.
• Design successful digital media using rhetorically appropriate strategies.
• Produce and present original research based on the theories and methods applicable to composition, rhetoric, and digital media.

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media will educate students about the history and theory of composition, rhetoric, and digital media, providing students with a foundation for conducting and presenting research, applying rhetorical theories, teaching writing, and producing digital media. Through specialised coursework and experiential learning, students will develop expertise researching and teaching composition while practising writing in a variety of professional genres. Students will prepare for careers in writing, publishing, and teaching and will be prepared to pursue a variety of Ph.D. programs, including those in Composition and Rhetoric.

Core courses (12 credits)

• WRIT 5010 - Research Methods
• WRIT 5100 - Teaching Writing
• WRIT 5120 - Theories of Composition
• WRIT 5340 - Studies in Multimodality and Digital Media

Elective Courses (12 credits)

• WRIT 5000 - Professional and Public Writing
• WRIT 5140 - Writing Center Praxis
• WRIT 5160 - Teaching Writing Online
• WRIT 5200 - History of the English Language
• WRIT 5320 - Advanced Writing with Technologies
• WRIT 5400 - Technical Writing
• WRIT 5550 - Feature Writing
• WRIT 5620 - Rhetorical Traditions in Writing Studies
• WRIT 5650 - Rhetorical Criticism
• WRIT 5800 - Editing, Layout, and Design
• WRIT 5900 - Special Topics

Thesis (6 credits)

• WRIT 6000 - Master’s Thesis

Types of Theses

The thesis may take one of the following forms:

Research Thesis: Student designs, conducts, and reports findings from qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research projects.

Theoretical Thesis: Student examines a well-focused question or problem through an informed context that is critical, theoretical, and/or historical.

Digital Media Thesis: Student designs a piece of digital media, such as a website or app.

Technical Thesis: Student produces a substantial manual, guidebook, scholarly or professional Web site, white paper, report, or grant proposal.

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