Master of Arts in English

(MA)

English Department Chair: Dr. Kathleen Herndon

Location: Elizabeth Hall, Room 413

Telephone Contact: Susie Lane 801-626-7179

Program Director: Dr. Merlin Cheney 801-626-6252

The Master of Arts in English program offers traditional graduate students and working adults advanced preparation in the study of English language and literature.

The curriculum is composed of 2 and 3 hours classes that fall into the following broad categories:

American Literature
British Literature
World Literature
Linguistics
Teacher Education

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MA program requires a Bachelor’s degree in English. Students with less English preparation may petition for conditional admission which might require that they take additional classes at the 5000 level preparatory for full matriculation.

Applicants must complete an application form and provide a current resume and transcripts from all institution of higher education attended. Required criteria for acceptance into the program include:

Undergraduate degree in English with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in their major
Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogies Test (MAT) scores or other appropriate entry test
Submission of writing samples
Three letters of recommendation from educational or professional references
Interview with the program director
Transfer credit must be approved by the program director, and cannot exceed 12 credit hours. Transfer classes must be at an appropriate level and fulfill the objectives of the MA English program at WSU. No courses for which credit was used to fulfill requirements of another degree may be used toward the MA English degree.

Additional Requirements for International Students

All international students and any applicants educated outside the United States must demonstrate proficiency in English. Those whose native language is not English must submit an official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). The score many not be more than two years old.

Graduation Requirements

33 credit hours, at least 24 hours at the 6000-level.
Grades of B- or better in all courses counting toward the degree.
Students with a BS degree must show foreign language competency either by completing a fourth semester foreign language class with a grade of C- (or better) or by passing a foreign language reading test

Time for Degree Completion

Students will have a maximum of six calendar years to complete their degree requirements, starting from the first semester in which the student has been accepted and begun taking classes. Students who exceed this time limit may submit a letter of appeal to the program director to request that this requirement be waived.
Students who fail to enroll in program classes for three consecutive semesters (not including summers) must apply for readmission to the program.
In order to ensure timely progress through the program, students are encouraged to consult with an advisor at least once a year.

Course Requirements for MA

MENG 6010 Literature in Context (3)

Three (3) courses in at least two of the following repeatable seminars

MENG 6240* Seminar in American Literature (3)
MENG 6250* Seminar in British Literature (3)
MENG 6260* Seminar in World Literature (3)

One course in three of the following four areas (3 courses)

Area 1

MENG 6030* Studies in Literary Theory and Criticism (3)
MENG 6610* Advanced Studies in Genres (2-3)
MENG 6710* Variable Topics (2-3)

Area 2

MENG 6510* Graduate Seminar in Eminent Writers (2-3)
MENG 6520 Graduate Seminar in Shakespeare (3)

Area 3

MENG 6310 Language and Linguistic for Teachers (3)
MENG 6320 World Languages (3)
MENG 6330 Literary and Rhetorical Stylistics (3)
MENG 6410 Strategies and Methodology of Teaching ESL/Bilingual (3)
MENG 6420 English Phonology and Syntax for ESL/Bilingual Teachers (3)
MENG 6450 ESL/Bilingual Assessment: Theory, Methods, and Practices (3)

Area 4

MENG 6110 Writing for Teachers (3)
MENG 6210 Teaching Literature in the Secondary Schools (3)
MENG 6230 Wasatch Range Writing Project Summer Institute (1-6)
MENG 6400 Multicultural Perspectives on Literature for Young People (3)

* May be repeated for credit with different content.

Electives

Select elective courses to fulfill the 33 credit hours required to graduate. All program courses not taken as a required course may be taken as electives.

No more than three hours of directed readings credit (MENG 6830) may apply toward the MA degree unless approved by the program director.

No more than two of the following three courses may apply toward the MA degree: MENG 6410, MENG 6420, MENG 6450.

The following three courses may be taken only by students who are teaching writing for WSU for the first time: MENG 6821, MENG 6822, MENG 6823.

Weber State University 20062007 Catalog