Department of English
M.A. in English,
Options: Composition Theory, LiteratureDr. James Walton, Department Chair
Dr. Toni Wein, Graduate Program Coordinator
- Graduate Program in English | The Graduate Environment |
Faculty | Quick Facts |
MFA in Creative Writing
Graduate Program in English
The Master of Arts degree in English, with options in Literature and Composition Theory, is designed to intensify the knowledge of students desiring further study beyond the baccalaureate degree. The primary objective of these options is to prepare candidates to teach composition and literature at the secondary school or community college level. Further, the M.A. is an excellent program for the student desiring an advanced education in literature, criticism, and theory in order to pursue a Ph.D. in English.
The Literature option allows students to pursue intensive study in areas such as American studies, folklore, literary criticism and theory, and all aspects of British, American, and world literature. These courses fall under three categories: Literary History, Literary Genre, and Literary Seminars.
The Literary History courses cover periods in American, British, or World literature. They go into considerable depth in their periods and offer close analysis of significant literary works.
Literary Genre courses are concerned with a broadly conceived type of literature (novel, drama, poetry, epic comedy, etc.) Again, they offer close analysis of individual works and the unique characteristics of these literary types.
Literary Seminars offer in-depth study of a single author or literary movement (Symbolism) or type (African American Drama). These courses differ from the historical and genre courses by being more concentrated in focus and by emphasizing student research and essays.
The Composition Theory option takes a historical cultural approach to the study of writing. Students are exposed to scholarship in the theory, history, and pedagogy of composition. Additional experiences in teaching and research are offered. Composition studies also offers a variety of approaches to the study of literacy, rhetoric, and culture.
The Graduate Environment
Once admitted to the program, students will find the learning environment to be cooperative and intellectually stimulating. One of the many strengths of the advanced degree program in English is the active involvement of the student in the seminar setting. In having students contribute their ideas to the class discussion, the seminars encourage a cooperative learning environment, where insight is gained through the contributions of the students, not at the expense of their opinions.
Graduate students in English are very active, many of them attending and presenting papers at national professional conferences. The English Graduate Student Association was established to foster an active learning environment and provide a venue for student concerns about graduate study. The EGSA sponsors several department colloquia each semester, in which graduate students and faculty may present finished papers or works in progress. In addition, EGSA has sponsored a number of regional graduate student conferences, some of the most recent including Medieval Studies, Twentieth-Century Literature, Multicultural Studies, and Landscapes and Literature. These conferences have attracted participants from throughout California and the Northwest. This kind of activity provides students recognition for their work and encourages them to become proactive in their publishing efforts.
Our graduate program prepares our students for doctoral study, or for teaching positions at the junior college level. Of our recent graduates, a large number are currently employed at junior colleges. Other recent graduates have accepted teaching positions overseas in countries like Israel and Japan. Still others have elected to pursue the Ph.D. degree at institutions such as the University of Kansas, the University of Oregon, Arizona State University, Rutgers University, University of Iowa, UCLA, and the University of California (Santa Barbara, Riverside, and San Diego).
To help graduate students complete their studies, a number of teaching associateship positions are available. These positions are fairly competitive and provide substantial financial support and practical teaching experience. Other work experience and financial assistance can be found at the University Writing Center which employs students as tutors to work closely with small groups of undergraduates in any discipline where writing is an integral component.
Graduate Program in English | The Graduate Environment | Faculty | Quick Facts | MFA in Creative Writing