Master of Arts - English 

Dr. McRae Amoss, Jr., Chair

Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages

434.395.2155, mamoss@longwood.edu 

Dr. Carolyn Craft, Program Coordinator

434.395.2162, ccraft@longwood.edu 

The Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Arts - English with a concentration in Literature, in English Education and Writing, or in English 6-12 Initial Licensure. All graduate students in the Literature concentration must write a thesis; students in the English Education and Writing or English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentrations may choose to write a thesis or take a comprehensive examination. The program coordinator serves as advisor to all students in all three concentrations. Questions concerning the graduate program in English should be directed to the coordinator or the chair.

      In addition, the department offers courses in support of the Master of Science - Education/Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/English and the Master of Science - Education/Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/Modern Languages. See pp. 45-46 and 48-49 for program requirements. 

ADMISSION 

Students admitted to the Literature concentration are expected to have an undergraduate major in English literature (30 hours). Consideration will be given to those having an English minor (18 credit hours), depending on the courses taken, but more undergraduate preparation may be required at the discretion of the departmental graduate committee. Students admitted to the English Education and Writing concentration are expected to have an English major, minor or equivalent. Students admitted to the English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentration are expected to have an undergraduate major in English.  Consideration will be given to those having an English minor or its equivalent with certain English co-requisites being required. Students admitted to the Master of Science in Education/Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/English are expected to have an undergraduate minor in English.

      ENGL 579 Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary and College Classroom is required as soon as possible in the student's program for all teaching assistants except (1) those who took it while undergraduates as 479, and (2) those who took an equivalent course elsewhere and/or who are exempted from this requirement by the director of freshman composition. 

GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL SEMESTER 

Students in the English 6-12 Initial Licensure program must complete a professional semester to meet state licensing requirements. This professional semester is designed as the capstone course in this program if the student has elected to complete licensure through Longwood University. 

   To be eligible, a student must have a 3.00 GPA, passing scores on Praxis I and II, and all other program requirements completed.  An application must be completed and filed with the Office of Teacher Education, Hull – Room 256, by 12 noon on the last day of classes one (1) year in advance of the professional semester. Praxis score reports must be submitted with the application if you did not list Longwood University as a score recipient when you took the tests. Applications may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies or the Office of Teacher Education

THESIS 

The candidate for the Master of Arts - English may register for thesis research at any point following his/her admission to the program. The student should begin early to explore thesis possibilities with instructors. The program coordinator will assist the student -- as will any member of the graduate faculty -- in the choice of a thesis director. As soon as a member of the graduate English faculty agrees to act as director for the thesis, the student should submit a one-page thesis proposal to the program coordinator. The thesis proposal should be signed by the director of the thesis and by two other graduate English faculty members who are qualified to serve and who have agreed to serve as readers for the thesis. (Exceptions to the members of the thesis committee must be approved by the departmental graduate committee.) After the thesis committee has approved the proposal, the student can begin work on the thesis. The student's thesis director serves as chair of his/her thesis committee. The completed thesis, when approved, will carry the signatures of the members of the thesis committee.

      The thesis shall follow the format of the latest MLA style sheet. The student is to supply copies, two of which will be placed in the Library and another in the departmental library. See p. 41 for further information on thesis preparation.

      Each student must successfully defend his/her thesis in an oral examination. This defense of thesis should take place as soon as possible after the thesis is completed (see English 600 course description for deadline information). 

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION 

Students in the Master of Arts in English: English Education and Writing or English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentrations who elect not to write a thesis and students in the Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/English register for English 699 Comprehensive Examination the last semester of their degree work. If degree completion is scheduled for summer, the examination may be taken the preceding spring provided the student needs no more than two summer courses to complete her/his program. The student must have a B average (3.0 GPA) in all courses completed for the degree before taking this examination.

     The comprehensive examination will be administered two times a year from 9a.m. – 12 noon on the third Saturday of October and the first Saturday of March. Registering for English 699 indicates that the student will take the examination that semester; if the student needs to delay the examination, the English Graduate Program Coordinator may grant permission to delay the exam one semester (without re-registration for 699 and without additional fee) or may refuse to grant such permission (appeal to the EPML Department Chair and subsequently the Graduate Faculty Petitions Committee is possible).

     The comprehensive examination consists of four essay questions:  the student will answer three of these questions. The comprehensive examination will be designed for the individual student, based on the courses each student has taken. The student’s knowledge of and ability to apply specific theory and research relating to his/her area of concentration will be evaluated, together with the student’s competency in written expression and reasoning ability.

     The grading system for the evaluation of the examination will be pass/fail, with two graduate English professors (and/or Education professors, if C&I, or other appropriate professors for MA in English: EE&W concentration) grading each question. If a question receives a pass and a fail, then a third professor will grade that question. Any reexamination will consist of three essay questions; a student will answer the number of questions failed on the original examination.

      Any student failing the examination, or any portion thereof, may re-register for English 699 Comprehensive examination ($35.00 fee) and have one reexamination at the next scheduled examination date (the English Graduate Program Coordinator may grant permission for an examination date a semester later if delay in repeating is necessary). Failure of the examination, or any portion thereof, for a second time will be final, and the student will be dropped from the graduate program. 

LITERATURE 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED COURSE

ENGL 600               Thesis Research (6)

ELECTIVE COURSES. (24) Select 8* of the following (at least 2 must be 600 level courses, and all courses may be repeated for credit when the topics change):

ENGL 511               The Epic (3)

ENGL 512               Poetry (3)

ENGL 513               The Novel (3)

ENGL 514               Short Story (3)

ENGL 515               Drama (3)

ENGL 522               Major Figures in Fiction (3)

ENGL 523               Major Figures in Poetry (3)

ENGL 525               Shakespeare (3)

ENGL 531               Arthurian Literature (3)

ENGL 532               Women and Literature (3)

ENGL 541               Ethnic Literature (3)

ENGL 542               Regional Literature (3)

ENGL 543               Postcolonial Literature (3)

ENGL 544               Literature and Culture (3)

ENGL 562               Literary Criticism (3)

ENGL 595               Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 611               Studies in British Medieval Literature (3)

ENGL 621               Studies in the English Renaissance (3)

ENGL 631               Studies in British Neoclassicism and the Eighteenth Century (3)

ENGL 641               Studies in British Romantic and Victorian Literature (3)

ENGL 651               Studies in Modern and Contemporary British Literature (3)

ENGL 661               Studies in American Colonial Literature (3)

ENGL 671               Studies in American Romanticism (3)

ENGL 681               Studies in American Realism and Naturalism (3)

ENGL 691               Studies in Modern and Contemporary American Literature (3)

ENGL 695               Studies in Special Topics (1-3)

*ELECTIVE COURSES.  Students may select one of the following to fulfill three (3) hours of the twenty-four (24) hours required above:

ENGL 510               Creative Writing (3)

ENGL 570               Professional Writing Skills (3)

ENGL 579               Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary & College Classroom (3)

ENGL 580               The Teaching of English (3)

ENGL 581               Literature for Young Adults (3)

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED            30

ENGLISH EDUCATION AND WRITING 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION & WRITING COURSES. (12) Select a minimum of four from the following:

ENGL 510               Creative Writing (3)

ENGL 570               Professional Writing Skills (3)

ENGL 579               Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary & College Classroom (3)

ENGL 580               The Teaching of English (3)

ENGL 581               Literature for Young Adults (3)

ENGL 584               Evaluating and Tutoring Writing (1-3)

LITERATURE COURSES. (15) Select a minimum of five from the following (at least 2 must be 600 level courses, and all courses may be repeated for credit when the topics change):

ENGL 511               The Epic (3)

ENGL 512               Poetry (3)

ENGL 513               The Novel (3)

ENGL 514               Short Story (3)

ENGL 515               Drama (3)

ENGL 522               Major Figures in Fiction (3)

ENGL 523               Major Figures in Poetry (3)

ENGL 525               Shakespeare (3)

ENGL 531               Arthurian Literature (3)

ENGL 532               Women and Literature (3)

ENGL 541               Ethnic Literature (3)

ENGL 542               Regional Literature (3)

ENGL 543               Postcolonial Literature (3)

ENGL 544               Literature and Culture (3)

ENGL 562               Literary Criticism (3)

ENGL 595               Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 611               Studies in British Medieval Literature (3)

ENGL 621               Studies in the English Renaissance (3)

ENGL 631               Studies in British Neoclassicism and the Eighteenth Century (3)

ENGL 641               Studies in British Romantic and Victorian Literature (3)

ENGL 651               Studies in Modern and Contemporary British Literature (3)

ENGL 661               Studies in American Colonial Literature (3)

ENGL 671               Studies in American Romanticism (3)

ENGL 681               Studies in American Realism and Naturalism (3)

ENGL 691               Studies in Modern and Contemporary American Literature (3)

ENGL 695               Studies in Special Topics (1-3)

ELECTIVE COURSES. (9)  Select 1-3 from the following:

EDUC 502              Research Design (3)

EDUC 530              Teaching Reading in the Content Area (3)

EDUC 543              Curriculum Development in the Middle and Secondary School (3)

ENGL 511               The Epic (3)

ENGL 512               Poetry (3)

ENGL 513               The Novel (3)

ENGL 514               Short Story (3)

ENGL 515               Drama (3)

ENGL 522               Major Figures in Fiction (3)

ENGL 523               Major Figures in Poetry (3)

ENGL 525               Shakespeare (3)

ENGL 531               Arthurian Literature (3)

ENGL 532               Women and Literature (3)

ENGL 541               Ethnic Literature (3)

ENGL 542               Regional Literature (3)

ENGL 543               Postcolonial Literature (3)

ENGL 544               Literature and Culture (3)

ENGL 562               Literary Criticism (3)

ENGL 595               Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 600               Thesis (6) (Required for students opting to write a thesis)

ENGL 611               Studies in British Medieval Literature (3)

ENGL 621               Studies in the English Renaissance (3)

ENGL 631               Studies in British Neoclassicism and the Eighteenth Century (3)

ENGL 641               Studies in British Romantic and Victorian Literature (3)

ENGL 651               Studies in Modern and Contemporary British Literature (3)

ENGL 661               Studies in American Colonial Literature (3)

ENGL 671               Studies in American Romanticism (3)

ENGL 681               Studies in American Realism and Naturalism (3)

ENGL 691               Studies in Modern and Contemporary American Literature (3)

ENGL 695               Studies in Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 699               Comprehensive Exam (0) (Required for students not writing a thesis)

LISC 560                Informational Sources and Services (3)

SPED 515               Survey of Exceptional Students (3)

THEA 508              Directing for the Teacher (3)             

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED            36

ENGLISH 6-12 INITIAL LICENSURE 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION COURSES. (12)

EDUC 506              Foundations of the Teaching Profession (3)

EDUC 521              Human Growth and Development (3)

EDUC 530              Teaching Reading in the Content Area (3)

EDUC 547              Instructional Media and Computer Technology in the Classroom (3)

ENGLISH COURSES. (12)

ENGL 562               Literary Criticism (3)

ENGL 579               Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary & College Classroom (3)

ENGL 580               The Teaching of English (3)

ENGL 581               Literature for Young Adults (3)

ELECTIVE COURSES. (12) Select of minimum of four from the following (at least 2 must be 600

level literature courses exclusive of ENGL 600, and all courses may be repeated for credit when

the topics change): 

ENGL 511               The Epic (3)

ENGL 512               Poetry (3)

ENGL 513               The Novel (3)

ENGL 514               Short Story (3)

ENGL 515               Drama (3)

ENGL 522               Major Figures in Fiction (3)

ENGL 523               Major Figures in Poetry (3)

ENGL 525               Shakespeare (3)

ENGL 531               Arthurian Literature (3)

ENGL 532               Women and Literature (3)

ENGL 541               Ethnic Literature (3)

ENGL 542               Regional Literature (3)

ENGL 543               Postcolonial Literature (3)

ENGL 544               Literature and Culture (3)

ENGL 562               Literary Criticism (3)

ENGL 595               Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 600               Thesis (6) (Required for students opting to write a thesis)

ENGL 611               Studies in British Medieval Literature (3)

ENGL 621               Studies in the English Renaissance (3)

ENGL 631               Studies in British Neoclassicism and the Eighteenth Century (3)

ENGL 641               Studies in British Romantic and Victorian Literature (3)

ENGL 651               Studies in Modern and Contemporary British Literature (3)

ENGL 661               Studies in American Colonial Literature (3)

ENGL 671               Studies in American Romanticism (3)

ENGL 681               Studies in American Realism and Naturalism (3)

ENGL 691               Studies in Modern and Contemporary American Literature (3)

ENGL 695               Studies in Special Topics (1-3)

ENGL 699               Comprehensive examination (0) (Required for students opting to take the exam)

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED            36

OPTIONAL INTERNSHIP.  Required in addition to the 36 hours in the MA degree if student wishes to complete full licensure through Longwood University. Passing Praxis I and II scores are required prior to placement in a professional semester assignment.

ENGL 601               Graduate Directed Teaching in the Middle and Secondary Classroom 

         SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES FOR ENGLISH GRADUATE STUDENTS 

         1.  On being admitted to the graduate program, the student should determine a basic plan of study. To do this, he/she should arrange a conference with the program coordinator and should become familiar with the departmental requirements.

         2.  The student should complete the course requirements and either write a thesis or take a comprehensive examination. Students in the English Literature concentration must write a thesis; students in the English Education & Writing and English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentrations may choose either option.

         3.  The student writing a thesis should obtain from the program coordinator an information sheet listing all the thesis procedures.

         4.  The student writing a thesis files a form containing date, place of scheduled defense, members of the committee, and the thesis title in the Office of Graduate Studies at least four weeks before the scheduled defense.  The thesis must be successfully defended with approved copies of the thesis being deposited in the Longwood Library and the $27.00 binding fee being paid before the student can be certified for graduation.  

         5.  The student taking the comprehensive examination must register for ENGL 699 the last semester of their degree work.  If degree completion is scheduled for summer, the student would register for ENGL 699 the spring semester immediately preceding that summer as long as the student needs no more than two summer courses to complete his/her program. Comprehensive examinations are administered two times a year from 9:00 am to 12 noon on the third Saturday of October and the first Saturday of March.  A $35.00 fee will be assessed.

         6.  The student must file an Application for Graduate Degree with the Office of Registration no later than the completion of 24 credit hours and prior to enrollment in the final semester of course work. A $40 diploma fee must accompany the application that is paid in the Office of Cashiering.

         7.  The student should make arrangements for the purchase of the cap, gown, and hood from the university bookstore if the student is planning to participate in Commencement.