Longwood Graduate Catalog 2003-2004

Master of Arts - English

Dr. McRae Amoss, Jr., Chair
Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages

Dr. Carolyn Craft, Program Coordinator

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, the Master of Science - Education/Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/Modern Languages, and the Master of Science – Education/Modern Languages PreK-12 Initial Licensure. See pp. 44-45, 46-47, and 52-53 under the Master of Science in Education section of this catalog 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 these programs.

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. 36 of the Academic Regulations portion of this catalog 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). An Oral Examination (defense) form (available in the Office of Graduate Studies) must be filed a minimum of four weeks prior to the defense date in the Office of Graduate Studies.

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)

REQUIRED 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

REQUIRED 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)

REQUIRED 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)

REQUIRED 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)

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED 36

ENGLISH 6-12 INITIAL LICENSURE

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED 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)

REQUIRED 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)

REQUIRED 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.