Dr. Rhonda
Brock-Servais, Chair
Department of English and Modern Languages
434.395.2695, brockservaisrl@longwood.edu
Dr. Larissa C. Tracy,
Program Coordinator
434.395.2907, tracylc@longwood.edu
Ms. Mary
Carroll-Hackett, Program Coordinator
434.395.2113, carrollhackettma@longwood.edu
The Department of
English and Modern Languages offers a program leading to the degree of Master of
Arts in English with concentrations in Creative Writing, in Literature, in
English Education and Writing, or in English 6-12 Initial Licensure. All
graduate students in the Creative Writing or Literature concentration must write
a thesis; students in the English Education and Writing concentrations may
choose to write a thesis or take a comprehensive examination; students in the
6-12 Initial Licensure concentration may choose to complete an action research
project or take a comprehensive examination. The program coordinator serves as
advisor to students in all four 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 in Education/Curriculum and Instruction Specialist/Modern Languages, and
the Master of Science in Education/Modern Languages/ESL PreK-12 Initial
Licensure. See pages 55-56 and 62-63 for program requirements.
ADMISSION
Creative Writing
Students admitted to the
Creative Writing concentration are expected to have at least an undergraduate
minor in English. Consideration will be given to those having the equivalent of
18 hours beyond the general education level, but such consideration will depend
on the courses taken. More undergraduate preparation may be required at the
discretion of the departmental graduate committee. Applicants must submit a
writing sample of not less than ten (10) and not more than twenty (20) pages in
the genre of their choice. (10 pages of poetry; or 15 pages of prose/fiction or
non-fiction; or 20 pages of drama) Final admission to the concentration is
granted based on the quality and potential of the work submitted as determined
by the Creative Writing Reading Committee.
Literature
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.
English Education and
Writing
Students admitted to the
English Education and Writing concentration are expected to have an English
major, minor or equivalent.
English 6-12 Initial
Licensure
Students admitted to the
English 6-12 Initial Licensure concentration are expected to have an
undergraduate major or at least a minor (18 credit hours) in English with
courses in grammar and linguistics required. Survey courses in American,
British, and world literature are preferred and additional undergraduate
preparation may be required at the discretion of the departmental graduate
committee. All applicants must have passed the Praxis I or have the equivalent
SAT or ACT scores.
GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL
SEMESTER For Initial Licensure
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.
To be eligible, a student must have a 3.00 GPA, passing scores on Praxis
II, and all other program requirements completed. An application for the
Graduate Directed Teaching/Professional Semester must be completed and filed
with the Office of Professional Services within the first 2 weeks of the
semester prior to the semester they expect to complete their graduate
professional semester. Praxis I and II 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 Professional
Services or by visiting their web site at
www.longwood.edu/cehs/professional_services/index.htm.
Effective fall 2006, any student participating in a Longwood College of
Education and Human Services course- or program-related extended field placement
shall present evidence prior to placement that a criminal record background
check has been completed in accordance to the requirements of the agency where
the student is placed. Students should confer with their specific program
faculty to understand the placing agency’s requirements and the procedures they
should follow to comply with these requirements.
THESIS
Creative Writing
The candidate for the
Master of Arts - English with a concentration in Creative Writing is required to
complete a creative thesis. Students in this concentration should wait to
register for thesis (ENGL 600) until a minimum of two (2) workshop course
requirements have been met as the student’s thesis will be comprised of work
produced and revised over the course of study. In preparation for thesis
completion and defense, and in coordination with the program director, the
student will select a thesis director from the Creative Writing faculty. The
second faculty selection for the committee should also be a member of the
Creative Writing faculty. To complete the committee, the student may choose any
member of the English graduate faculty. The student’s thesis director serves as
chair of his/her thesis committee. As soon as a member of the graduate Creative
Writing faculty agrees to act as director for the thesis, the student should
submit a one-page thesis proposal to the program coordinator. This 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. (The departmental graduate committee and the
Creative Writing program coordinator must approve exceptions to the members of
the thesis committee.) The thesis, a body of work in the student’s primary
genre, should be of publishable quality and must be introduced by a critical
abstract.
Each student must successfully defend his/her thesis in an oral
examination. This defense, focusing on elements related to thesis content, craft
and specific genre should take place as soon as possible after the thesis is
completed (see English 600 course description for deadline information). The
completed thesis, when approved, will carry the signatures of the members of the
thesis committee.
The thesis shall follow industry-standard manuscript format. The student
is to supply three copies, two of which will be placed in the Library and
another in the departmental library. See pp. 40-41 for further information on
thesis preparation.
Literature/English
Education & Writing
The candidate for the
Master of Arts - English with a concentration in Literature or English Education
and Writing may register for thesis (Engl 600) 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. (The
departmental graduate committee must approve exceptions to the members of the
thesis 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 three copies, two of which will be placed in the Library
and another in the departmental library. See pp. 40-41 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).
ACTION RESEARCH INQUIRY
PROJECT
The candidate for the
Master of Arts English with a 6-12 Initial Licensure concentration may choose to
conduct an action research inquiry project of their choice based on an education
issue related to the teaching of English. This action research inquiry project
should be the basis for a completed, publishable article that will be submitted
to a juried journal of quality. Students should register for ENGL 602 to satisfy
this requirement during the final year of their program. Grading for this three
(3) credit course will be Pass/Fail. In consultation with their project
director, students will select a committee of two additional readers. One of the
readers may be an education faculty member with expertise in the candidate‚s
inquiry area and the other can be a member of the English graduate faulty (an
exception may be granted by the English Graduate Committee upon petition). The
completed research project must be presented to the examining committee no later
than four weeks before the end of the semester in which the project is
completed. At that time, the candidate must engage in an oral defense of the
project with the examining committee. The student is to supply three copies, two
of which will be placed in the Library and one in the departmental library. See
p. 41 for further information on action research inquiry project preparation.
COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION
Students in the Master
of Arts in English with a concentration in English Education and Writing that
elect not to write a thesis; or students in the Master of Arts in
English with a concentration in English 6-12 Initial Licensure that elect not to
complete an action research project; 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 his/her program.
Students must have completed or be enrolled to allow for completion of 30-36
semester hours of course work depending on program requirements, students must
have a B average (3.0 GPA) in all courses completed for the degree, and students
must have already filed the Application for Graduate Degree to be eligible to
enroll in the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination will be
administered two times a year from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the third Saturday
of October and the first Saturday of March by the Office of Graduate and
Extended Studies on the Farmville campus.
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, or other
appropriate professors grading each question. If a question receives a pass and
a fail, then a third professor will grade that question. Any re-examination 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, registers for
English 699 - Comprehensive Examination ($35.00 fee) at the next scheduled
examination date (the English Graduate Program Coordinator may grant permission
for an examination date a semester later if a 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 dismissed from the graduate program.
CREATIVE WRITING
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
THESIS: (6)
ENGL 600 Thesis (6)
PROFESSIONAL: (6) Select
two (2) of the following.
ENGL 570 Professional Writing & Editing (3)
ENGL 579 Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary &
College Classroom (3)
ENGL 603 Teaching Creative Writing (3)
ENGL 604 The Business of Creative Writing (3)
WORKSHOP: (12) Select
four (4) from the following: at least three (3) credit hours should be outside
the student’s primary genre. Please note: most often, the CW thesis is composed
of work produced in the graduate workshops; therefore, workshop courses may be
repeated for credit.
ENGL 575 Advanced Dramatic Writing (3)
ENGL 576 Advanced Fiction Writing (3)
ENGL 577 Advanced Poetry Writing (3)
ENGL 578 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (3)
LITERATURE: (9)
Complete:
ENGL 562 Literary Criticism (3)
And select two (2)
additional graduate level literature courses one of which must be at the
600-level.
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 Studies in 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 581 Literature for Young Adults (3)
ENGL 595 Special Topics (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 Special Topics (3)
TOTAL HOURS
REQUIRED: 33
ENGLISH EDUCATION AND
WRITING
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION &
WRITING COURSES. (12) Select a minimum of four from the following:
ENGL 570
Professional Writing Editing
ENGL 575
Advanced Dramatic Writing (3)
ENGL 576
Advanced Fiction Writing (3)
ENGL 577
Advanced Poetry Writing (3)
ENGL 578
Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (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
Studies in 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 to 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
Studies in 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)
EDSL 560
Informational Sources and Services (3)
SPED 515
Survey of Exceptional Students (3)
TOTAL HOURS
REQUIRED 36
LITERATURE
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
REQUIRED COURSE:
ENGL 600
Thesis (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
Studies in 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 570
Professional Writing & Editing
ENGL 575
Advanced Dramatic Writing (3)
ENGL 576
Advanced Fiction Writing (3)
ENGL 577
Advanced Poetry Writing (3)
ENGL 578
Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (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 6-12 INITIAL
LICENSURE
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Core EDUCATION
Requirements: (15)
EDUC 506
Contemporary Social Issues in American Education (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)
EDUC 573
Inquiry into the Classroom Community (3)
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS:
(30)
ENGL 525
Studies in Shakespeare (3)
ENGL 550
The English Language in Cultural Context (3)
ENGL 562
Literary Criticism (3)
ENGL 575
Advanced Dramatic Writing (3)
OR ENGL 576
Advanced Fiction Writing (3)
OR ENGL 577
Advanced Poetry Writing (3)
OR ENGL 578
Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (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 601
Graduate Directed Teaching in the Middle and Secondary Classroom (6)
ENGL 602
Action Research Inquiry Project (3)
OR ENGL 699
Comprehensive Examination (0)
(In lieu of the action research inquiry project,
students selecting the comprehensive examination option must register for the
exam and take one of the following courses: ENGL 611, 621, 631, 641, 651, 661,
671, 681, 691, or 695)
TOTAL HOURS
REQUIRED: 45
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, complete an
action research inquiry project, or take a comprehensive examination. Students
in the Creative Writing and Literature concentration must write a thesis;
students in the English Education & Writing concentrations may choose to write
a thesis or take a comprehensive examination; and students in the 6-12 Initial
Licensure concentration may complete an action research inquiry project or take
a comprehensive examination.
3. The student
writing a literature thesis should obtain from the program coordinator an
information sheet listing all the thesis procedures. The creative writing thesis
information sheet is available from the creative writing coordinator. The action
research inquiry project information sheet is available from the English
education coordinator. See the Academic Regulations section of this catalog on
Thesis or Research for further information.
4. The student
must file an Application for Graduate Degree with the Office of
Registration no later than the completion of 24 credit hours (36 hours in the
6-12 Initial Licensure concentration) and prior to enrollment in the final
semester of course work. A $50 commencement fee must accompany the application
that is paid in the Office of Cashiering.
5. The student
writing a thesis or completing an action research inquiry project files an oral
examination form containing date, place of scheduled defense, members of the
committee, and the title in the Office of Graduate Studies at least four weeks
before the scheduled defense. The thesis or action research inquiry project must
be successfully defended with approved copies being deposited in the Longwood
Library and the $27.00 binding fee being paid before the student can be
certified for graduation. See the Academic Regulations section of this catalog
on Thesis or Research for further information and procedures.
6. The student
taking the comprehensive examination must register for ENGL 699 the last
semester of 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 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of October and the
first Saturday of March. A $35.00 fee will be assessed. See the Academic
Regulations section of this catalog on Comprehensive Examination for further
information and the section at the beginning of the English listing.
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.
