English

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The M.A. degree in English offers a choice of three concentrations- Literature, Professional Writing, or Rhetoric and Composition- and an optional thesis, for a total of 33 graduate English credit hours; a written comprehensive examination; a foreign language proficiency; and , for the thesis or other writing option, an oral defense.

Core requirements (12 hours):

English 618 (Research and Bibliography) and one course from each concentration.

Literature Concentration (9 hours)

ENGL 550 - Major British Writers Credits: 3, R9
ENGL 564 - Native American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 571 - Modern Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 572 - Modern Fiction Credits: 3
ENGL 573 - Modern Drama Credits: 3
ENGL 580 - Studies in English Credits: 3, R6
ENGL 600 - Selected Ethnic Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 601 - Gender Studies Credits: 3
ENGL 602 - African American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 620 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENGL 621 - Medieval Language and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 622 - Anglo-Saxon Language and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 630 - The Bible as Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 631 - Shakespeare Credits: 3
ENGL 632 - Renaissance Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 641 - Milton Credits: 3
ENGL 642 - Seventeenth-Century Poetry and Prose Credits: 3
ENGL 643 - Literature of the Enlightenment Credits: 3
ENGL 651 - Romantic Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 652 - Victorian Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 653 - Nineteenth-Century British Fiction Credits: 3
ENGL 660 - Early American Literature through Romanticism Credits: 3
ENGL 661 - American Realism through Modernism Credits: 3
ENGL 662 - American Post-Modern Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 670 - Early Twentieth-Century British Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 671 - Late Twentieth Century British Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 672 - Twentieth-Century Genre Credits: 3
ENGL 673 - Global and Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 677 - Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism and Theory Credits: 3
ENGL 693 - Special Topics in English Credits: 3, R6

Rhetoric and Composition Concentration (9 hours)

ENGL 514 - Fundamentals of Teaching Composition Credits: 3
ENGL 610 - History of Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 611 - Mountain Area Writing Project Credits: 6
ENGL 612 - The Mountain Area Writing Project (Level 2) Credits: 3
ENGL 613 - Stylistics Credits: 3
ENGL 614 - Contemporary Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 693 - Special Topics in English Credits: 3, R6

Professional Writing Concentration (9 hours)

ENGL 501 - Writing for Careers Credits: 3
ENGL 589 - Co-op: Writing and Editing Credits: 3, R6
ENGL 603 - Writing for the Marketplace Credits: 3
ENGL 604 - Writing for Electronic Environments Credits: 3
ENGL 606 - Nonfiction Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 607 - Breaking into Publishing Credits: 3
ENGL 608 - Fiction Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 609 - Poetry Writing Credits: 3

Electives (12 hours, of which 3-6 may be a Thesis or Other Writing Option):

Thesis (6 hours), OR Portfolio or Other Writng Option (3-6 hours), plus 6-12 hours of elective courses chosen from the three Concentrations above or from the following:

ENGL 515 - Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 516 - Teaching English as a Second Language Credits: 3
ENGL 517 - Methods of Teaching Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 615 - Linguistic Perspectives Credits: 3
ENGL 617 - Historical Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 619 - English Grammars Credits: 3
ENGL 625 - Applied Phonetics and Pronunciation Teaching Credits: 3
ENGL 635 - Teaching Grammar, Reading and Writing to ESL Students. Credits: 3
ENGL 645 - Second Language Acquisition and TESOL Methodology Credits: 3
ENGL 655 - Professional Development of the ESL Teacher Credits: 3

Tesol Course Approval

English as a Second Language (ESL) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) courses in this listing (ENGL 615, 617, 619, 625, 635,645, or 655) will need the approval of a TESOL faculty member.

Additional Requirements:

In addition to the coursework, all M.A. in English students must successfully pass written Comprehensive Examinations based on Reading Lists and/or content knowledge, which are specific to each Concentration. They must also pass a reading examination in a foreign language- normally French, German or Spanish- or demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by taking an MFL 999 course and completing it with a “B” or better, and for those writng a Thesis or completing a Portfolio or other writing option, a final oral defense. For Reading Lists, sample exams, and other information on the M.A. in English, see the Guide to Graduate Studies in English, available in print and online.

Certificate Program in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

The Certificate Program in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a non-degree option that prepares students to teach English to non-native speakers in a variety of situations ranging from public school instruction to community college instruction to overseas instruction. It is well-suited for both those who have a background in education as well as those who wish to make a career change and move into an exciting and diverse field. The topics covered are governed by the guidelines established for the English as a Second Language Curriculum by the NC Department of Public Instruction. A student who selects the TESOL Certificate Program must successfully complete 15 hours of graduate coursework in TESOL. The Program leads to a Certificate issued by the Graduate School and a designation on the official transcript. The Certificate Program does not lead to licensure. The courses available enable students to analyze the linguistic components of English–syntax, morphology, semantics, pragmatics, phonology, phonetics, and discourse. Students also cover sociolinguistic questions concerning the relationship of language to culture and issues related to dialects and varieties of English. In addition, students will study language acquisition and have opportunities to apply theoretical insight to the practical task of designing and implementing lesson plans and courses of study.

Certificate Program in Professional Writing

The Certificate Program in Professional Writing is designed for students seeking advanced preparation for entering successful, professional writing careers in fields that regularly recruit new writers, editors, publishing assistants, or promotional talents. The program is especially targeted to those who are already working and need or wish to brush up on their writing and editing skills, but who do not wish, at this time, to pursue a complete graduate program. The Certificate Program in Professional Writing leads to a Certificate awarded by the Graduate School and a designation on the official transcript. The Program requires 15 hours of graduate work, consisting of a required course, ENGL 603, Writing for the Marketplace, plus 9 hours selected from either the creative track (Fiction Writing, Poetry Writing, Nonfiction Writing, Breaking into Publishing, or Special Topics in Writing) or a professional writing track (Writing for Careers, Technical Writing, Writing for Electronic Environments, or Special Topics in Writing) or a combination of both, plus a capstone course, ENGL 589, Co-op: Writing and Editing. Should students wish to pursue a graduate degree, the courses in the Certificate Program can be applied toward a Master’s degree in English with a Professional Writing Concentration.