English MA
Program Purpose
The English Department, part of the College of Humanities, offers graduate study devoted to the development of reading, research, writing, teaching, and analytical abilities derived from the study of literary and other significant texts in English. Students study these works in disciplinary, aesthetic, historical, religious, educational, and other contexts, including theoretical and methodological frameworks the faculty bring to the courses they teach and the research they supervise. This program makes intensive use of the library and its resources. Emphases within the degree include literature (especially American and British), rhetoric & composition, digital humanities & professional writing, and English teaching. The English M.A. program enables students to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that have application in contemporary society and harmonize with the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Curricular Structure
-Credit hours: 32 hours minimum
-Required courses: ENGL 600 (an introductory course of 2 hours) and three credits of ENGL 613R, 616R, 617R, or 630R (depending on proposed plan of study); additional courses, also dependent on plan of study, to achieve the 32-hour minimum requirement.
-Culminating project: Students completing a thesis (required for the American literature, British literature, rhetoric & composition, and English education emphases) complete six thesis hours (ENGL 699R); students completing the digital humanities & professional writing emphasis complete twelve hours of DH-PW credit and produce a portfolio.
-Oral examination of reading list, coursework, and thesis/portfolio
Learning Outcomes
In pursuing its particular learning outcomes, the graduate program also continues to move forward the expected learning outcomes from the undergraduate major, albeit at a more advanced level.
Effective Presentation and PublicationEnglish M.A. graduates will produce scholarly work suitable for professional conference presentation, academic publication, and other forms of professional discourse that fit their post-graduate plans.
English M.A. graduates will produce and defend an article-length scholarly thesis characterized by clarity of organization and expression and salient research into relevant primary, secondary, and theoretical contexts. In an exception to the thesis requirement, English M.A. graduates with an emphasis in Digital Humanities & Professional Writing will produce a portfolio showcasing skills in technical ability with DH tools, substantive research and analysis, and evidence of mastery in professional writing; the portfolio should be suitable for presentation to potential employers or other interested parties.
English M.A. graduates will persuasively defend, in the oral examination, the coherence of their plan of study and their mastery of a discrete area of the discipline.
English M.A. graduate students who teach composition or assist faculty in teaching courses in the English major will exemplify pedagogical understanding and practice that qualifies them to teach similar courses at other colleges and universities.
Evidence of Learning
Direct Measures
1. Each graduate seminar will acquaint students with the performance requirements of its scholarly environment and assess student learning through discussion, oral reports, exams, papers, and other assignments.
2. Each graduate seminar will prepare students to present their seminar work in professional venues available locally, regionally, and nationally.
3. Each graduate seminar will feature course evaluations which will measure, in part, student perception of their learning, especially through additional course-specific questions.
4. Each graduate seminar will feature on-going professor-student conferences and other written responses to student work and progress.
5. Each course that graduate students teach will feature course evaluations of its own, measuring student perception of their instructor's teaching expertise.
Direct Measures
Program-Level Assessment
1. Our graduate program manager will keep track of graduate student presentations and publications. (Note: this is difficult, as it depends largely on self-reporting, but the program manager will regularly request this information.)
2. Our graduate program manager will keep track of our students after they graduate from the program to determine what educational, professional, personal, and/or other endeavors they are engaged in. (This, too, is challenging, but we do reach out to former students, both formally and informally.)
3. In accordance with University policy, our graduate program office will coordinate biannual reviews of students' progress with their respective advisors and thesis committees.
4. In accordance with University policy, thesis prospectuses will be thoroughly and rigorously examined and approved by the thesis committee, the graduate coordinator, and the associate chair in charge of graduate studies.
5. In accordance with University guidelines, thesis committees will conduct a thorough and rigorous oral examination at the conclusion of each student's program which will include questions on coursework; the thesis; and related theory, criticism, and texts. Exceptional performance will be noted by the thesis committee.
6. In cooperation with Graduate Studies and the College of Humanities, our graduate program will make available sample theses for outside reviewers.
Indirect Measures
1. In coordination with University and College alumni surveys, the graduate program will conduct ongoing surveys of its graduates.
2. Each graduate student who teaches in the composition program will be evaluated regularly on teaching through classroom visits and other means as administered by the composition coordinators.
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
1. The Graduate Advisory Council serves as the curriculum committee for the graduate program. They track admissions, advisement, class scheduling and enrollments, time-to-completion rates, etc., to assess the effectiveness of the program.
2. The Graduate Advisory Council evaluates the program on a continuing basis.
3. Recommendations for improvement are typically proposed by the Graduate Advisory Council to the Department Executive Committee. Substantial revisions of the program are subject to discussion and a vote by the full department faculty. Implementation and evaluation of changes are the responsibility of the graduate coordinator and the Graduate Advisory Committee.
4. Proposals for curriculum change are submitted to the college curriculum committee.
Program Statistics
2011
- Matriculated students: 49
- Degrees awarded (2010-11): 23
2012
- Matriculated students: 51
- Degrees awarded (2011-12): 16
2013
- Matriculated students (new): 30
- Degrees awarded (2012-13): 21
2014
- Matriculated students (new): 33
- Degrees awarded (2013-14): 12
2015
- Matriculated students: 51
- Degrees awarded (2014-15): 11
2016
- Matriculated students: 57
- Degrees awarded (2015-16): 19
2017
- Matriculated students: 53
- Degrees awarded (2016-17): 15
2018
- Matriculated students: 50
- Degrees awarded (2017-18): 24
2019
-Student matriculated (new): 29 (11 MFA, 18 MFA). All students: 67 (23, 44).
-Degrees awarded: 23