Master's Program in English

• MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN ENGLISH
• MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ENGLISH
• MASTER OF SCIENCE AND CERTIFICATION IN SECONDARY ENGLISH
• ENGLISH TEACHER CERTIFICATION
• M.S. IN ENGLISH/LIBRARY SCIENCE & INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
English programs have rolling admissions but students are encouraged to apply by May 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES
Candidates who have all official transcripts and an application form to the Graduate School on file in the Graduate Office should call the Department of English at (203) 392- 6727 during business hours (8 a.m.-4-p.m., Monday through Friday) to schedule an appointment with the appropriate director. Candidates applying for admission to either the master of arts or the master of science program should make an appointment with the graduate director (Telephone: (203) 392-6733). Those applying for the master of science with certification or for the English teacher certification program should contact the secondary education director (Telephone: (203) 392-5113).

Note: Although the department has rolling admissions throughout the year, including the summer, candidates are encouraged to apply by May 1 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the spring semester to guarantee admission for that semester. Prospective degree candidates may, however, register as part-time non-matriculated students in graduate courses. Up to nine credits of non-matriculated course work may be applied toward the degree.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships in Composition
The graduate teaching assistantship in English Composition is a year-long award. Applicants must be matriculated graduate students in English and have completed 6 credits or more in graduate English courses with at least a 3.5 average in those classes; all matriculated students in the English Department Graduate Program, including those newly admitted, who have taken fewer than 6 credits may also apply, provided that their GPA in undergraduate English courses is 3.5 or higher. Those who receive the award intern in English composition and are mentored throughout the year by the Director of Composition or a departmental designee. Past teaching assistants have found the assistantship valuable in discovering a call to teach, securing part-time work, preparing for doctoral study, and attaining positions in secondary schools. Two to three awards are given each year. Selection occurs in April for the following year. Application materials are available in the English Department office and at the English Department website.

For further information, contact the Graduate Director.

Institutes
An institute is an accelerated, intensive, unconventional course offering such as an overseas course or a course offered during winter session or spring break. Typically, winter session and summer session institutes are less than five weeks in length or are offered on weekends. No student may take more than two institutes (6 credits) toward completion of degree requirements.

Back to Top

MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN ENGLISH — 33 CREDITS
The Master of Arts degree in English is designed for students who plan to pursue doctoral studies in English, for those who want to extend their knowledge and appreciation of literature, composition theory, or critical theory, who want to explore their talents as creative writers, or who are interested in a specialization in either African-American or women’s studies. The degree is also appropriate for those who are already certified teachers. Applicants are required to have a reading knowledge of one foreign language. Students may take up to 6 credits in disciplines other than English. Prior permission of the department is required. To be accepted into the Master of Arts program, candidates must:

• Meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies
• Have completed a minimum of 30 undergraduate credits in English with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (note: interested applicants who do not meet these requirements should contact the Graduate Coordinator)
• Submit a typed, 500 word statement of purpose explaining why they want to enter the degree program they have selected, a 4 to 5 page writing sample (academic or professional, nonfiction prose), and two recommendations. These materials should be mailed together in a single envelope addressed to the Graduate English Admissions Committee. Transcripts, application forms and application fees should be mailed directly to the School of Graduate Studies, not to the English Department.
• Have a reading knowledge of one modern foreign language (this requirement should be met before the student begins the graduate program but must be met before the student enrolls for more than fifteen hours of course work; the requirement can be met by passing two years, or the equivalent, of college-level work in a foreign language; students may demonstrate proficiency by means of a transcript indicating a passing grade in four semesters of college-level foreign language study, by a waiver of equivalency from the Southern Connecticut State University Department of Foreign Languages, or through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
• The submission of GRE or Miller's Analogy Test results is optional.
  

Program Overview

Requirement—6 credits

• ENG 517 — Research Methods and Critical Theory
• A course (3 credits) in the history of the English language, or a course in the early literature of the language

Area of Specialization — 9 credits

• Three courses (9 credits) in American literature, British literature, African-American Studies, Composition Theory, Creative Writing, Critical Theory, or Women’s Studies - the area of concentration

Thesis Option — 18 credits

• Thesis proposal and Thesis (6 credits)
• One elective (3 credits) in an area not chosen for concentration
• Free electives (9 credits) in any area of English studies

Comprehensive Option — 18 credits

• Comprehensive Examination
• One elective (3 credits) in an area not chosen for concentration
• Free electives (15 credits) in any area of English studies

Back to Top

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ENGLISH — 33 CREDITS
The Master of Science degree, with its specialization in English, is designed for students who wish the option to supplement work in American or British literature, African-American studies, composition theory, critical theory, creative writing or women’s studies with electives in related fields. Such an option permits a student,
through departmental advisement, to approach the humanities with the enthusiasm of a generalist or to develop specific skills with the focus of a specialist. This degree also assists students in meeting admission requirements for Ph.D. programs in English studies even if the candidates did not major in English as undergraduates. However, the master of arts degree is the strongly preferred prerequisite for Ph.D. candidates.

This degree is particularly appropriate for in-service teachers, allowing scholarly pursuits in English studies and giving them an opportunity to explore a related professional field or to develop a skill that would aid them in their teaching. The course work in the related field (9 credits) is intended to enhance professional skills or provide an interdisciplinary component to the degree. Options include coursework in such fields as English as a Second Language, history, psychology, reading, sociology, and interdisciplinary women’s studies. To be accepted into the Master of Science program, candidates must:

• Meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies;
• Have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credits in English with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher;
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (note: interested applicants who do not meet these requirements should contact the Graduate Coordinator);
• Submit a typed, 500 word statement of purpose explaining why they want to enter the degree program they have selected, a 4 to 5 page writing sample (academic or professional, non-fiction prose), and two recommendations. These materials should be mailed together in a single envelope addressed to the Graduate English Admissions Committee. Transcripts, application forms and application fees should be mailed directly to the School of Graduate Studies, not to the English Department.
• The submission of GRE or Miller's Analogy Test results is optional.
  

Program Overview

Requirement—6 credits

• ENG 517 — Research Methods and Critical Theory
• A course (3 credits) in the history of the English language, or a course in the early literature of the language

Cognate Electives — 9 credits

• Electives (9 credits) in a related or applied area (or in English studies)
• Thesis Option — 18 credits
• Thesis proposal and Thesis (6 credits)
• Four electives (12 credits) in any area of English studies
• Comprehensive Option — 18 credits
• Comprehensive Examination
• Six electives (18 credits) in any area of English studies

Back to Top

• Meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies;
• Have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credits in English with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher;
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (note: interested applicants who do not meet these requirements should contact the Secondary Education Coordinator);
• Submit a statement of purpose explaining why they want to enter the degree program they have selected, a 4 to 5 page writing sample (academic or professional, non-fiction prose), and two recommendations. These materials should be mailed together in a single envelope addressed to the Graduate English Admissions Committee. Transcripts, application forms and application fees should be mailed directly to the School of Graduate Studies, not to the English Department.
• The submission of GRE or Miller's Analogy Test results is optional.
  

Applicants must have completed two courses in American literature and two courses in British literature. No more than six of the twenty four credits may be in writing courses, including freshman composition. Refer to the section entitled “Admission to Teacher Certification Programs” in the beginning of this catalog under “Application and Admission” for additional information regarding acceptance to a certification program, PRAXIS examinations, and student teaching. All candidates for the Master of Science degree and Certification in Secondary English are required to complete a special project. Graduate students in the M.S. with Certification program in English are strongly encouraged to take Media Studies 280 — Media Issues and Problems. This course is required of all undergraduate students, and its subject matter is essential to teach effectively today's secondary school students.

Program Requirements — 39 credits
ENG 504 — The Teaching of Writing
ENG 510 — History of the English Language
ENG 505 — Applied English Linguistics
EDU 490 — English in the Secondary School
EDU 452 — Secondary School Student Teaching — 8 credits
EDU 453 — Student Teaching Seminar — 1 credit
RDG 565 — Reading Development in the Secondary School
PSY 370 — Educational Psychology
SED 482 — Teaching Exceptional Students in Secondary Education Classrooms
SHE 203 — School Health
EDU 497 or 498, choose one
EDF 520-524, 526, choose one

Additional requirements for the Master's Degree — 15 credits
ENG 517 — Research Methods and Critical Theory — 3 credits
Four three credit electives in English studies (students are encouraged to take literature courses as their electives and to consult with the Director of Secondary Education in selecting these courses). 12 credits

Back to Top

ENGLISH TEACHER CERTIFICATION — 39 CREDITS
This program is designed for students seeking certification to teach English in the secondary school. Refer to the section entitled “Admission to Teacher Certification Programs” in the beginning of this catalog under “Application and Admission” for additional information regarding acceptance to a certification program, PRAXIS examinations, and student teaching. To be accepted into the certification program, candidates must:

• Meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies;
• Have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credits in English with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher;
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (note: interested applicants who do not meet these requirements should contact the Secondary Education Coordinator);
• Submit a statement of purpose explaining why they want to enter the degree program they have selected, a writing sample, and two recommendations. These materials should be mailed together in a single envelope addressed to the Graduate English Admissions Committee. Transcripts, application forms and application fees should be mailed directly to the School of Graduate Studies, not to the English Department.
• The submission of GRE or Miller's Analogy Test results is optional.

Applicants must have completed two courses in American literature and two courses in British literature. No more than six of the twenty four credits may be in writing courses, including freshman composition. Refer to the section entitled "Admission to Teacher Certification Programs" in the beginning of this catalog under "Application and Admission" for additional information regarding acceptance to a certification program, Praxis examinations, and student teaching.

The candidates are expected to take the following courses unless they have completed the requirement earlier:
EDU 490 — English in the Secondary School
EDU 452 — Secondary School Student Teaching — 8 credits
EDU 453 — Student Teaching Seminar — 1 credit
PSY 370 — Educational Psychology
EDF 520-524, 526, choose one
SED 482 — Teaching Exceptional Students in Secondary Education Classrooms
SHE 203 — School Health

One course in each of the following areas: advanced composition, History of the English Language, English grammar systems, young adult literature, and reading in the secondary school. Students should consult with the Director of Secondary Education when selecting these courses.
Graduate students in the Certification program in English are strongly encouraged to take Media Studies 280 — Media Issues and Problems. This course is required of all undergraduate students, and its subject matter is essential to teach effectively today's secondary school students.

Back to Top

M.S. IN ENGLISH/LIBRARY SCIENCE & INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY— Minimum of 54 credits
These master’s degree programs provide students with two degrees, one in English and one in Library Science. Not only are students able to continue their scholarly interests in English, but they are given the opportunity to earn an additional professional degree in a related area. To be accepted into the Master of Science component of the joint degree program, candidates must:

• Meet the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies;
• Have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credits in English with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher;
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0;
• Submit a typed, 500 word statement of purpose explaining why they want to enter the degree program they have selected, a 4 to 5 page writing sample (academic or professional, non-fiction prose), and two recommendations. These materials should be mailed together in a single envelope addressed to the Graduate English Admissions Committee. Transcripts, application forms and application fees should be mailed directly to the School of Graduate Studies, not to the English Department.
• The submission of GRE or Miller's Analogy Test results is optional.
  

Students who apply for a joint degree must meet the admission and graduation requirements of both programs. Students must be admitted to the School of Library Science and Instructional Technology and have a planned program before applying to the English department.
All candidates for the Master of Science in English/Library Science and Instructional Technology complete the following program:

• A course (3 credits) in the history of the language, or a course in the early literature of the language.
• Three electives (9 credits) in an area of specialization (American literature, British literature, African-American Studies, composition theory, creative writing, critical theory, or women’s studies).
• Two electives (6 credits) in English studies (at least one elective outside the area of specialization).
• Thesis (6 credits) directed by an English Department member.
  Note: the thesis is required for the joint degree.