M.A. English – Curriculum
Program Overview
This program includes the study of literature, literary criticism, linguistics, and theory of composition. It is designed to provide students with the knowledge and command of English that prepares them specifically for:
- teaching English at the secondary or community college level;
- further graduate work at other institutions;
- employment in business, industry, and government service where effective communication skills are demanded;
- self-directed development in writing.
Program Prerequisites
Students admitted to the English MA Program must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (or the equivalent, as determined by the English Graduate Committee), have maintained a grade point average of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units), and a writing sample. Non-native speakers should also submit TOEFL scores (Test of English as a Foreign Language). At the discretion of the graduate coordinator, students without an English major may be admitted conditionally, requiring them to take certain prerequisites prior to taking English graduate classes. The prerequisites required of conditionally-admitted students will be limited to 12 units or fewer.
Required Courses
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENGL 501 | Introduction to English Studies (4 units) |
| ENGL 502 | Seminar in Critical Analysis (4 units) |
| ENGL 503 | Graduate Introduction to Linguistics (4 units) |
| ENGL 505 | Composition Theory (4 units) |
| ENGL 511 | Seminar in American Literary Periods: variable content course (4 units) |
| ENGL 512 |
British Literary Periods (4 units) |
| ENGL 598 | Graduate Project (2 units) |
Select from the following: |
|
| ENGL 510 | Seminar in Authors |
| ENGL 511 | Seminar in American Literary Periods |
| ENGL 512 | British Literary Periods |
| ENGL 513 | Seminar in Special Topics |
English Electives
Additional 400 and 500 level courses, to be selected from one of the three emphasis areas: literature, composition or linguistics.
Total Units:
Students should consult with an advisor to select two pre-1800 literature courses and two post-1800 literature courses in the four required literature courses.
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENGL 510 | Seminar in Authors |
| ENGL 511 | Seminar in U.S. Literature |
| ENGL 512 | Seminar in British Literature |
| ENGL 513 | Seminar in Special Topics |
| ENGL 506 | Pedagogical Approaches to Composition: recommended for students wishing to teach composition in the second year. |
Elective Courses
Courses required for the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) certificate.
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENGL 495 | Applied Language Study |
| ENGL 497 | Theories of Language Learning and Teaching |
| ENGL 498 | Approaches to Teaching English as a Second Language Dialect |
| ENGL 503 | Graduate Introduction to Linguistics |
Elective Courses
Students who want to take the Single-Subject Credential are required to take ENGL 424: Methods of Teaching English in Secondary Schools (towards the end of their M.A. coursework calendar).