Dec 26, 2024

2014-2015 Graduate Catalog

2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Master of Arts in English

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The Department of English offers two tracks leading to the M.A. degree, the choice of which depends on the student’s academic and professional goals. Track I requires a minimum of 30 semester hours, and track II requires 36 semester hours. All students pursuing the M.A. in English are required to take a final comprehensive examination after completing a minimum of 24 semester hours in the Department of English.

Students pursuing the M.A. in English may choose one of seven areas of study: British and American literature; English education; film and literature; linguistics; literature and rhetoric/composition; rhetoric and professional writing; and teaching English as a second language/TESOL (for students and educators who wish to study teaching English as a Second Language [ESL], English as a Foreign Language [EFL], bilingual education, or applied linguistics). Substitutions within each area of study may be made at the discretion of the department’s director of graduate studies.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Track I

Track I requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit in the Department of English and is designed to prepare students for graduate work at the doctoral level. Students in this track must pass a proficiency examination in one foreign language. Foreign language proficiency may be demonstrated in French, German, Greek (classical or koine), Italian, Latin (classical or medieval), Russian, or Spanish, or in another language approved by the director of graduate studies on the basis of demonstrated need. The student’s graduate adviser may permit limited study in fields closely related to English (subject to the approval of the director of graduate studies).

Track II

Track II requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit, including 27 semester hours in the Department of English. This track is designed for students who are currently teaching in secondary schools or community colleges or who plan to teach at one of these levels, whether in literature, composition, or professional, technical writing; students who plan to teach English as a second language; students who seek careers as technical writers, editors, or trainers; students interested in other careers, such as business or public relations, that require strong written communication skills; and practicing professionals in any other professional field seeking to sharpen their written communication skills. A graduate adviser and the student design a program of study (subject to the approval of the director of graduate studies) which must include 9 semester hours of study in subjects other than English and American literature, such as courses within and outside the department in the teaching of English, rhetoric, creative writing and composition, technical writing, linguistics, reading, mass media, public relations, or others that contribute to the student’s professional development.

Areas of Study

British and American Literature

ENGL 601 - Bibliography and Methods of Research Credits: 3
Course work in literature, with consent of adviser (24 or 27)
Course work in nonliterature courses (0-9)

Education in English Language Arts

This area of study is primarily designed for English language arts professionals who are currently teaching in the schools and students interested in educator licensure in secondary English language arts. Those seeking licensure should consult the discipline coordinator as soon as possible.

ENGL 601 - Bibliography and Methods of Research Credits: 3

Three of the following (9)

ENGL 604 - Topics in Materials for the English Language Arts Classroom Credits: 3
ENGL 622 - Theories and Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Credits: 3
ENGL 623 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3
ENGL 646 - Theory and Research in Literature for English Language Arts Credits: 3
ENGL 647 - Theory and Research in Written Composition for English Language Arts Credits: 3
ENGL 648 - Materials and Methods of Teaching English Language Arts Credits: 3
ENGL 697 - English Institute Credits: 1-6

Additional course work and electives

Course work in language, literature, and rhetoric chosen in consultation with the adviser, with at least two courses from literature, one course from linguistics, and one course from rhetoric (15-24)
Electives chosen in consultation with adviser (0-9)

Film and Literature

Available in track II only.

ENGL 601 - Bibliography and Methods of Research Credits: 3
ENGL 604 - Topics in Materials for the English Language Arts Classroom Credits: 3
When topic is teaching film.
ENGL 690 - Film and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 691 - Topics in Film and Literature Credits: 3
Electives in modern British and American literature, rhetoric, or theory and criticism. Course work in the communication studies, instructional technology, history, and /or philosophy may be used as electives with consent of adviser.

Linguistics

ENGL 608 - Research Methods in Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 615 - Descriptive English Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 617 - Phonology Credits: 3
ENGL 618 - Syntax Credits: 3
ENGL 620 - Semantics Credits: 3
OR ENGL 633 - Pragmatics and Discourse Credits: 3

At least one course from the following

ENGL 606 - Morphology Credits: 3
ENGL 611 - History of the English Language Credits: 3
ENGL 616 - Pedagogical Grammar Credits: 3
ENGL 619 - Varieties of English Credits: 3
ENGL 620 - Semantics Credits: 3
ENGL 621 - Topics in Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 623 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3
ENGL 633 - Pragmatics and Discourse Credits: 3
ENGL 634 - Linguistics and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 714 - Seminar: English Linguistics Credits: 3

Additional course work (12-18)

Course work in anthropology, computer science, English, language, philosophy, and/or psychology, chosen in consultation with the adviser (12-18)

Literature and Rhetoric/Composition

ENGL 601 - Bibliography and Methods of Research Credits: 3
OR ENGL 625 - Methods of Research in Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 603 - Traditions in Written Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 610 - Rhetoric of Prose Composition Credits: 3
Electives in literature (12-15) (If ENGL 625 is chosen, 15 semester hours are required in literature).

Course work in rhetoric and communication (6-9) (If ENGL 601 is chosen, 9 semester hours are required in rhetoric and communication)

ENGL 600 - Internship in the College Teaching of English Credits: 3
ENGL 602 - Literary Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
A. History of Literary Theory
ENGL 604 - Topics in Materials for the English Language Arts Classroom Credits: 3
ENGL 626 - Technical Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 627 - Technical Editing Credits: 3
ENGL 629 - Topics in Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 630 - Theory and Research in Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 632 - Writing for Electronic Media Credits: 3
ENGL 700 - Topics in the Teaching of College English Credits: 3
ENGL 703 - Seminar: Rhetorical Studies Credits: 3
COMS 600 - The Classical Tradition in Rhetorical Theory Credits: 3
COMS 602 - Contemporary Rhetorical Theory Credits: 3
COMS 603 - Seminar in Public Rhetoric Credits: 3
COMS 604 - Methods of Rhetorical Criticism Credits: 3
COMS 605 - Theory and Uses of Argument Credits: 3
COMS 606 - Communication Ethics Credits: 3
COMS 610 - Symbolic Behavior and Communication Credits: 3
COMS 640 - Seminar in Communication and Gender Credits: 3
COMS 707 - Seminar in Persuasion Credits: 3
COMS 760 - Seminar in Rhetoric Credits: 3
When topic is contemporary social movements or political rhetoric.

And

Electives (0-6)

Teaching English as a Second Language/TESOL

Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in ENGL 615 and ENGL 622 in their first semester, if offered.

ENGL 608 - Research Methods in Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 615 - Descriptive English Linguistics Credits: 3
ENGL 617 - Phonology Credits: 3
ENGL 618 - Syntax Credits: 3
ENGL 622 - Theories and Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Credits: 3
ENGL 623 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3
Course work in anthropology, education, English, language, philosophy, rhetoric, and/or psychology, chosen in consultation with the adviser (12-18)