English
2015-2016

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Certificate | Profile

Chairperson:  Mark Mossman
Director of Graduate Studies in English: Marjorie Allison
Office: Simpkins Hall 129
Telephone: (309) 298-1322 Fax: (309) 298-2974
E-mail: mc-allison@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/cas/english/
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities

Graduate Faculty
Professors

  • Marjorie C. B. Allison, Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Minneapolis
  • David Banash, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • William Knox, Ph.D., University of Michigan
  • Amy Patrick Mossman, Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Minneapolis
  • Mark Mossman, Ph.D., Saint Louis University
  • Shazia Rahman, Ph.D., University of Alberta
  • Margaret Sinex, Ph.D., University of Toronto
  • Patricia A. Young, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University

Associate Professors

  • Neil Baird, Ph.D., University of Nevada-Reno
  • Merrill Cole, Ph.D., University of Washington
  • Roberta Di Carmine, Ph.D., University of Oregon
  • Everett Hamner, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • Tim Helwig, Ph.D., University of Maryland
  • Christine Iwanicki, Ph.D., Indiana University-Bloomington
  • Daniel Malachuk, Ph.D., Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • Christopher Morrow, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
  • Bonnie Sonnek, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • Erika Wurth, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder

Assistant Professors

  • Rebekah Buchanan, Ph.D., Temple University
  • Jose Fernandez, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University
  • Magdelyn Hammond Helwig, Ph.D., University of Maryland
  • Alisha White, Ph.D., Georgia State University

 Program Description

The Department of English offers work leading to the Master of Arts degree in English. The program is intended for those seeking a graduate level liberal arts education, pursuing careers in secondary or community college teaching, or planning further graduate study toward the Ph.D.

 Admission Requirements

Students selecting English as a graduate major shall have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of undergraduate work in English beyond the required composition course(s). Their preparation should include at least six semester hours in literature courses, the remaining hours to be in literature, language, or writing courses for majors. Of the 24 semester hours at least 12 must be upper-division courses. Other students may be admitted at the discretion of the Departmental Graduate Committee, but may have to remedy deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation by taking courses for nondegree credit.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, applicants for admission to the graduate program in English must have a grade point average of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in English courses taken above the required composition courses.

To apply to the program students are required to submit to the School of Graduate Studies the following: a Graduate School application form (available online at wiu.edu/grad); one official transcript sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies for EACH college or university previously attended; a 1–2 page personal statement which concerns their larger purposes and career goals, and how an MA in English will further those objectives; a 10-15 page (minimum) scholarly writing sample, such as an essay from an upper-division English course; and three confidential letters of recommendation sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies by their recommenders.

Applications will not be reviewed until all materials have been received.

All students will be considered for a departmental assistantship unless they decline consideration.

Priority will be given to those applications submitted by February 15.

International applicants to the program must have a TOEFL score of at least 100 (IBT) or an IELTS score of at least 7.5.

All applicants should be aware that the Master of Arts program in English requires significant reading, writing, listening, and speaking ability in English. When their applications do not show sufficient evidence of these abilities, students may be asked to undergo an interview with a department selection committee before any decision about admission is made.

Additional information on applying to the program is available at::wiu.edu/cas/english/grad/apply-now.php.

 Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts degree in English requires individual focus. Students will write a “Plan of Study” when accepted to the program, and will work with their mentors and the Director of Graduate Studies in English to keep their plans up-to-date. The departmental plan of study will supplement other forms required by the School of Graduate Studies.

I. Core Courses: 3 s.h.

ENG 500 Theory and the Practice of English Studies (3)

II. Electives: 21 s.h.

Approved coursework in English to complement undergraduate courses taken, to cultivate the focus outlined in the Plan of Study, and to total at least 30 s.h.

It is recommended that no more than six hours of coursework be taken at the 400G level.

Up to six hours may be taken from ENG 620, 622, 653, 657, 658, and graduate courses in other departments.

III. Exit option: 6 s.h.

A. Option I: ENG 670 Applied Project* (6)
B. Option II: ENG 680 Directed Readings* (6)
C. Option III: ENG 690 Thesis* (6)

*Theses, applied projects, and directed readings must be defended before a faculty committee. The committee consists of a faculty director selected by the student and two faculty readers selected by the student in consultation with the faculty director. Prior to enrolling for ENG 670, 680, or 690, a written proposal for the selected option must be submitted to and approved, in a meeting, by the project committee and the director of graduate studies in English.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 30 s.h.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The department offers three post-baccalaureate certificates in English: Literary Studies, Professional Writing, and Teaching Writing. For program details, go to the post-baccalaureate certificates page.

 Course Descriptions

English (ENG)

400G Topics in Literature. (1–3, repeatable for different topics) A study of a special theme or topic in literature. Printed schedule will specify semester's topic. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor.

401G Major Authors. (1–3, repeatable for different authors) A thorough study of the work of a major author or two closely related authors. Printed schedule will specify semester's topic. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor.

439G English Methods. (3) Preparation for student teaching, including analysis of techniques and materials useful to the English teachers in the secondary school.  Observation and demonstration teaching.  Open to English majors and minors. Prerequisites: ENG 384,466, and 499; EIS 301.

466G Teaching Literature in Secondary Schools. (3) Constructs teaching units for 6-12 grade students that integrate age-appropriate literary genres, and examines reading strategies derived from literary theory.  Prerequisites: ENG 280, ENG 384, and 12 semester hours (or equivalent) of course work in literature, or permission of the instructor.

471G Language Diversity and Grammar for Teachers.  (3) Examines the relationships among standard and nonstandard dialects and effective practices for teaching grammar.  Prerequisites: ENG 280 and 372, or permission of the instructor.

480G Writing for the Social Web. (3) Writing unique to the collaborative, social environment of the contemporary web: groups, conversations, distributed work. In-depth work with electronic writing tools. Prerequisites: ENG 380 or permission of the instructor.

481G Topics in Writing Studies. (3) Semester-long study of a topic in the theory, practice, or history of writing studies. Prerequisites: ENG 380 or permission of the instructor.

484G Writing Center Studies. (3) Theory and practice of writing center studies. Issues relevant to consulting, research, and administration. Prerequisites: ENG 380 or permission of the instructor.

489G Grant & Proposal Writing. (3) Best practices for finding, researching, planning, and writing proposals and grant applications. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

492G (cross-listed with REL 492G) Religion, Literature, and Film. (3) Study of multicultural literary and cinematic texts engaging a wide range of religious and philosophical traditions. Examination of the religious and the secular via narrative; consideration of literary and filmic interpretation via religious and philosophical questions. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

494G (cross-listed with WS 494G and BS 494G) Women and Film. (3) An overview of women in film and television that considers the on-screen images of women as well as the positions of women working behind the scenes (with laboratory).

500 Theory and the Practice of English Studies. (3) An introduction to graduate study in three major areas of English studies (literary studies, writing studies, and disciplinary studies) with special emphasis on research, criticism, and theory. Required of all English graduate students early in their programs.

530 Forms. (3) The study of the major terms, issues, critical and textual history of numerous works representing a particular form, genre, or literary school, such as autobiography, epic poetry, the novel, or Gothic.

532 Literature and Place. (3) The study of the works of one writer or a group of writers in terms of various geographies, political and otherwise.

536 Critical and Theoretical Movements in Literary Studies. (3) An analysis and study of a particular critical or theoretical movement in the history of literary studies. Topics could include postcolonial studies, formalism and the new criticism, reception theory, new historicism, queer studies, disability studies, erocriticism, feminist studies, ethnic studies, etc.

540 Literary Traditions and Influences. (3) The study of influence and context, focusing on a writer or a particular group of writers within or across historical periods and/or cultures.

549 Issues in Literary Studies. (3, repeatable to 6 for different topics) In-depth examination of a current issue or topic relevant to literary studies, such as canon formation, trends in textual research, etc.

550 Film Theory. (3) Study of contemporary theories relevant to film studies such as formalism, structuralism, postmodernism, Marxism, cultural studies, queer studies, etc.

552 Pedagogical Issues in English Studies. (3) In-depth examination of a limited number of issues related to teaching in English studies, focusing on a specific area or approach selected by the instructor (e.g. expressivism).

554 Research Methods in Literary Studies. (3) Investigation of a method or methods for research in literary studies, such as archival research, bibliography, textual studies, history of the book, etc. Includes introduction to specialized literary research tools and research.

559 Issues in Disciplinary Studies. (3, repeatable to 6 for different topics) In-depth examination of an issue or topic relevant to English studies in relation to other disciplines such as film, philosophy, psychology, or science.

570 History of Writing Studies. (3) History of movements, periods, or approaches to writing studies.

574 New Media Studies. (3) Theory and/or production of new media, visual arts, and the notion of novelty and newness itself, drawing from theory in English studies and media studies. Relation of new media to English studies.

580 Teaching Assistants Colloquium. (3) A course designed to introduce beginning teaching assistants to the overall purposes and specific pedagogies of college composition. Prior to registration, approval must be granted by the Director of Writing or the Graduate Advisor.

582 Rhetoric and Composition. (3) Intensive study of theories of composition and rhetoric with particular emphasis on recent research in the field.

584 Research Methods in Writing Studies. (3) Investigation of the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches important to research in writing studies. Also explores issues of ethics and representation. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

589 Issues in Writing Studies. (3, repeatable to 6 for different topics) In-depth examination of an issue or topic relevant to writing studies.

620 Independent Study. (1–3, repeatable to 3) Individual study in an area of English studies. Prior to registration, approval must be granted by the faculty supervisor and director of graduate studies in English. Prerequisite: Completion of six hours of graduate work.

622 Internship. (1–3, repeatable to 3) Supervised applied experience at a work site inside or outside the Department of English and Journalism. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 9 semester hours of coursework  in English; approval of director of graduate studies in English, faculty supervisor, and on-site supervisor.

653 Literary Studies Certificate Capstone. (3) Directed by a supervisory faculty advisor and consisting of directed readings and extensive written work in literary studies. To enroll in this course all students are required to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies in English. Prerequisites: Must have completed 6 s.h. in the graduate program and be enrolled in the post-baccalaureate certificate in English. Special permission required by the faculty supervisor and director of graduate studies in English.

657 Professional Writing Certificate Capstone. (3) Directed by a supervisory faculty advisor and consisting of directed readings and extensive work in professional writing. To enroll in this course all students are required to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies in English. Prerequisites: Must have completed 6 s.h. in the graduate program and be enrolled in the post-baccalaureate certificate in English. Special permission required by the faculty supervisor and director of graduate studies in English.

658 The Teaching of Writing Certificate Capstone. (3) Directed by a supervisory faculty advisor and consisting of directed readings and extensive written work in the teaching of writing. To enroll in the course all students are required to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies in English. Prerequisites: Must have completed 6 s.h. in the graduate program and be enrolled in the post-baccalaureate certificate in English. Special permission required by the faculty supervisor and director of graduate studies in English.

670 Applied Project. (1-3, repeatable to 6) Directed by committee (faculty director and two readers). Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Approved project proposal and permission of the director of graduate studies in English.

680 Directed Readings. (1-6, repeatable to 6) Directed readings and written responses focused on a specialized topics or groups of topics in English Studies, ending in a written and oral examination. Directed by committee (faculty director and two readers). Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Approved capstone course proposal and permission of the director of graduate studies in English.

690 Thesis. (1-6, repeatable to 6) Directed by committee (faculty director and two readers). Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Approved thesis proposal and permission of the director of graduate studies in English.