Graduate Programs

The Department of English has two graduate programs:

Master of Arts in English—Literature Option
Master of Science in Education—Concentration in English (offered through the Department of Education)

Both are excellent programs for those who want to further their education and enhance their career development.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in English—Literature Option (30 SH)

This degree program is designed for those individuals who wish to extend their knowledge of English and American literature beyond the baccalaureate degree. The literature courses in this program will primarily be “inter-contextual” courses; i.e., courses based on contrast—at least half of the course grounded in the literature of a historical period while the rest of the course is grounded in another topic (a contrasting historical period, culture, philosophy, etc.). Thus, the program offers a historically based curriculum that is based on faculty strengths and relevant to contemporary issues.

This program offers courses of study that students can apply toward advanced degrees in English or toward careers as teachers at the primary and secondary levels, as writers, and as professionals in other pertinent fields. To prepare students for these (and other) careers, the graduate curriculum emphasizes a comparative approach that encourages students to make conceptual connections between literary genres, national literatures within a specific literary historical period, and texts from different periods. Research, critical thinking, and writing skills are integral components of all course work.

Master of Science in Education—Concentration in English (30 SH)

The Master of Science (M. S.)—Concentration in English degree is designed to improve the critical thinking, cultural literacy, and writing skills of secondary school English teachers. Applicants will normally have completed an undergraduate major or minor in English, but those without such preparation and with outstanding academic records in any academic discipline are encouraged to apply.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for both graduate programs must meet the following admission requirements:

hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
have completed a substantial number of credits in English on the undergraduate level
submit a 500-word statement of purpose explaining why they want to pursue graduate studies in English
submit a writing sample, i.e., a substantial research essay on a literary topic (1,250-4000 words, typed, double spaced, printed on 8 1/2" by 11" white bond)

However, the department welcomes applicants from diverse educational backgrounds. Applicants with other undergraduate concentrations or majors will be considered. In all cases, a record of strong undergraduate academic achievement will merit preference over any other criterion for admission.

All applicants must bring the statement of purpose and writing sample to the entrance interview with the Graduate Coordinator.

After the entrance interview, the Graduate Coordinator recommends whether or not to accept the applicant, or whether to accept the applicant conditionally (i.e., students may be asked to make up academic deficiencies) and forwards this recommendation to the Division of Graduate Studies.

For general admission forms, please contact the Division of Graduate Studies (click here for its website).

Degree Requirements

In addition to completing the required courses, there are two ways to fulfill the degree requirements:

Non-thesis approach (Comprehensive Examination)
Thesis approach

The non-thesis approach (comprehensive examination) is highly recommended for those who are not planning on applying for Ph D in English or other doctoral programs.

Students electing to take the comprehensive examination will be tested on a reading list prepared by the English department. The reading list covers historical periods of British and American literature and includes thematic questions requiring comparative analysis of literary texts, periods, and genres. The list is published during the first week of the fall semester. Students should indicate to the Graduate Coordinator of the Department of English their intention to take the comprehensive examination by November 1 for the December examination and by April 1 for the May examination. The Graduate Coordinator will announce the specific time and place for each examination. (Note: A student with an "Incomplete" grade in any graduate course at Western Connecticut State University is ineligible to take the comprehensive examination until such time as the course has been completed and a grade assigned.)

Students electing to write a thesis should register for ENG 592, Independent Thesis Research in English. A student electing to write a thesis must do so under the guidance of an English department faculty member who agrees to direct the student's work. The English department’s Graduate Committee must approve all theses. Students choosing to write a thesis should therefore consult with the Graduate Coordinator as well as the thesis director. A student who wishes to write a thesis must obtain a copy of “Department of English Thesis Guidelines” and follow the procedures described therein.

Below are a few pertinent guidelines and info:

M. A. Thesis Guidelines (click to see the guidelines)

Comprehensive Exam Guidelines (click to see the guidelines)

Comprehensive Exam Reading List (Spring 2008-Spring 2009; click to see the list)

Below is a detailed description of the degree requirements:

Master of Arts In English—Literature Option (30 Semester Hours) Requirements

completion of ENG 502 Critical Theory
completion of ENG 506 History of the Language & Linguistics or ENG 517 Grammars of English.
completion of the following:

either Shakespeare or Chaucer (3 cr) and
one other course (3 cr) in Early British Literature and
one course (3 cr) in Early American Literature, and
one course (3 cr) in Modern British and American Lit. and
two English electives (6 cr) and

completion of a six (6) credit thesis or two English electives (6 credits) and the comprehensive exam

Master of Science with—Concentration in English (30 Semester Hours) Requirements

Professional Education Requirements

ED 500 Contemporary Educational Issues 3 SH
ED 501 Introduction to Educational Research 3 SH
ED 530 Curriculum of the Secondary School
or ED 531 Teaching Secondary English
A six (6) credit thesis or two English electives (6 credits) and the Comprehensive Exam
Completion of the following:

either Shakespeare or Chaucer (3 cr) and
one other course (3 cr) in Early British Literature and
one course (3 cr) in Early American Literature, and
one course (3 cr) in Modern British and American Lit. and
ED 590 or one English elective (3 cr)

For further information, please contact: Dr. Shouhua Qi, Graduate Coordinator (qis@wcsu.edu /203-837-9048)

Graduate Courses

ENG 502 Critical Theory 3 SH
This course examines major schools of contemporary critical theory from new criticism through gender theories. The goal of the course is to provide students with a varied repertoire of current approaches to texts and to facilitate their understanding of the ideological stances inherent in each scholarly perspective. Students are encouraged to examine the strengths and weaknesses of each critical approach and to learn to develop their own critical, scholarly voice by selectively applying aspects of theories which yield significant readings of any given text.

ENG 506 Studies in the History of the Language and Linguistics 3 SH
The course explores the origins and development of the English language as well as present-day English dialects. Students examine the phonology, morphology and grammar of Old English, Middle English, and Modern English as reflected in appropriate samples of the language. In addition, students will apply the main systems of grammatical and linguistic analysis to the English language, and investigate current linguistic issues.

ENG 508 Chaucer–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of the course will examine Chaucer's work in Middle English with special attention to stylistic and linguistic features, the cultural and historical milieu, the relationships with other
literary works of his time, and the scholarly criticism connected with the Chaucerian canon. The exact focus of this course may vary semester to semester.

ENG 509 Medieval Literature–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of the course will explore major medieval literary works, with an emphasis on the middle ages (excluding the works of Chaucer). This literature will be examined in the context of its historical, cultural, philosophic and literary setting, specifically, in the ways in which linguistic and rhetorical traditions have shaped these individual works, and how scholars and literary critics have sought to explain this body of literature. The exact focus of the course may vary semester to semester.

ENG 512 Shakespeare–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will consist of close textual analysis of representative plays in the Shakespeare canon, while addressing major critical problems of genre, sources, texts, and the history of Shakespearean criticism. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary semester to semester.

ENG 513 English Renaissance Literature–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will focus on major writers of the English renaissance, usually
emphasizing either the poetry and prose of writers such as Sidney, Bacon, Spencer, Donne, and Browne, or the drama of such writers as Marlowe, Jonson, Webster, Chapman, and Middleton. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary semester to semester.

ENG 517 Grammars of English 3 SH
This course will introduce students to the various grammars of English. Students will learn about the theoretical foundations upon which several grammars are based and the strengths and weaknesses of each. The course will illustrate how to integrate grammar into the teaching of writing. The course assumes that students will have background in at least one of the following: linguistics, English literature, the teaching of English. Exceptions may be made with the consent of the instructor.

ENG 532 English Literature: 1660-1800–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will study selected authors of the period (e.g., Addison and Steele, Boswell and Johnson, John Dryden, John Gay, Alexander Pope, Samuel Richardson, Jonathan Swift). The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary from semester to semester.

ENG 534 Nineteenth Century British Literature–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will involve intensive study of selected figures of the romantic and Victorian periods. Some authors who may be included are: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Browning, the Brontes, George Eliot, Dickens, Hardy, Carlyle, Mill, and Arnold. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary semester to semester.

ENG 541 Twentieth Century British and Irish Literature–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will focus on intensive study of major authors and movements in twentieth century British and Irish literature. Focus may be on early twentieth century "giants" such as Joyce, Yeats, Eliot, Conrad, or Lawrence or, on more recent writers such as Lessing, Larkin, Thomas, and Heaney. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting the historical backgrounds with the culture and philosophy of the time. The exact focus of this course may vary from semester to semester.

ENG 544 Studies in Literature and Criticism–in Contrast 3 SH
Special topics in literature and criticism will be addressed that will contrast differing historical periods, cultures, philosophies, etc. Focus may vary from semester to semester according to the interests of the instructor.

ENG 552 American Literature to 1860–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will examine the major writers of the colonial, national, and romantic periods of American literature. The focus will be on the ideas and issues that shaped the American character and conscience--that gave meaning and movement to the American dream. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary from semester to semester.

ENG 567 American Literature: 1860-1920–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will examine the literature emanating from America from the Civil War (ca. 1860) to the jazz age. Some of the major writers of this period include Whitman, `Dickinson, Mark Twain, Howells, Dreiser, Norris, Crane, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary from semester to semester.

ENG 568 American Literature: 1920-present–in Contrast 3 SH
At least half of this course will examine the literature emanating from America from 1920 to the present. Some of the major writers of this period are Robert Frost, Wallace Stevens, Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller, William Faulkner, and Ralph Ellison. The balance of the course will be grounded in contrasting historical periods, their differing culture and philosophy. The exact focus of this course may vary from semester to semester.
ENG 570 Fiction Studies–in Contrast 3 SH
This course will entail intensive comparative studies of various works and writers of fiction. The exact focus of the course will vary from semester to semester, but the course could include studies on the development of and experiments with form as well as cross-cultural thematic investigations.

ENG 572 Drama Studies–in Contrast 3 SH
This course will entail intensive, comparative studies of various dramas and dramatists. The exact focus of the course will vary from semester to semester, but the course may include studies in tragedy or comedy, studies in literary movements (e.g., the theatre of the absurd) and studies of influence as well as cross-cultural thematic investigations.

ENG 574 Poetry Studies–in Contrast 3 SH
This course will involve intensive, comparative studies of poets or groups of poets. The exact focus of this course (i.e., the contrasting historical periods, cultures, philosophies, etc.) may vary from semester to semester.

ENG 585 An Apprenticeship in Teaching College Writing 1-3 SH
Restricted to graduate students in English, this course focuses on the theory and practice of teaching freshman composition. Students will be responsible for attending seminars in rhetorical theory with a workshop component in the practicalities of teaching composition, conducting writing and discussion sessions with students in freshman composition, and commenting on and evaluating essays. Written assignments based on the reading for the course will be required. This variable credit course may be taken for up to three credits.

ENG 586 Practicum in Teaching College Writing 1-3 SH
Restricted to graduate assistants in English, this course is a workshop for discussion of problems encountered in teaching freshman composition. This course may be taken for one-to-three credits per semester for as long as the student is a graduate assistant. Prerequisite: ENG 585. Students may take a total of three credits towards the degree, three credits in ENG 585 or three credits in ENG 586, or a combination of three credits from the two courses (ENG 585 & ENG 586).

ENG 592 Independent Thesis Research in English 3-6 SH
Designed for students fulfilling the thesis requirements for the Master of Arts in English and for both the Master of Arts and the Master of Science with a concentration in English. Students in the writing option may write a creative thesis; other theses may have a creative component if approved beforehand by the department of English. Students must submit an acceptable thesis outline and must work independently on thesis research and writing. Individual conferences with the thesis advisor are scheduled as needed. Credit will be granted upon submission of one copy of an approved final draft of the thesis and a thesis abstract. Prerequisite: ED 501 (for M.S. candidates only) and permission of both the thesis advisor and the English graduate program coordinator (for all thesis candidates).

ENG 598 Faculty Developed Course
An experimental course offered by the English department as a means of determining its value to the total department program or in response to a particular request from a group of students.

ENG 599 Student Developed Study
Description: A vehicle designed to provide the student with an opportunity to develop his or her own learning experience. The student will design a project and secure a faculty sponsor. May be utilized more than once. Prerequisite: Written permission of the faculty sponsor and the English department. Registration through the Division of Graduate Studies office is required.