English and Philosophy

Chair and Professor: Wolter

Director of Philosophy and Professor: Skidmore

Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor: Levay

English Undergraduate Program Director and Professor: Klein

Composition Director and Professor: M. Johnson

Professors: B. Attebery, J. Attebery, Baergen, Bradford, Hellwig, A. Johnson, M. Johnson, Klein, Launspach, Schmidt, Schultz-Hurst, Whitaker, Winston, Wolter, Zink

Associate Professors: Goslee, Lawrimore, Levay, Rodriguez, Romney, Skidmore, VanWinkle,  Watkins

Assistant Professors: Roche

Program Description	Type	Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in English and the Teaching of English	Degree	Ph.D.
Master of Arts in English, M.A.	Degree	M.A.
Accelerated BA/MA Program in English	Degree	B.A./M.A.
Graduate Biomedical Ethics Certificate	Certificate
TESOL Certificate	Certificate

The Department of English and Philosophy offers graduate curricula in English studies that include courses in language, literature, composition/rhetoric, and English pedagogy. The Department offers the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Admission Requirements for International Students

Students whose native language is not English must achieve at least one of the following minimum scores to be considered for admission into the master's or doctoral program in English: TOEFL 80(internet-based)/213(computer-based)/550 (paper-based); MTELP 84; IELTS 6.5.

Goals

The Department has articulated the following goals and student learning outcomes for students in graduate programs:

Learning Objectives - Master of Arts

Stated Mission and Goals: The M.A. program provides advanced training in British, American, and postcolonial literature and culture, and opportunities to pursue advanced work in other areas of English studies, including linguistics, TESOL, and rhetoric/composition. The M.A. prepares students for those fields in which verbal and analytical ability is essential, including teaching or further graduate work.

Student Learning Objectives

1. M.A. students will be able to explain and analyze major English-language literary or cultural traditions from a variety of time periods.
2. M.A. students will be able to explain and analyze how literary or cultural works are shaped by and participate in broad historical trends.
3. M.A. students will be able to apply important theoretical approaches to the study of literature and culture.
4. M.A. students will be able to analyze and synthesize ongoing scholarly conversations in English studies and situate their arguments in relation to these conversations.
5. M.A. students will be able to apply foundational elements of linguistics and composition to their studies or teaching.
6. M.A. students will be able to explain and perform ethical professional behavior in research and writing.

Learning Objectives - Doctor of Philosophy

Stated Mission and Goals: The Doctor of Philosophy in English and the Teaching of English is a terminal degree program that trains students for teaching careers in English at colleges and universities.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Ph.D. students will be able to explain and analyze major English-language literary or cultural traditions from a variety of time periods.
2. Ph.D. students will be able to explain and analyze how literary or cultural works are shaped by and participate in broad historical trends.
3. Ph.D. students will be able to apply important theoretical approaches to the study of literature and culture.
4. Ph.D. students will design and develop a significant research project within English studies and be prepared to conduct research independently once they graduate.
5. Ph.D. students will be able to apply foundational elements of linguistics and composition to their research or teaching.
6. Ph.D. students will be able to evaluate significant theories of college-level English teaching and will be able to effectively apply these theories to their own pedagogical practice.
7. Ph.D. students will be able to explain and perform ethical professional behavior in research, writing, and teaching.

Learning Objectives - Graduate Certificate in TESOL 

Stated Mission and Goals: The Graduate Certificate in TESOL program provides theoretical and practical training for students who wish to teach English to speakers of other languages. The Certificate prepares students to pursue employment in any setting where English is taught as a second or foreign language, with an emphasis placed on post-secondary learners. 

Student Learning Objectives 

1. Certificate students will be able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the various areas of study in the field of linguistics.
2. Certificate students will be able to evaluate and apply the major theoretical approaches to second language acquisition.
3. Certificate students will develop effective curricula, courses, and activities for teaching English as a second or foreign language.
4. Certificate students will demonstrate mastery of their knowledge and skills in a classroom setting.