Literature and Composition (MA)

Summary

An interdisciplinary degree designed for those with an interest in teaching in both areas at colleges and universities. 

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Master of Arts

Major Credits

27

Total Credits

37

Locations

Online

Career Cluster

Languages and Literature

Program Requirements

Common Core

Note: 3 credits of ENG 555 are required.

Advanced interdisciplinary writing emphasizes critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. Practice and study of selected rhetorics of inquiry employed in academic disciplines preparing students for different systems of writing.

Prerequisites: none

The course focuses on the major writers, genres and periods in British literature with an emphasis on historical and critical trends in order to provide an analytical framework that will support subsequent work. Must be taken during the student's first year in the program.

Prerequisites: none

The course focuses on the major writers, genres and periods in American literature with an emphasis on historical and critical trends in order to provide an analytical framework that will support subsequent work. Must be taken during the student's first year in the program.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to the major theories of the nature of composition and their pedagogical application.

Prerequisites: none

Studies in selected national literature or in topics/periods of world literature. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Advanced study of theories of literature and its production and use.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course introduces students to research methods and critical writing strategies for masters¿ level work. It also focuses on professional development and the creation of documents such as CVs, conference proposals, and annotated bibliographies. The course is required for all students in the following programs: MA Literature & English Studies, MA English Education, MA Literature and Composition, GC English Literature. Students are encouraged to take this course in the first semester, if possible.

Prerequisites: none

This course will introduce methods of inquiry-based research for investigating writing practices and pedagogy; this research could be conducted in classrooms for the purpose of improving teaching practices, students' learning, and/or institutional curricular design and practices.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Literature Electives - Choose 6 Credit(s). at least 3 credits must be at 600 level

Selected periods of literary study.

Prerequisites: none

Topics on themes, issues, and developments in genres of the literatures of the world. Content changes. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

A study of selected novels from a variety of time periods and cultures, including Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Prerequisites: none

Studies in selected authors in British, American, Multicultural, or World Literature. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Study of works of Shakespeare, including comedies, histories, tragedies, tragic-comedies, and some shorter poetic works, including sonnets.

Prerequisites: none

Studies in topics/periods in British Literature to 1800. Emphasizes close readings of primary works, analysis of pertinent secondary works, detailed class discussion, and analytical writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Studies in topics/periods in British Literature after 1800. Emphasizes close readings of primary works, analyzing pertinent secondary works, detailed class discussion, and analytical writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Analysis of topics/periods in American Literature before 1865. Emphasizes close reading of primary works, analysis of pertinent secondary works, detailed class discussion, and analytical writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Analysis of topics/periods in modern and contemporary American Literature, i.e. fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Emphasizes close reading of primary works, analysis of pertinent secondary works, detailed class discussion, and analytical writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Study of selected works about gender and gendered experiences up through the present with attention to gender and sexuality within cultural contexts. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Studies in selected authors, topics, or periods of American multicultural literatures, particularly those of Native American, African American, Chicano/Latino American, and Asian American groups. Emphasizes close readings of primary works, analyzing secondary sources, and analytical writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the teaching of literature across collegiate levels and is designed for English graduate students. It is both practical and theoretical, examining topics such as: the purposes for teaching literature and teaching critical thinking; pedagogical approaches for teaching literature; and designing syllabi, lesson plans, and assignments. We will explore these topics through a variety of texts and perspectives. Assignments will include creating syllabi and lesson plans, reviewing scholarship on a particular topic related to the teaching of literature, and a conference paper on some aspect of the teaching of literature.

Prerequisites: none

Topics of interest to the teacher or professional working in the field of children's and young adult literature. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Composition Electives - Choose 6 Credit(s).

This course familiarizes students with various approaches and strategies to the teaching of creative writing. Discussions of classroom practices and pedagogical theories as well as teaching demonstrations prepare students to plan and develop an introductory-level creative writing course.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to familiarize students with current theories and practices of writing centers as well as to provide training in working with writers one-on-one. During the course, students will discuss best practices for teaching writing and examine the roles writing centers play in helping students negotiate the terrain of college literacy. The focus of the course will be to prepare students in the history of writing centers, to discuss the current scholarship and theory on best practices in writing centers, and to outline and provide interactive opportunities into the pedagogy of writing center tutoring.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to theory and best practices of teaching second language reading and writing to a variety of English learners in multiple contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Exploration of second language literacy as a situated social practice. Current second language literacy theories and practices are studied and applied to a variety of second language reading and writing instructional contexts.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine current instructional practices used to teach writing in academic settings. This course can be repeated for credits as the topic changes each time it is offered.

Prerequisites: none

This course will explore the theoretical and practical implications of integrating literature into the composition classroom.

Prerequisites: none

Examination of instructional design principles and models, including research in theory and practice of instructional design for technical communicators in academic and industry settings.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Register for 1 credit of ENG 694

Independent capstone experience, focusing on secondary research sources; paper may have other guidelines specific to the program option.

Prerequisites: none

Policies

Grade Policy. Students must earn a "C-" or better for a course to apply toward the degree. University academic standards mandate that graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to the degree may not be taken on a P/N basis, except where P/N is mandatory.

Program Admission:  Entrance requirements for the MA in Literature and English Studies, Graduate Certificate in Literature, and MA in Literature and Composition include a minimum of 30 credit hours earned in literature, language, or related courses; 20 credits should have been earned in upper-division courses. It is recommended that applicants have at least one course focusing on a major literary figure and one upper-division course in linguistics. Candidates whose native language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of iBT 80, IELTS 6.5, or Duolingo of 110 to be admitted to the program. In addition to the University’s graduate application requirements, applicants to these programs should submit the following:

  • A personal statement of 1-2 pages describing the applicant’s academic and professional goals;
  • 10-20 page research-based analytical writing sample focusing on a literary topic;
  • (Optional/Recommended) 2 Letters or Recommendation.

Program Transfer: Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Literature who have a 3.5 GPA or higher and have completed at least 9 credit hours can petition the Graduate Studies Coordinator of the English Department to transfer to the MA in Literature and English Studies without filing a new application. Students in either the Graduate Certificate in Literature or Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing program who meet the above standards may petition the Graduate Studies Coordinator to transfer to the MA in Literature and Composition without filing a new application. Students in the certificate programs with lower than 3.5 GPA should use the university’s graduate application system to submit the application materials required for regular admission to the related MA program (transcripts, a writing sample, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation).

Residency Requirements. Per university policy, students pursuing a graduate degree in the Department of English may transfer no more than 10 credits from another institution. All other credits for the degree must be completed through Minnesota State University, Mankato.

For additional policies relevant to all Minnesota State University graduate programs, consult the College of Graduate Studies.