Master of Arts in English

Jacqueline Berger, Program Director, (650) 508-3730, jberger@ndnu.edu

The Master of Arts in English program offers two emphases: one in literature and one in creative writing.  Both require core courses in writing, literary theory, language, and genre courses that permit intensive study of narrative, lyric, and drama. This program is designed for working adults who come from many diverse backgrounds; while it does not require an undergraduate degree in English, prerequisites include two undergraduate composition courses and two literature courses. Students may be admitted without these prerequisites with the understanding that the needed courses will be taken concurrently to graduate courses. All graduate courses are offered in the evenings and enrollment is guaranteed. Students generally complete the degree within two and one-half years.

The program's integral link with the annual Creative Writers' Series, sponsored by the English Department, enables students to interact with noted and diverse authors and scholars. Students interested in creative writing and publishing may also wish to become involved in the production of the University's literary journal, The Bohemian. Other programs sponsored by the Department of English include the Seminar in Humanities and the Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate Program (TESL).

Program Requirements

The MA-English program requires 30 semester units, not including the undergraduate foundation courses that vary with each individual's preparation. Students must have fulfilled all prerequisite requirements before advancement to candidacy (completion of 15 units). Two core courses (6 units) and two genre courses (6 units) are required of all students enrolled in the program. These twelve units are usually taken during the first year and one half of study. The remaining twelve elective units are taken in an area of concentration, which may be in either Literature or Creative Writing. Students work one-on-one with a mentor to complete a Research or Creative Writing Project for their final six units.

Genre courses permit intensive study of narrative, lyric, and drama. Content of the Period Course varies, but usually concentrates on British poetry or prose. Elective courses include undergraduate upper-division language, literature, theory, composition, creative writing, and teaching apprenticeship or assistantship courses.

Prerequisites		Units
1 Undergraduate Lower-Division Composition Course		3
1 Undergraduate Upper-Division Composition Course		3
2 Undergraduate Upper-Division Literature Courses		6
Core Courses		Units
ENG4000	Seminar in Literature	3
ENG4005	Language: Theory and Practice	3
Total		6
Genre Courses		Units
ENG4016 Narrative		3
ENG4024 Lyric		3
ENG4028 Drama		3
Elective Courses
ENG3800	Seminar in Humanities
ENG4032	Period Course
ENG4048	Creative Writing
ENG4894	Teaching Apprenticeship
ENG4994	Community-Based Pedagogy
Note: Any upper-division literature course may be used to meet an elective requirement. Upper-division courses in related fields may also be used to meet this requirement with the approval of the Program Director.
Literature Concentration
2 Core Courses		6
2 Genre Courses		6
4 Elective Courses		12
Research Thesis		6
Total		30
Creative Writing Concentration		Units
2 Core Courses		6
2 Genre Courses		6
Electives/Creative Writing Courses		12
Creative Writing Project		6
Total		30

ENG Course Descriptions

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited four-year college or university
• A cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or better
• Two academic and/or professional letters of recommendation
• Completion of at least two undergraduate courses in each area of writing and literature
• Representative writing sample of 500 to 1000 words in length

For further information contact the Master of Arts in English Office at (650) 508-3730.