Catalog

English

Dr. Marc Wolterbeek
Chair
(650) 508-3708
mwolterbeek@ndnu.edu

The English Department offers a Master of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Arts in English, and a minor in English. Students in the Department are exposed to a broad intellectual foundation in literature and culture while they strengthen their abilities to express ideas in clear, accurate prose. In addition to studying classics of British and American literature, majors read literature of the world, including non-Western works and literature written by women and by persons of color.

The Department's Subject Matter Competence Program prepares students specifically for high school teaching, and the Internship Program prepares students for careers while they work on or off campus.

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Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the English Program will:

  • Express themselves in effective written communication, commanding basic writing skills as well as clear style and organization
  • Express themselves in effective oral communication in both small-group and large-group environments
  • Practice critical thinking skills when making decisions from basic observational skills to more advanced analysis and synthesis
  • Transfer skills learned as an English major (writing, oral communication, critical thinking, etc.) to real world experiences
  • Investigate various alternatives and interpretations in practical situations through the study of various approaches to literary analysis
  • Appreciate differing opinions and viewpoints through the study of diverse forms of literature
  • Access knowledge and develop self-knowledge through the use of language
  • Develop lifelong appreciation and practice of writing and literature
  • Appreciate the power of the narrative imagination and creativity
  • Connect literature to real-life experiences
  • Document sources correctly
  • Discriminate between legitimate and questionable sources of information, particularly information found on the Internet
  • Transfer the knowledge derived from internship and practicum activities to postgraduate professional activities
  • Apply basic knowledge of literature to graduate studies
  • Use writing skills as a basis for further development in creative writing

Bachelor of Arts in English

In addition to major requirements, students must meet Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements.                                                                                                                       

Prerequisites Units
ENG1030 Freshman Composition 3
ENG1040  Classics of World Literature I 3
     
Total Prerequisites 6

                                                                                                              

Major Requirements Units
ENG1041 Classics of World Literature II 3
ENG2108 Advanced Writing 3
ENG2544 Shakespeare 3
ENG2656 Literary Theory  3
ENG2997 Senior Seminar 3
     
Six units in American Literature from among the following: 6
ENG2200 Survey of American Literature I  
ENG2201 Survey of American Literature II  
ENG2214 American Literary Movements: Imagism (1)
ENG2222 American Literary Movements: Harlem Renaissance (CDiv) (1)
ENG2248 Great American Writers: Hawthorne (1)  
ENG2252 Great American Writers: Melville (1)  
ENG2256 Great American Writers: Twain (1)  
ENG2260 Great American Writers: Hemingway (1)  
ENG2264 Great American Writers: Faulkner (1)  
ENG2268 Great American Writers: Morrison (1)  
ENG2270 Great American Writers: Poe (1)  
ENG2272 Great American Writers: Dickinson (1)  
ENG2274 Great American Writers: Wharton (1)  
     
Three units in British Literature from among the following: 3
ENG2400 British Literature: Myth, Epic, and Romance  
ENG2403 British Literature: The Age of Elizabeth  
ENG2408 British Literature: Enlightenment and Revolution  
ENG2412 British Literature: Modernism and Postmodernism  
     
Six additional elective units from among courses listed above or from the following: 6
COM 2440 Writing for the Media  
ENG2010 Writing in the Disciplines  
ENG2142 Creative Writing  
ENG2164 Linguistics  
ENG2600 Women's Literature (CDiv)  
ENG2604 African-American Literature (CDiv)  
ENG2608 Asian-American Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2612 Latino Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2616 Native American Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2624 Children's Literature  
ENG2632 Graphic Novels and Manga (CDiv)  
ENG2636 Mythology of Superheroes (CDiv)  
ENG2800 Seminar in the Humanities  
Total Major Requirements 30
Other Degree Requirements* and General Electives 88
*Other degree requirements include Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements (e.g., Career Development, U.S. History).
Total Unit Requirement 124

Minor in English

Minor Requirements Units
ENG2108 Advanced Writing 3
ENG2544 Shakespeare 3
     
Three units in American Literature from among the following: 3
ENG2200 Survey of American Literature I  
ENG2201 Survey of American Literature II  
ENG2220 American Literary Movements: Jazz Age (1)  
ENG2222 American Literary Movements: Harlem Renaissance (CDiv) (1)
ENG2224 American Literary Movements: Beat Poets (1)  
ENG2248 Great American Writers: Hawthorne (1)  
ENG2252 Great American Writers: Melville (1)  
ENG2256 Great American Writers: Twain (1)  
ENG2260 Great American Writers: Hemingway (1)  
ENG2264 Great American Writers: Faulkner (1)  
ENG2268 Great American Writers: Morrison (1)  
ENG2270 Great American Writers: Poe (1)  
ENG2272 Great American Writers: Dickinson (1)  
ENG2274 Great American Writers: Wharton (1)  
     
Six additional elective units from among courses listed above 6
or from the following:  
ENG1041 Classics of World Literature II  
ENG2010 Writing in the Disciplines  
ENG2142 Creative Writing  
ENG2164 Linguistics  
ENG2400 British Literature: Myth, Epic, and Romance  
ENG2403 British Literature: The Age of Elizabeth  
ENG2408 British Literature: Enlightenment and Revolution  
ENG2412 British Literature: Modernism and Postmodernism  
ENG2600 Women's Literature (CDiv)  
ENG2604 African-American Literature (CDiv)  
ENG2608 Asian-American Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2612 Latino Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2616 Native American Literature (CDiv) (1)  
ENG2624 Children's Literature  
ENG2632 Graphic Novels and Manga (CDiv)  
ENG2636 Mythology of Superheroes (CDiv)  
ENG2656 Literary Theory  
ENG2800 Seminar in the Humanities  
ENG2886 Special Topics (1-3)  
     
Total Unit Requirement 15

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 writing-intensive undergraduate 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, completion of 15 units toward the degree, and have a grade point average of 3.0 or better before advancement to candidacy. Two core courses (6 units) and two genre courses (6 units) are required of all students enrolled in the program. These 12 units are usually taken during the first year and one half of study. The remaining 12 elective units are taken in a chosen area of either Literature or Creative Writing. Students work one-on-one with a mentor to complete a Research or Creative Writing Project for their final 6 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 linguistics, literature, theory, composition, creative writing, and teaching apprenticeship or assistantship courses.

Prerequisites

Two writing-intensive courses and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Core Courses

ENG4000 Seminar in Literature 3
ENG4005 Language: Theory and Practice 3
     
Two Genre courses from the following: 6
ENG4016 Narrative  
ENG4024 Lyric  
ENG4028 Drama  
     
Four elective courses from the following*: 12
ENG4032 Period Course  
ENG4048 Creative Writing  
ENG4800 Seminar in Humanities  
ENG4886 Special Topics  
ENG4894 Teaching Apprenticeship  
ENG4994 Community-Based Pedagogy/Teaching Assistantship  
     
ENG4884 Thesis: Directed Research** 3
ENG4997 Thesis: Directed Writing** 3
     

*Any upper-division literature or creative writing course may be used to meet an elective requirement, and creative writing courses may be taken more than once for elective credit. Upper-division courses in related fields may also be used to meet this requirement with the approval of the Program Director.

**Actual course work will focus on the individual student’s desired area of emphasis – literature or creative writing.
     
Total Core Requirements 30

Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited four-year college or university
  2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better
  3. Two academic and/or professional letters of recommendation
  4. Completion of at least two writing-intensive undergraduate courses
  5. Representative writing sample of 500 to 1,000 words in length

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