English Department

If you want a Master of Arts with a major in English, you must choose one of the emphases described below: Creative Writing Emphasis, Literature Emphasis, Professional Writing and Rhetoric Emphasis, or Teaching English in the Community College Emphasis. You must also present evidence of the successful completion of at least 24 semester hours of undergraduate English above the freshman level, preferably including survey courses in both English and American literature; one course in linguistics, modern grammar, or the history of the English language; and one upper division writing course. For regulations that pertain to all candidates for the degree see the section in the PSU catalog titled "Master's Degree: General Regulations."

Creative Writing Emphasis

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
Total Hours for the M.A. in Creative Writing		36
ENGL 810	Research Methods	3
ENGL 815	Writing for the Profession (Literary/Creative)	3
ENGL 820	Theory (Fiction or Poetry or another genre)	3
Four literature courses numbered 500-800. At least one course must be taken in each of these three areas: British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. The courses may include a seminar (one seminar is required for this emphasis), but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.		12
ENGL 850	Creative Writing Workshop (Six hours of workshop must be taken in the student's major genre: Fiction or Poetry or another genre)	6
ENGL 890	Research and Thesis (A 3-hour thesis includes only creative work; a 6-hour thesis includes creative work and a critical or theoretical introduction.)	3-6
Electives. Select one or two from the following group:		3-6
ENGL 850	Creative Writing Workshop (different genre)
ENGL 716	Topics in Teaching Composition (Creative)
One or two literature course(s) numbered 500-800. At least one course must be a contemporary literature course. The courses may include seminars and directed study.
One English course numbered 500-800 other than literature or creative writing.

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Literature Emphasis

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
Total Hours for the M.A. in Literature		36
ENGL 810	Research Methods	3
ENGL 815	Writing for the Profession (Literary/Creative)	3
ENGL 820	Theory (Literary)	3
Four literature courses numbered 500-800. At least one course must be taken in each of these three areas: British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. The courses may include seminars (two seminars are required for this emphasis), but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.		12
Five electives numbered 500-800. They must be primarily literature courses, but they may also include seminars (two seminars are required for this emphasis), directed study, research problem, or thesis.		15

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Professional Writing and Rhetoric Emphasis

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
Total Hours for the M.A. in Professional Writing and Rhetoric		36
ENGL 504	Advanced Technical/ Professional Writing (Prerequisite for full admission to the Professional Writing and Rhetoric Emphasis)	3
ENGL 810	Research Methods	3
ENGL 815	Writing for the Profession (Professional/ Technical)	3
ENGL 820	Theory (Composition/Rhetoric)	3
Four literature courses numbered 500-800. At least one course must be taken in each of these three areas: British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. The courses may include seminars (two seminars are required for this emphasis), but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.		12
ENGL 875	Seminar (Composition/Rhetoric or Professional/Technical)	3
ENGL 890 or ENGL 891	Research and Thesis or Research Problem	3
ENGL 895	Professional/ Technical Writing Internship	3
Electives. Select two from the following group:		6
ENGL 501	Document Design (Required of students without an undergraduate equivalent)
ENGL 503	Technical/ Professional Editing (Required of students without an undergraduate equivalent)
ENGL 756	Topics in Writing
ENGL 890	Research and Thesis
ENGL 895	Professional/ Technical Writing Internship
COMM 629	Theories of Human Communication

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Teaching English in the Community College Emphasis

Course No.	Course Title	Credits
Total Hours for an M.A. in Teaching in the Community College		36
ENGL 810	Research Methods	3
ENGL 815	Writing for the Profession (Professional/ Technical)	3
ENGL 820	Theory (Composition/ Rhetoric)	3
Four literature courses numbered 500-800. At least one course must be taken in each of these three areas: British Literature before 1789, British Literature after 1789, and American Literature. The courses may include seminars (two seminars are required for this emphasis), but not directed study, research problem, thesis, or internship.		3
ENGL 715	Topics in Teaching Literature	3
ENGL 716	Topics in Teaching Composition	3
SSLS 816	The Community College	3
SSLS 881	Orientation to College Teaching	3
SSLS 882	College Teaching Internship	3

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