GRADUATE HANDBOOK

Department of English: Missouri State University

Welcome!

From Linda Trinh Moser, Director of Graduate Studies

Welcome to the graduate program in English at Missouri State University. We offer two Master of Arts degrees: the MA in English and in Writing, and help administer the Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in English. In addition, our department oversees two graduate certificate programs in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and in Ozark Studies. Creative Writing, Literature, and TESOL are emphases or “tracks” within the MA in English program. The MA in Writing program offers tracks in Professional/Technical Writing and Rhetoric and Composition. Our programs serve students anticipating doctoral studies, those interested in careers in teaching at secondary schools or community colleges, professional writers, and those studying creative or expository writing. Students accepted into our programs are eligible to apply for assistantships in exchange for teaching courses in college composition. Advanced students are eligible to teach other subjects including creative writing, developmental writing, and literature; they may also assist faculty with research, editing, and/or writing projects. Graduate Assistantships come with fee waivers providing a full tuition and fee waiver and stipend.

Please explore our site and if you have any questions or need clarification on any of the information provided here, feel free to contact me at: EnglishGraduate@MissouriState.edu.

Dr. Linda Trinh Moser,
Director of Graduate Studies in English

Overview of Programs

Students in the M.A. in English program at Missouri State gain advanced skills in writing, critical reading, and analyzing language. Students also attain a broad, general knowledge of literature. Varying with students’ interests, the M.A. in English prepares graduates for doctoral study and for careers in writing, teaching, and other professions.

Students in the M.A. in Writing program at Missouri State study and develop research methods to teach writing and to practice writing in business and industry. Students also improve their professional writing skills and are trained to become effective writing teachers and successful professional writers. Students learn how to collaborate with area schools, businesses, and industries on issues related to written communication and literacy.

Students in the M.S. Ed. in English take courses in both the Education and English departments. This program provides teachers an opportunity to upgrade their preparation in both professional education and English subject matters.

One of the main benefits of our Master’s programs is that students take courses in all the “English” disciplines represented by our different tracks. This helps students develop relationships across disciplines while also imparting a sense of and respect for all the fields of study represented by English departments.

Admissions

MA in English: To be considered for the MA in English program, candidates should have an undergraduate English degree (or similar course work),* with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall, a minimum 3.0 in English course work beyond the freshman year, and a GRE verbal score in the fiftieth percentile or higher. As conditions of admission, applicants may be required to take extra courses to make up deficiencies (including weaknesses in writing) or they may have other requirements stipulated.

* Normally, a graduate student will have an undergraduate major in English (at least 30 hours beyond freshman composition, including course work in advanced composition, Shakespeare, and a broad coverage of British and American literature).

MA in Writing: To be considered for the MA in Writing program, candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and achieved a GRE general verbal score in the fiftieth percentile or higher. Prospective students who lack extensive undergraduate preparation in English or in writing (the course work equivalent of an English minor) should submit a portfolio of writing samples in addition to other application materials.

MS Ed English: To be considered for the MS Ed English program, applicants must be certified or certifiable in English in the state of Missouri upon completion of the minimum 15 hours in English. Before beginning the MSEd English program, candidates should have completed (and attained a minimum 3.0 GPA in) at least one composition course beyond freshman level, one course in the English language, and 12 hours of survey or period courses in British and American literature.

Application Procedures and Materials

Master of Arts in English, Master of Arts in Writing, and Master in Science in Education with Emphasis in English

To apply to English Graduate Programs, prospective students (non-international) need to submit materials to the Graduate College and to the Department of English. Prospective students should submit all necessary application materials at least two months before the start of the semester they wish to begin.

Graduate College Application Requirements:

Submit the following to:

Graduate College
Missouri State University
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65897

1. A completed Graduate College Application, which can be found:

a. in the back of the Graduate Catalog;

b. online at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/forms.htm (either the Online Application or the printable PDF format);

c. in the Graduate College office, 306 Carrington Hall

2. A $35 non-refundable application fee.

3. Two sets of official transcripts showing all course work for the bachelor’s degree and any graduate-level courses. At minimum, the bachelor’s transcript must show the last 60 hours of course work or the necessary additional undergraduate transcripts are required. Missouri State University transcripts do not need to be requested. Note: transcripts are not considered official unless they are received directly from the institution where the course work was completed.

4. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (not necessary for MS Ed in English candidates). Only the general scores are necessary.

English Department Application Requirements:

In addition, submit the following to:

Graduate Director
Department of English
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65897

1. Personal Statement (a 200- to 250-word description of the reasons and goals behind your interest in English graduate studies).

2. Writing Sample (a 10–15 page critical paper in English that you have written). If you are interested in the Creative Writing track, you should also submit a creative writing sample (for example, 5–10 poems, a short story, or 10–20 pages from a novel).

3. At least two letters of recommendation (from individuals able to speak of the applicant’s academic achievements and potential).

4. Graduate Assistantship application if applicant wishes to be considered for this award. See section on “Graduate Teaching Assistantships.”

Due Date: To ensure consideration for a GAships, all application materials should be submitted by February 15.

International Student Application Requirements:

International applicants may request application materials and instructions by:

Mail: International Student Services
Missouri State University
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65897

Telephone: (417) 836–6618

Fax: (417) 836–7656

Email: internationalstudentservices@missouristate.edu

Web: http://international.missouristate.edu

International applicants are required to submit the following:

1. All Graduate College and English Department Application Requirements (described above).

2. Verification of financial support in an amount determined by the University as stated in the application materials.

3. Complete academic record including proof of degree attained. The applicant must have completed all requirements that are equivalent to a U.D. baccalaureate degree in an accredited, licensed, or recognized college or university and have appropriate undergraduate training to pursue the graduate degree of their choice.

4. Applicants whose primary language is other than English are required to submit appropriate proof of English proficiency. See p. 33 of the Graduate College Handbook for information on exam scores that constitute proof.

Note: For applicants who do not meet the TOEFL or IELTS requirements, Missouri State University offers a full-time intensive English Language Institute on campus. An online application is available at http://ccpe.missouristate.edu/eli/.

Program Components/Requirements

Requirements for the MA in English, MA in Writing, and MS.Ed. in English include guided as well as independent work both inside and outside the classroom. The core required courses lay the groundwork for work across the disciplines (literature, writing, linguistics, theory) while “track” requirements allow students to pursue individual interests. In addition to coursework, students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language, complete a research component—thesis or degree paper(s), participate in colloquia, and take a comprehensive exam. MA Writing students must also submit a writing portfolio.

Success in a graduate program depends upon a careful balancing of your responsibilities as a student, researcher, “junior” colleague, and instructor (if awarded a GAship) in the Department of English. You should never focus on just one of these “responsibilities,” nor should you devote all your attention to just one program component/requirement at a time. All the requirements for the Master’s degree are designed to work together to help you gain “mastery” of your subject area. Core course requirements, preparation for comprehensive exams, and participation in colloquia, for example, help you gain a sense of the larger context or framework in which to place your specialization. While putting together a portfolio, or writing a thesis or degree papers, you will need to place your research interest in the context of the larger field you are working in.

1. Core and Track Course Requirements:

MA in English Core and Degree Requirements

One of the main benefits of our Master’s programs is that students take core courses that cover all the “English” disciplines represented by our different tracks. This helps students develop relationships across disciplines while also imparting a sense of and respect for all the fields of study represented by English departments. While a course may not cover your particular interests, it may allow you to understand those interests in a new light. For example, a composition theory course may help you develop a new way of approaching literary studies, a course on Postcolonial theory may inspire research in linguistics, a course on technical writing may allow you to revise notions of creative writing pedagogy. Having an open mind, an ability to develop new perspectives, and respect for different disciplines are the traits of successful graduate students.

MA English Core Requirements (18 hours); TESOL students, see note* below:

All students in the M.A. program in English must complete the following 18-hour core requirements:

* As part of their core requirements, students who choose the graduate track in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) must complete the following courses:

MA in English Track Requirements:

The different tracks described below outline a minimum of 14 additional hours of graduate level course requirements and electives. Students should choose electives with an awareness that at least half the credit hours applied toward the 32-hour minimum must be in courses numbered 600 or above. The student must choose a program track before submitting an Advisor-Approved Program of Study.

Creative Writing Track Requirements:

Literature Requirements:

TESOL Track Requirements:

MA Writing Core Requirements (18 hours):

All students in the M.A. program in English must complete the following 18-hour core requirements. In addition, students specialize in their particular area of study by completing requirements in their track.

MA in Writing Track Requirements:

The different tracks described below outline a minimum of 14 additional hours of graduate level course requirements and electives. Students should choose electives with an awareness that at least half the credit hours applied toward the 32-hour minimum must be in courses numbered 600 or above. The student must choose a program track before filing for submitting an advisor-approved study program.

Rhetoric and Composition Track Requirements:

Technical and Professional Writing Track Requirements:

Academic Option:

Professional Option:

2. Language Requirement:

Students seeking an MA in English or MA in Writing must demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language (usually French, German, Spanish, or Latin, although other languages relevant to a student’s specialized interest may be approved by the Graduate Director). Competency may be demonstrated in one of three ways*:

(a) completion of 12 hours of college study in one language with at least a “C” average;

(b) completion of the second intermediate college course with a grade of “C” or higher;

(c) passing a reading competency test administered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

MA in Writing students have two additional options:

(d) completion of 6 additional hours in graduate-level linguistics courses (raising the student’s degree minimum to 38 hours);

(e) demonstrating proficiency in computer languages (12 hours minimum of undergraduate course work with at least a “C” average).

* Note: A student whose native language is not English will be considered to have met the language requirement.

3. Research Requirement:

To satisfy the research requirement, M.A. candidates will complete either a thesis or two degree papers (M.S. Ed. in English students can either complete a thesis or one degree paper).

Thesis: The thesis will ordinarily involve research on an original subject or an original approach to a subject. When appropriate, it may also be a creative work (see below). The thesis must be approved by a graduate faculty advisor and two faculty readers. Credit for the thesis (ENG 699), up to 6 hours, may apply to the minimum 32 hours required for the degree. See below for information on requesting permission to enroll in ENG 699.

The thesis is traditionally recommended for students considering doctoral work since it provides the opportunity for an extended exercise in independent research at the graduate level. Those considering the thesis option should, in their first semester, discuss possible thesis topics with the Graduate Director and faculty members whose research and teaching interests match the subject of the thesis. The Graduate College Website includes more information about thesis writing.

Creative Thesis

MA in English candidates in the creative writing track generally write a “creative thesis,” which may take the form of a collection of poetry, a novel, a novella, or a collection of short fiction. The creative thesis must be approved by a graduate faculty member who specializes in creative writing, and two readers.

Requesting ENG 699 hours: Students may request up to six hours of course credit for the thesis (ENG 699). To request permission to take thesis hours, a student must submit the following to the Graduate Director:

(a) A 1- to 2-page description of the thesis project and description of the work to be completed during the requested hours;

(b) Schedule of work including dates for turning in drafts, scheduled meetings with advisor and/or readers;

(c) Approval from the thesis advisor (in the form of a signature)

Submitting the thesis: One copy of the thesis which has been approved by the student’s committee must be submitted to the Graduate Office for review approximately two weeks before the end of the semester (see current Graduate Calendar for specific deadline). The “review” copy is a thesis in final form, not a working draft; however this copy does not need to be on bond paper. The GC will review this copy, making corrections regarding formatting. Along with the review copy, the student should submit, the Acceptance/Signature page (on bond paper) which includes original signatures of all members of the thesis committee. Also, the student must include the signed Student Checklist found on page 14-15 of the “Master Thesis Guide,” available from the Graduate College.

Once the thesis is reviewed by the Graduate College, the student will be asked to pick up the copy and will receive a memo outlining changes (if any) that need to be made. The student will have approximately two weeks following graduation (a specific date will be noted on the memo from the Graduate College) to make any requested corrections and submit final copies (on bond paper).

Degree Papers: A degree paper usually derives from a 600-level course for which a student writes a seminar paper. They may be critical, interpretive, or investigative studies of an original topic or an original treatment of a subject, based on primary sources. When appropriate, they may be creative works. The instructor of the course from which a degree paper emerges will serve as the degree paper advisor; the student should also seek advice from another faculty reader.

Submitting a degree paper: For those completing degree papers, submit the following:

(a) To the Graduate College: a Seminar Report form signed by the instructor (your advisor) of the course in which you developed your paper. Forms are available at: http://graduate.missouristate.edu (under “Forms”). The form must also be signed by both the degree paper advisor and the Department Head, Dr. Blackmon. or the Graduate Director.

And

(b) To the Graduate Director: a copy of the signed Seminar Report form and degree paper. Note: The Graduate College does not get a copy of your degree paper; these are kept in your Graduate file.

4. Colloquia:

Students are expected to attend and participate in academic and professional activities.

These may be scheduled by the department or may include university and community events (scholarly conferences, professional workshops, lectures, and presentations). The Graduate College lists on their Website, a schedule of appropriate workshops, lectures, and presentations. In addition, the Department of English and its faculty members will provide information on various colloquia on and off campus.

5. Comprehensive Exams:

Students should not wait until they submit questions to begin studying for the comprehensive exam. Instead, they should select their examination areas and begin preparing for the examination at the outset of their graduate course work. It is assumed that students will have taken course work in their chosen subject areas, and that preparation for the examination will supplement rather than replicate this course work. In other words, exam preparation involves independent as well as guided study.

The comprehensive exam for MA in English candidates consists of two two-hour essays. The exam for MS. Ed in English candidates consists of two one-hour essays. The exam for MA in Writing candidates consists of two 90-minute essays and an oral component. Each written answer is blindly evaluated by two graduate faculty readers in the department who are familiar with the subject area of the chosen question. Each answer is rated “high pass” or “pass” or “fail.” You need either a “high pass” or “pass” in both subject areas to pass the exam.

Comprehensive exams are offered three times a year, generally in October (Fall), March (Spring) and June (Summer). The exam will take place in the computer lab in Pummill on a Saturday (about a month before the thesis and degree papers due date for any given semester), beginning at 9:00 A.M.

Each fall and spring semester the application deadline to take the comprehensive examination occurs during the first week of the semester. For scheduling purposes, those applying for summer comprehensive exams will apply before the end of the previous spring semester (usually in May). To be eligible to take the comprehensive examination, students must submit (to the Director of Graduate Studies) the following by this deadline:

(a) “Comprehensive Examination Application/Results Form,” available at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/forms.htm (under “Program Forms” or directly as Word document or PDF format).

(b) List(s) of approved questions (MA in English and MS.Ed. students submit a list of questions for 2 subject areas);

(c)The “Proposed Comprehensive Exam Questions” form.

MA in English and MS Ed in English Comprehensive Exam Information:

General Description: The comprehensive examinations for the MA in English and the MS Ed. in English consist of two essay questions. For the MA in English exam, the student will write 2 two-hour essays; for t he MS. Ed. in English exam, the student will write 2 one-hour essays.

Subject Areas and Reading Lists: The comprehensive examination for the MA in English is based on reading lists that reflect the student’s particular interests and/or degree emphases. Each student will prepare for two examination subject areas, writing two two-hour essays. M.S. Ed in English students will prepare for two 1-hour exams. The examination subject areas include:

• TESOL and Linguistics*
• Critical Theory
• Form and Theory of Poetry and Prose
• British Literature, Before 1798
• British Literature, After and Including 1798
• American Literature, Before 1900
• American Literature, After and Including 1900
• Children’s and Young Adult Literature*

* Questions in these areas have been established; students should submit questions from the established lists. Students may only choose these areas if they have taken appropriate course work and/or with approval from the faculty coordinators of these areas. Students may ask to strike certain questions (within reason). To indicate this preference, the student will strike through the question (as opposed to deleting the question from the list).

The department maintains suggested reading lists for all the above-listed areas. These lists are only advisory aids, i.e., tools for starting a review of the period or area. They should not be taken as a closed set from which examination questions are to be formed. Students may also petition to develop their own reading lists in a subject area; in this case, they must work in close consultation with at least two sponsoring faculty members for each reading list. The lists will then be evaluated, revised, and ultimately approved or rejected by the English Graduate Committee.

Developing and Getting Approval for Lists of Questions: For each of the two chosen subject areas, the student will develop a list of at least 15 examination questions. These questions must be reviewed and approved by a graduate faculty member whose research and/or teaching interest(s) fall(s) within the chosen subject area (the faculty member will indicate approval by signing the “Proposed Comprehensive Exam Questions” form).* Keep in mind that the questions for each subject area should reflect the area broadly. They should not focus on a single author, century, genre, movement, or theory. For example, including questions only about the Harlem Renaissance for American Literature, After and Including 1900 is not broad enough.

* Note: TESOL/Linguistic students should consult Dr. Tina Biava

Narrowing Your Questions (What the Graduate Committee’s Role is in this process): The faculty members of the Graduate Committee will review each application and questions. From each list or subject area, they will choose three questions. At least two weeks before the exam, they will inform the student of the choices. Students should prepare to answer, on the day of the exam, the questions chosen by the Graduate Committee.

Exam Day: On the day of the exam, a student will be given one question from each area, randomly chosen by the Graduate Director. The student will have 2 hours to write each answer.

Essays may be written in longhand or typed on the computer. Students may not bring books or notes to the exam, and may not download any information from the computer, or from the Internet, or from a disk.

MA in Writing Comprehensive Exam Information:

General Description: The comprehensive examination for the MA in Writing is administered in two parts: written and oral.

I. Written Portion:

You will write two 90-minute essays.

“Track” or Subject Areas and Reading Lists: The comprehensive examination for the MA in Writing is not necessarily based on a list of suggested readings; instead, students should draw from works read for courses and while fulfilling the research requirement. The Department maintains a Master List of exam questions for each of the MA Writing “tracks”; these are available from the Graduate Director and from faculty who teach in the track areas. The “tracks” or subject areas are:

• Rhetoric and Composition
• Technical and Professional Writing

Developing and Getting Approval for Lists of Questions: Before applying to take comprehensive exams and submitting questions, a student must consult with faculty in the MA in Writing area. During this consultation, the faculty member will help a student determine the appropriateness of each question for the exam. You may ask to strike certain questions (within reason) in areas where you did not have course work. To indicate this, the student will strike through the question (as opposed to deleting the question from the list).

The faculty member will indicate approval of the questions by signing the “Proposed Comprehensive Exam Questions” form.

Narrowing Your Questions (What the Graduate Committee’s Role is in this process): The faculty members of the Graduate Committee will review the application and questions. From the list, they will choose two sets of three questions each. You will not be given the questions in advance. From each set of questions, you will choose one on which to write a 90-minute exam essay (thus, you’ll be writing two 90-minute essays).

Exam Day: On the day of your exam, you will receive two sets of three questions each. You will have 90 minutes to write each response.

You may write your essays in longhand or type them on the computer. You may not bring books or notes with you to the exam, and you may not download any information from the computer, or from the Internet, or from a disk.

II. Oral Portion:

The oral portion of the comprehensive exam will take at least 60 minutes. During the oral exam, the student will respond to questions related to the student’s portfolio. Questions will be asked by at least two faculty members, one who will chair the examination committee and another examiner. Both are selected by the student and must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies (the Director may suggest an alternative examiner). The portfolio, a selection of the student’s best written work (which might include materials written outside of class), should be submitted to the student’s examination committee at least one week prior to the date of the oral examination.

The oral portion of the exam accomplishes the following basic goals:

1. determines whether or not the candidate is a competent writer, which may be established by simply reading the portfolio in most cases; in other words, this may not need to be topic of discussion during the orals;
2. allows discussion about how exceptional pieces within the portfolio might be revised for publication;
3. encourages a self-assessment of the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses as a writer and how she or he might continue to develop as a writer.

Students are responsible for organizing and scheduling the oral portion of the exam. In consultation with approved faculty examiners, the student should arrange a convenient time for the exam (to take place before exam results are due in the Graduate College) and reserve the Emeritus office for the agreed-upon time (a folder for these reservations is kept in the main English Department office). After the exam, the chair of the orals committee will notify the Graduate Director of the results.

Financial Support and Opportunities

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships (GAships) in English are awarded competitively to students accepted into any of the department’s graduate programs. First-year students are generally awarded a teaching assistantship and teach two sections of ENG 110. Graduate students do have the opportunity to teach other courses, including ENG 100, 203, 210, 215; however, these courses are reserved for returning GTAs or those with previous teaching experience. Courses are assigned based on: (a) teaching experience; (b) individual faculty recommendation; (c) Graduate Committee recommendation; (d) department need; and/or (e) whether or not an instructor has fulfilled a prerequisite for the teaching the course (for example, only GTAs who have taken ENG 621 may teach ENG 100). You may also divide your assistantship between teaching and other responsibilities like working in the Writing Center or ELI, as an assistant to the Director of Composition or Graduate Director, or as an editor/writer for Ozarks Watch. These positions depend upon need and usually require a separate interview. The Graduate College also keeps a list GAship opportunities across campus.

Applying for a GAship: Assistantships are awarded for an entire academic year starting in the Fall. Students interested in such assistantships are encouraged to complete their applications by February 15.

See Application Procedures and Materials for more information.

GAship Requirements: GAs are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of graduate course work (500-level or above) during each semester of appointment and must maintain the minimum GPA required for Graduate School enrollment.

First-year Graduate Teaching Assistants (“GTAs”) must enroll in ENG 620 for the Fall semester and ENG 603 in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If your grade is below “C” in either ENG 620 or 603, you will be required to take the course(s) again. In addition, you may also become ineligible for a GAship.

Advising

Most graduate students will work with more than one faculty advisor. Upon entering a graduate program in the Department of English, students are advised by the Graduate Director who will help students design a program of study. The Director will also help students identify other faculty members who can serve as advisors in their primary area of interest or track (Creative Writing, Literature, Professional/Technical Writing, Rhetoric/Composition, TESOL/Linguistics) and with other program requirements (i.e. thesis, degree papers, comprehensive exams).

Advisor-Approved Program of Study: The Advisor-Approved Program of Study is a form listing all courses that will be used to fulfill degree requirements. A student should submit a Program of Study (“P of S”) form before 14 hours have been completed and will not be allowed to graduate unless the form has been filed with the Graduate College.

P of S forms are available online from the Graduate College (under “ Program Forms”). Before submitting a P of S to the Graduate College, it must be approved and signed by the Graduate Director or subject area/track coordinator.

Once the P of S form has been finalized and submitted, changes to it may be made by completing a Change of Advisor-Approved Program of Study form.

Faculty Teaching And Research Interests

Throughout the process of gaining your graduate degree, you will be working closely with faculty members. Below is a list of those who currently are involved at the graduate level. It is advisable to look for faculty with similar research interests to your own.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z