Brockport / Catalogs / 2013-14 / Programs / English (MA)

Master of Arts in English

Description

The MA in English, Creative Writing and Literature tracks, introduces graduate students to advanced study in the art of language. Courses provide an opportunity for deep and sustained analysis of a variety of literary texts, emphasizing advanced critical and theoretical approaches. The program encourages students to work closely with faculty mentors and culminates in a substantial (and potentially publishable) independent project focusing on an area of the student’s interest and emerging expertise. Graduate students additionally have the opportunity to meet with nationally and internationally recognized authors through Brockport's visiting writers series, The Writers Forum.

For accepted students exhibiting superior promise, the department has a limited number of assistantships available that provide a stipend and a tuition scholarship for up to nine graduate credits per semester. They are awarded on a competitive basis with an April 15 application deadline. Further information on assistantships may be obtained from the Graduate School.

Admission to the Program

Applicants for matriculation in the Master of Arts in English program must submit a completed application that includes the following:

  1. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and prior graduate work.
  2. Three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to assess the potential for significant academic achievement.
  3. Applicants for the Creative Writing track must submit a sample of their poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction of no more than 20 pages in length. Applicants for the Literature track must submit a nonfiction writing sample of no more than 8-10 pages in length.

Normally, an undergraduate major in English with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 "B" is required. The Graduate Record Examination is not required but is strongly recommended, especially from applicants with nontraditional preparation. For further information, contact the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of English.

Program Requirements

Students must meet the requirements established by the College for graduate study.

Students choose one of two tracks for the Master of Arts in English: Literature or Creative Writing. Each is a 36-credit program with distribution of some literature courses.

The following standards govern the awarding of degrees:

  • Minimum graduate credits: Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and at least 15 credits must be at the 600 level.
  • No course may meet more than one requirement.
  • A maximum of 12 credits may be earned at other colleges and universities with the approval of the department. Four quarter-hours transfer as three credits.
  • No course may be transferred in which a grade of less than "B" was received.
  • Degree must be completed within five years of the date of matriculation in the degree program.

Literature Track (36 credits)

  • ENG 690 Advanced Writing in the Discipline*
  • ENG 697 Advanced Project in Literature**

*Students must have completed at least 12 credits before enrolling in ENG 690.

**A GPA of 3.0 and grade of "B-" or higher in ENG 690 is required to enroll in ENG 697.

***Up to 6 credits may be taken outside the English department with approval of department.

All Literature track candidates must complete ENG 690, Advanced Writing, in the Discipline, followed by ENG 697 Advanced Project. In these two courses, a seminar paper will be substantially revised. The advanced project is typically an article-length study (30-40 pages), expertly researched and sufficiently complex, that demonstrates mastery of the relevant primary and secondary literature as well as an ability to write in accordance with professional disciplinary standards. The outcome of ENG 697 will be an article-quality paper, approved by a director, a second reader, and the Graduate Committee.

Creative Writing Track (36 credits)

  • ENG 603 Seminar in Creative Writing
  • ENG 595 Writer's Craft
  • Literature Electives (9 credits)
  • English Electives (6 credits)
  • ENG 698 Creative Thesis

The track culminates in a creative thesis of 50-60 pages -- typically a collection of poems or short prose pieces accompanied by a critical introduction. The thesis should include the best of the work that has come through the workshops, revised, and brought to a finished state. A thesis proposal must be approved by a director who has agreed to work with the student, and by two readers selected in consultation with the director. The thesis is then written under the guidance of the director, approved by the readers, and recommended to the Graduate Committee. From one to six credits may be granted for thesis research and the thesis should be submitted at least four weeks before commencement to the Graduate Coordinator for departmental approval.

Student Learning Outcomes

All English Masters Students will be able to:

  1. Construct an advanced scholarly argument about a subject situated within at least one period of English Literature
  2. Construct an advanced scholarly argument about a subject situated within at least one period of American literature
  3. Construct an advanced scholarly argument about a subject situated within at least one area of World literature

Literature Track students will be able to:

  1. Participate in the literary-critical conversation
  2. Practice standards and techniques of advanced academic research and writing
  3. Discuss and respond appropriately to questions about their advanced project argument.

Creative Writing Track students will be able to:

  1. Employ professional standards in constructive critical commentary on peer writing and in revising their own work in required workshop courses
  2. Practice forms and techniques in the genres of poetry and prose.
  3. Articulate the place of their own work in contemporary literary practices

Department of English

Department Chair: Jennifer Haytock
Location: Hartwell 211
Visit Website
Email: slvasque@brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-2503
Fax: (585) 395-2391

Related Programs

Other Graduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs


    
Faculty & Staff

    


Sharon L Allen Ph.D
 (Princeton University)  
Associate Professor
Robert  Baker 
Coordinator of Composition
Ralph W Black Ph.D
 (New York University)  
Associate Professor + Co-Director, Writers Forum
Samuel  Brock BA
 (California Lutheran University)  
Graduate Assistant
Miriam E Burstein Ph.D
 (University Of Chicago)  
Associate Professor
Austin M Busch Ph.D
 (Indiana University-Bloomington)  
Associate Professor
Sarah M Cedeno MA
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Lecturer
Michael S Chojnowski MA
 (SUNY At Fredonia)  
Lecturer
Brooke A Conti Ph.D
 (Yale University)  
Associate Professor
John C Curry MA
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Lecturer
April  Daniels BA
 (University Of Rochester)  
Graduate Assistant
Mary A Donovan-Wright MA
 (SUNY Empire State College)  
Lecturer
Sasha J Eloi MA
 (Syracuse University)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Stephen  Fellner Ph.D
 (University Of Utah)  
Associate Professor
T Gregory  Garvey Ph.D
 (University Of Wisconsin-Madison)  
Professor
Monica  Gilligan MS
 (SUNY At Buffalo)  
Lecturer
Amy H Green Ph.D
 (West Virginia University)  
Lecturer
Jennifer  Haytock Ph.D
 (University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill)  
Professor and Chair
Janie W Hinds Ph.D
 (University Of Tulsa)  
Professor
Mary Jo  Iuppa MA
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Lecturer
Stefan  Jurasinski Ph.D
 (Indiana University-Kokomo)  
Associate Professor
Stephanie  Kane MA
 (Minnesota State University-Mankato)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Alissa G Karl Ph.D
 (University Of Washington-Seattle Campus)  
Assistant Professor
Alicia L Kerfoot Ph.D
 (McMaster University)  
Assistant Professor
J Roger  Kurtz Ph.D
 (University Of Iowa)  
Professor/ Chair Anthropology + African A-America Studies
Tanya  Kuzylak MLS
 (SUNY At Buffalo)  
Lecturer
Maria L Lasch MA
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Lars  Mazzola Ph.D
 (University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities)  
Lecturer
Laura M McSpadden BS
 (Manchester College)  
Graduate Assistant
Thomas  Metzger MLS
 (SUNY College At Geneseo)  
Lecturer
Shayna J Neer BS
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Meg A Norcia Ph.D
 (University Of Florida)  
Associate Professor
Megan L Obourn Ph.D
 (New York University)  
Associate Professor
Anne M Panning Ph.D
 (University Of Hawaii At Manoa)  
Professor + Co-Director, Writers Forum
Paul A Persia MA
 (The University Of Tennessee)  
Lecturer
Kristen  Proehl Ph.D
 (College Of William And Mary)  
Assistant Professor
Sidney  Rosenzweig Ph.D
 (University Of Rochester)  
Lecturer
Kerstin  Rudolph MA
 (University Of Illinois University Administration)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Carter  Soles Ph.D
 (University Of Oregon)  
Assistant Professor
Matthew A Taber MS
 (Nazareth College Of Rochester)  
Lecturer
Sevinc  Turkkan Ph.D
 (University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign)  
Visiting Assistant Professor
Susan L Vasquez BS
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Secretary 1
Elizabeth  Whittingham Ph.D
 (SUNY College At Buffalo)  
Lecturer
James  Whorton Ph.D
 (University Of Southern Mississippi)  
Associate Professor + Associate Chair
Phil E Young Ph.D
 (University Of South Alabama)  
Lecturer
Kelley W Zanghi MA
 (SUNY At Fredonia)  
Lecturer