Master of Arts
in English
College
of Arts and Sciences,
I.G.
Greer Hall, Appalachian State University:
Off-Campus
Degree-Completion Program in English
Through the Office of Extension and Distance Education, the English Department offers the secondary education (235S major code) or the community college teaching (235B major code) graduate programs designed to equip students for teaching careers. Those who choose the teaching programs--in secondary education or in community college teaching--are required to supplement their academic ("content area") courses with appropriate professional courses within the College of Education to prepare for the particular educational and classroom contexts in which they expect to spend their careers. The distinction between these two programs derives from the varying courses in the College of Education which students in the respective programs are required to pursue. In either of the teacher-preparation programs, students may elect to write an MA thesis or produce evidence of foreign-language proficiency (and in most cases will have fulfilled a foreign-language requirement as part of their undergraduate programs).
Objectives of the program:
* to produce scholars/practitioners who appreciate language and literature and who practice research
* to foster a well-rounded knowledge of British, American, and World literature and of the various genres, as opposed to narrow, specialized knowledge of any one period or genre
* to instill a basic understanding of the distinguishing features of the various literary periods and both cononical and non-cononical writers in those periods
* to expect students to master the skills of perceptive, analytical reading and of writing sound expository prose
* to conduct graduate classes in such a manner that, in addition to mastering the content of courses, students gain skills for independent research and study
* to serve as role models for our students in communicating appreciation for and knowledge of literature, encouraging good language habits, and generally functioning as effective teachers of English
* to aid students in developing appropriate professional values and positive, healthy attitudes about our field and the teaching profession.
For a listing of locations of upcoming programs, see Proposed New Programs.
Courses taught by Appalachian in the Off-Campus English Program
The following chart includes courses for both English, Secondary Ed (Major 235S) and English, Community College Teaching (Major 235B). Any course required for only one of the majors has that major code listed beside the course title.
| ENG 5000 |
Bibliography and Research |
| ENG |
British Literature |
| ENG |
American Literature |
| ENG 5200 |
Issues in Teaching English (235S) |
| ENG 5910 |
World Literature (235S) |
| C I 5585 |
Teacher Leadership and School Improvement (235S) |
| C I 5045 |
Advanced Topics in Diversity (235S) |
| ENG 5525 |
Product of Learning (235S) |
| LHE 5420 |
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges (235B) |
| LHE 5440 |
Instruction in Postsecondary Institutions (235B) |
| ENG 5600, 5640, 5650 |
Selection from one of these English studies |
| Electives |
Selected electives (235B) |
Off-Campus Program Delivery:
Appalachian State University faculty will teach each off-campus course using a combination of instructional strategies and course delivery systems. Generally, two courses will be provided each term, and the face-to-face courses will be conducted either during the evenings (e.g., 5:00-7:45 pm one evening a week for 15 weeks) or on weekends (e.g., selected Saturdays 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). The modes of delivery may include: the instructor's being present at the site, web-based instruction, and/or live interactive two-way, audio-video sessions via the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) network. The program will be cohort-based, meaning the group of identified students who enter this program will begin together and continue through the specified sequence of required courses leading to the degree. The courses in this cohort will be offered only once, so a student must be prepared to take the courses as they are made available. The length of this off-campus program is approximately two years.
Requirements for Admission:
In order to be considered for admission to this program, an individual must possess a bachelor's degree in English from an accredited university (non-English degree recipients with exceptional qualifications considered); three letters of reference addressing the applicant's qualifications in the discipline; overall GPA of 3.0; 500 on the GRE verbal exam; statement of intent, including discussion of teaching experience; and a writing sample. Additionally, for the MA, Secondary Education program the applicant must hold the North Carolina "A" certificate (or equivalent) for secondary school teaching in English and two years' teaching experience.
For additional admissions information, go to: http://www.english.appstate.edu/gradadmiss.html.
(For example, the application deadline for Fall 2006 is April 1, 2006.)
To make a request of the Office of Extension and Distance Education Click Here
