THE MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH EDUCATION (M.A.)

Director: Patricia D. Valenti

The curriculum in the Master of Arts in English Education affirms the richness of language and literature produced by diverse groups. Thus, the program offers courses in language, literacy, literature, and pedagogy. Core courses and electives within a chosen emphasis expand students’ personal, intellectual, and professional horizons through classroom experiences and opportunities for travel.

In-service teachers who are admitted with initial licensure will be recommended for the North Carolina M license in English upon successful completion of the program. The UNCP Graduate Program in English Education is approved by the Department of Public Instruction for Advanced Licensure in English and is one of the few programs in the state offering courses leading to add-on ESL licensure. Furthermore, program goals and objectives are aligned with National Board Certification standards.

College graduates with backgrounds in English or related fields who are admitted to the program seek advanced knowledge and skills in language, literacy, and literature for various personal and professional proposes, including preparation to teach in community colleges.

Through graduate course work, candidates for the Master of Arts in English Education acquire, extend, synthesize, apply, and reflect upon their knowledge, expertise, and experience in language, literacy, literature, and pedagogy. The culminating product of the graduate experience is a Capstone Portfolio and Presentation through which candidates document that they have met the following program goals:

1. advanced knowledge and expertise in literacy and literature

2. advanced knowledge of and planning for diverse learners

3. expertise in research and research skills

4. application of knowledge and skills to their teaching of diverse learners

5. reflection on personal, intellectual, pedagogical, and professional growth

Requirements for a Master of Arts in English Education	Sem. Hrs.
A. Core Courses (12 hours required) ENG 500—Literacy and Literature in Context: Curricula, Assessment, and Reform EED 551—The Teaching of Writing: Theory and Practice EED 552—The Teaching of Literature: Theories, Issues, and Practices EDN 566—Educational Research	12
B. Literacy Emphasis (6 hours required; up to 18 hours accepted) ENG 510—Rhetorical Grammar ENG 520—Issues in Contemporary American English ENG 523—Advanced Creative Writing SPE 523—Spoken Communication ENG 544, 545—Process Writing ENG 550—Advanced Nonfiction Writing ENG 581—Phonetics and Phonology (fall odd years)* ENG 583—Second Language Acquisition (spring even years)* ENG 585—Cultural Issues of English as a Second Language (fall even years)* ENG 589—Applied Pedagogy of Teaching English as a Second Language (spring odd years)* ENGS 5xx—Special Topics in Literacy	6 - 18
C. Literature Emphasis (6 hours required; up to 18 hours accepted) ENG 503—North Carolina Literature ENG 505— Native American Literature ENG 548— Literatures of the Expanding Canon ENG 561—Shakespeare Studies ENG 565—Americans in Paris ENG 575—Film Studies ENGS 5xx — Author Seminar ENGS 5xx — Literary Topic Seminar ENGS 5xx — Literary Period Seminar ENGS 5xx — Literary Genre Seminar	6 - 18
D. Thesis (0 hours required; 6 hours accepted) Thesis credit (3 - 6 hours) will be awarded under B. Literacy Emphasis or C. Literature Emphasis, depending on the topic. Students writing a thesis must also take six hours of course work in the Emphasis in which thesis credit is awarded.	0 - 6
E. Capstone Portfolio and Presentation is the culminating experience of the graduate program and takes place during the last semester (fall or spring) of the candidate’s course work.
	Program Total: 36

*Indicates courses leading to Graduate Add-On Licensure in ESL; candidates for this licensure must have taken ENG 346—Aspects of the English Language and ENG 371—English Grammar or their equivalents.

The degree must be completed within five years of admission to the program. Students should note rotation of core courses and schedule their capstone experience to assure completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

COURSES

These courses are grouped into five areas (see above for English Education program requirements). They are also available to students enrolled in other graduate programs.

A. CORE COURSES

(also in the core is EDN 566, Educational Research—see listing in M.A.Ed. program)

ENG 500. Literacy and Literature in Context: Curricula, Assessment, and Reform

Literacy and literature from intersecting historical, global, psychological, socioeconomic, and curricular perspectives; the role of technology; diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment; theory, philosophy, and research into pedagogy addressing students’ exceptionalities and multiple intelligences; literacy and literature demands of the N. C. Standard Course of Study and National Board Standard; and findings that delineate how literacy and literature professionals can provide leadership in the twenty-first century. Credit, 3 semester hours.

EED 551. The Teaching of Writing: Theory and Practice

Study and classroom application of composition theories (current-traditional, expressive, cognitive, social epistemic) and scholarship on writing. Study and application of types of writing, writing assignments, writing curricula and units, and strategies for teaching and assessing writing in English and Language Arts classes (6-12) and college composition courses. Specific topics may include process writing, writing across the curriculum, integrated language arts, adapting to diverse learners, technology applications, and alignment with the N.C. Standard Course of Study. Credit, 3 semester hours.

EED 552. The Teaching of Literature: Theories, Issues, and Practices

Theories of literary interpretation and their application to curricula and pedagogy for students with diverse learning styles, cultural backgrounds, and developmental needs; assessment of reading and literature; applications of technology, multidisciplinary approaches, and scholarly research through clinical experiences in literature classes; understanding purposes, genres, and conventions of written, spoken, media texts. Credit, 3 semester hours.

B. LITERACY EMPHASIS

ENG 510. Rhetorical Grammar

Thorough study of advanced elements of English grammar, with emphasis on grammar knowledge as a rhetorical tool, to help writers understand grammatical choices available to them and the effects those choices have on readers. Grammatical principles are applied to students’ own writing. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 520. Issues in Contemporary American English

Study of the characteristic features of contemporary American English in print and non-print media, dynamic factors in linguistic change, and concerns about the state of American English today. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 523. Advanced Creative Writing

Study and extensive practice in a variety of literary genres such as fiction, poetry, script and/or play writing, children’s literature, and others. Workshop format. Credit, 3 semester hours.

SPE 523. Spoken Communication

Study of the communication behaviors which influence our casual and business relationships. Review of intrapersonal, interpersonal, interview, group discussion, and public communication. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 544 Process Writing: Theory

Studies of the theoretical bases of process writing, especially those identified with The National Writing Project and The North Carolina Writing Project. Special attention to sequence in writing, writing to learn, and rhetoric; and to current research related to process writing, responding to and evaluating student writing. Summer Only. PREREQ: (1) Acceptance into North Carolina Writing Project at UNCP, (2) To be taken simultaneously with ENG 545. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 545 Process Writing: Practicum

Applications of process writing, especially those identified with the National Writing Project and The North Carolina Writing Project. Special attention to heuristics, conferencing, and to current best practices, including collaborative learning/writing strategies and Writing Across the Curriculum. Summer only. PREREQ: (1) Acceptance into the North Carolina Writing Project at UNCP, (2) To be taken simultaneously with ENG 544. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 550. Advanced Nonfiction Writing

Study and extensive practice in expository, persuasive writing, narrative, autobiographical and biographical forms. Topics may include creative non-fiction and modern literary journalism. Credit, 3 semester hours.

*ENG 581. Phonetics and Phonology

A study of the speech sounds that occur in the languages of the world will cover physiological properties of the speech producing apparatus, phonetic transcription using the international phonetic alphabet, and both theoretical and applied study of phonological patterns. Fall of odd-numbered years. Credit, 3 semester hours.

*ENG 583. Second Language Acquisition

An in-depth study of both theoretical issues in second language acquisition and the practical application of theory in the ESL classroom, including learning styles and strategies; the importance of affective factors and socio-cultural factors in language learning; contrastive analysis, interlanguage, and error analysis; and communicative competence. Spring of even-numbered years. Credit, 3 semester hours.

*ENG 585. Cultural Issues of English as a Second Language

A study of important cultural issues relevant to the teaching and learning of English as a second language, including bilingualism, differences in cultural patterns of perception and thinking, differences in what is considered appropriate student behavior and appropriate teacher behavior in a variety of cultures, and cultural differences expressed in verbal and non-verbal behavior. The importance of understanding and taking into account the cultural backgrounds of students in the teaching of ESL and the importance of teaching American culture as a part of ESL will also be considered. Fall of even-numbered years. Credit, 3 semester hours.

*ENG 589. Applied Pedagogy of Teaching English as a Second Language

Following a review of the pedagogical fundamentals grounded in cognitive, affective, and linguistic principles of second language acquisition, this course will focus on the practical realities of the language classroom, including curriculum development, lesson planning, evaluation of students and programs, and classroom management. Spring of odd-numbered years. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: ENG 346, 371, 581, 583, 585.

*Indicates courses leading to Graduate Add-On Licensure in ESL

ENGS 5xx. Special Topics in Literacy

Study of significant contemporary figures such as Freire, Kozol, Ong, Villanueva, Bahktin, Heath; topics such as rhetorical theory, adult, and/or family literacy. PREREQ: ENG 500 recommended. Credit, 3 semester hours.

C. LITERATURE EMPHASIS

ENG 503. North Carolina Literature

Study of critically acclaimed fiction, drama, and poetry by North Carolina writers whose works are representative of contemporary Southern literature. Writers may include Paul Green, Doris Betts, Clyde Edgerton, Kaye Gibbons, Lee Smith, Jill McCorkle, Tim McLaurin, A. R. Ammons. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 505. Native American Literature

Study of the historical and continuing contributions of Native American authors to literary studies, especially within the United States. Particular attention will be paid to the intersections of Euroamerican and Native American traditions. Topics covered may include, contemporary issues, oral and written traditions, identity, place, colonization, displacement, and differing world views. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 548. Literatures of the Expanding Canons

Study of literary works by persons with a particular cultural, racial, geographical, or gender affinity. The focus of this course may be Southern, African-American, Women’s, Latino, Post-Colonial, or other literatures. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 561. Shakespeare Studies

An intensive study of Shakespeare and his work considering both Early Modern stage practice and Shakespeare's later cultural impact. Course emphasis may vary to include such issues as gender, genre, race, adaptation, and performance. The course may also provide an opportunity for a trip to Shakespeare's England. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 565. Americans in Paris

Study of works by American writers living and writing in Paris during the 1920's through 1950's and the ways in which the expatriate experience influenced American literature and literary modernism. Writers may include Stein, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Wright, Baldwin, Miller, and the Beat poets. Students may have the opportunity for travel to Paris for seven to ten days to visit the sites studied during the course. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENG 575. Film Studies

An investigation of film in its cultural, social, and historical contexts; the film text in its various configurations, including a discussion of film narrative, film techniques, film history, the development of the medium and the industry, as well as a study of theory, criticism, and analysis. Topics may vary to include studies of critical methods, genre, directors, national cinema, and movements in film history. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENGS 5xx. Author Seminar

A seminar approach to the study of a literary figure whose substantial literary corpus may be investigated through primary texts, major scholarship, theoretical approaches, and bibliographical and textual study that situate the author within a particular literary, historical, or cultural framework. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENGS 5xx. Literary Topic Seminar

A seminar approach to the study of a particular, possibly interdisciplinary, topic in literary study. Topics may include literary theory, literature and the arts, Biblical literature, literature and myth. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENGS 5xx. Literary Period Seminar

A seminar approach to the study of a significant period of American, British, or world literature; texts are examined for the characteristics that define the period and as evidence of literary, historical, and cultural contexts. Possible periods for study are Medieval British Literature, English Romanticism, Literature of the English Renaissance, American Transcendentalism, American Literary Realism, Eighteenth Century Studies, and the Victorian Age. Credit, 3 semester hours.

ENGS 5xx. Literary Genre Seminar

A seminar approach to the study of a particular literary genre or sub-genre seen in its genesis, maturation, and subsequent influence; possible topics include Courtly Literature, Romantic Poetry, Modern Poetry, The Bildungsroman, The Short Story, Modern World Drama, The Epic. Credit, 3 semester hours.

D. THESIS

ENG 600. Thesis

The student prepares a thesis in the area of his/her interest under the direction of the major advisor and a thesis committee. Graded on a Satisfactory (Pass)/Unsatisfactory (Fail) basis. PREREQ: Completion of 21 hours of graduate work and EDN 566. Credit, 3 – 6 semester hours.

E. INTERNSHIP

**EED 581. Internship in Secondary English Education

Ten week, full-time internship experiences in an off-campus public school setting appropriate for 9-12 English licensure. Credit, 3 semester hours. PREREQ: Approval of the English Education Program Director.

**Required for certain M.A.T. candidates.