English Graduate Programs (ENGL)
Offered through the Department of English
in the College of Liberal Arts
126 51B
Phone: 320.308.3061
Fax: 320.308.5524
E-mail: english@stcloudstate.edu
Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/english
Department Chairperson: Dr. Richard Dillman
Department Secretary: Ms. Barb Gammon, Lynn Haley
Graduate Director, English: Dr. Glenn Davis
Graduate Director, Teaching English as a Second Language: Dr. James Robinson
Graduate Faculty: Abartis, Baldwin, Barton, Cogdill, Crow, Dasgupta, Davis, Dillman, Dorn, Fountaine, Fox, Heiman, Hibbard, R. Inkster, Jackson, Kilborn, Kim, Klepetar, Koffi, Madden, Meissner, Mohrbacher, S. Olson, Pelaez, Perry, Philippot, J. Robinson
Program Overview
The master's degree in English is appropriate for a program leading to the Ph.D. degree, for community college or secondary teaching, or for general cultural enrichment. The following programs are offered:
- Master of Arts in English
- Master of Science in English — teacher education
Admission Requirements Specific to the Programs
- Details are provided under each emphasis area.
Admission Deadlines Specific to the Program
Length of Program — Measured by Semesters
- Part-time student: six semesters taking six credits per semester.
- Full-time student: four semesters taking nine credits per semester.
- These programs are designed for both full-time and part-time students.
- Full-time students must expect to complete much of their course load in evening classes.
- Graduate courses are also offered in summer school, but a student cannot be assured of completing degree requirements solely with summer school work.
Graduate Assistantship Overview
- Fifteen to twenty graduate assistantship positions are offered to instruct English 191.
- The Write Place offers five to six assistantships to provide tutoring to students.
Degrees and Plans Offered
- Master of Arts: English, Plan A (Thesis or Creative Work with orals) at 36 credits
- Master of Arts: English, Plan B (Two Starred Papers with orals) at 36 credits
- Master of Arts: English, Plan C (Portfolio) at 36 credits
- Master of Science: English, Teacher Education, Plan A (Thesis with orals) at 36 credits
- Master of Science: English, Teacher Education, Plan B (Two Starred Papers with orals) at 36 credits
Master of Arts — English
The Master of Arts degree in English is appropriate for a program leading to the Ph.D., for community or technical college teaching, and for general cultural enrichment. A student can pursue a Master of Arts in English with an emphasis in rhetoric and writing or English studies.
Admission Requirement Specific to the Program (Master of Arts — English )
- Meet the GPA admission standards as required by the School of Graduate Studies.
- The GRE is not required.
- For admission consideration, applicants should directly submit to the English department a five- to ten-page sample of academic writing.
Send your writing sample to the attention of Dr. Glenn Davis, English Dept. SCSU, 126 51B, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498. - All other application materials are submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
- Graduate students interested in future doctoral study should develop competence in an appropriate foreign language.
Emphasis One: Rhetoric and Writing (Plan A, B, C)
Plan A, 36 credits (Thesis)
Core Courses:
- ENGL 605. Introduction to Graduate Studies in Rhetoric, 3 credits
- ENGL 603. Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing, 3 credits
- ENGL 631. History of Rhetoric Theory, 3 credits
- ENGL 699. Thesis, 6 credits
Elective Courses:
Choose 15-21 credits as needed from either of the following two English areas to complete the 36-credit degree requirement.
- Professional Communication courses: 505, 530, 531, 633, 697
- Critical Literacy courses: 503, 531, 632, 636, 652, 654, 656
To graduate, at least one-half of the required credits must be earned in 600-level courses.
Cognate (optional):
To complete a cognate, students may take a maximum of 6 credits in either
- English graduate courses in literature, linguistics, and supervised teaching/tutoring graduate courses
- Graduate courses in another department with approval of their advisor
NOTE: A student completing the Plan A program must pass a final oral examination on the thesis submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
Plan B, 36 credits (Two Starred Papers)
Core Courses
- ENGL 605. Introduction to Graduate Studies in Rhetoric, 3 credits
- ENGL 603. Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing, 3 credits
- ENGL 631. History of Rhetoric Theory, 3 credits
- ENGL 690. Starred Papers, 3 credits
Elective Courses:
Choose 18-24 credits as needed from either of the following two English areas to complete the 36-credit degree requirement.
- Professional Communication courses: 505, 530, 531, 633, 697
- Critical Literacy courses: 503, 531, 632, 636, 652, 654, 656
Cognate (optional):
To complete a cognate, students may take a maximum of 6 credits in either
- English graduate courses in literature, linguistics, and supervised teaching/tutoring graduate courses
- Graduate courses in another department with approval of their advisor
To graduate, at least one-half of the required credits must be earned in 600-level courses
NOTE: A student completing the Plan B program must pass a final oral examination on the starred papers submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
Plan C, 36 credits (Portfolio)
Core Courses
- ENGL 605. Introduction to Graduate Studies in Rhetoric, 3 credits
- ENGL 603. Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing, 3 credits
- ENGL 631. History of Rhetoric Theory, 3 credits
- ENGL 695. Portfolio, 3 credits
Elective Courses:
Choose 18-24 credits as needed from either of the following two English areas to complete the 36-credit degree requirement.
- Professional Communication courses: 505, 530, 531, 633, 697
- Critical Literacy courses: 503, 531, 632, 636, 652, 654, 656
Cognate (optional):
To complete a cognate, students may take a maximum of 6 credits in either
- English graduate courses in literature, linguistics, and supervised teaching/tutoring graduate courses
- Graduate courses in another department with approval of their advisor
To graduate, at least one-half of the required credits must be earned in 600-level courses
NOTE: A student completing the Plan C program must pass a final oral examination on the Portfolio submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
Emphasis Two: English Studies (Plan A, B)
Plan A, 36 credits (Thesis)
Core Courses (18 credits)
- ENGL 602. Literary and Critical Theory, 3 credits
- ENGL 606. Introduction to Graduate Studies in English, 3 credits
- One 600 level course in British Literature, 3 credits
- One 600 level course in American Literature, 3 credits
- ENGL 699. Thesis, 6 credits OR
- ENGL 698. Creative Work, 6 credits
Elective Courses:
Choose 18 credits as needed from ENGL courses to complete the 36-credit degree requirement. Only three credits in any combination from 653, 655, 665 may count toward the degree.
To graduate, at least one-half of the required credits must be earned in 600-level courses.
NOTE: A student completing the Plan A program must pass a final oral examination on the thesis submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
Plan B, 36 credits (Two Starred Papers)
Core Courses (15 credits)
- ENGL 602. Literary and Critical Theory, 3 credits
- ENGL 606. Introduction to Graduate Studies in English, 3 credits
- One 600 level course in British Literature, 3 credits
- One 600 level course in American Literature, 3 credits
- ENGL 690. Starred Papers, 3 credits
Elective Courses:
Choose 21 credits as needed from ENGL courses to complete the 36-credit degree requirement. Only three credits in any combination from 653, 655, 665 may count toward the degree.
To graduate, at least one-half of the required credits must be earned in 600-level courses.
NOTE: A student completing the Plan B program must pass a final oral examination on the starred papers submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
NOTE: Graduate students interested in future doctoral study should develop competence in an appropriate foreign language.
Master of Science — English: Teacher Education
Admission Requirement Specific to the Program (Master of Science — English )
- Completed an undergraduate teacher education program from an accredited teacher preparation institution.
- Meet the GPA admission standards as required by the School of Graduate Studies.
- The GRE is not required.
- For admission consideration, applicants should directly submit to the English department a five- to ten-page sample of academic writing.
Send your writing sample to the attention of Dr. Glenn Davis, English Dept. SCSU, 126 51B, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498.
Plans A and B, 36 credits
Research Courses
Plan A, 9 credits; Plan B, 3 credits
- ENGL 606. Introduction to Graduate Studies in English (or equivalent course), 3 credits (Plan A and B)
- ENGL 699. Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A only)
Core Courses
Plan A, 15 credit minimum; Plan B, 18 credit minimum
- One 600-level course in British literature, 3 credits
- One 600-level course in American literature, 3 credits
- Other credits to be selected with English department advisor.
- (Only three credits in any combination from 653, 655, 656 may count toward the degree.)
Professional Education Courses
Plan A or Plan B, 9 credit minimum
- Students will select School of Education courses in consultation with the English advisor.
Elective Courses
Plan A, 3 credits; Plan B, 6 credits
- Credits from related fields to be selected with the English department advisor.
Prior to Graduation
- At least one-half of the master of science degree program must be earned in courses limited to graduate students.
- A student in Plan A must pass a final oral examination on the thesis submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.
- A student in Plan B must pass a final oral examination over the starred papers submitted to the student's final evaluation committee.

