Westfield State College

MASTER OF ARTS in ENGLISH

WITH INITIAL LICENSURE or PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE PROGRAMS

Nationally Accredited

Westfield State College
Division of Graduate and Continuing Education
577 Western Avenue
Westfield MA 01086-1630
Phone: 413-572-8020
Fax: 413:572-5227
www.wsc.ma.edu/dgce

RECEIVE LICENSURE along with a DISTINCTIVE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE in ENGLISH

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The M.A. in English Licensure Program at Westfield State College prepares students for careers as teachers at the middle school or secondary levels.
Students may earn either Initial Licensure or Professional Licensure through our accredited program. Teachers who have received initial licensure through a master's degree may earn their professional license through out 18-credit program.

The M.A. in English without licensure prepares students for advanced graduate studies in English (Ph.D.), for professional studies (law, business, administration), for teaching careers, and for work in related fields (communications, public relations, publishing, human resources).

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Coursework features advanced studies in American, British and Global literature as well as pedagogical courses designed to enable students to meet licensure competency standards. The program provides a firm base in practical methodology along with a strong foundation in literary criticism, research and scholarship.

Our faculty members encourage students to strengthen their abilities to think critically, to write analytically, and to function professionally. Because our program is small, we offer personal guidance and support for each graduate student.

The scheduling of our graduate courses in the evening makes the M.A. in English convenient for students who are employed during the day.

Students who receive Initial Licensure along with their M.A. degree can return to receive Professional Licensure through 18 credits of additional coursework.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
2. 18 Credits in English above composition*
3. B (3.0) or better average in English courses
4. 2.8 overall GPA
5. GRE verbal scores in the top 50% or Miller Analogies Test raw score above 50
6. A writing sample, preferably a literary essay

*Students may be required to fulfill undergraduate prerequisites as determined by the Graduate Advisor.

REQUIREMENTS for the M.A. in ENGLISH
with INITIAL LICENSURE:

1.Prerequisites:

2. Requirements: 39 credits

Students seeking licensure for English in the Middle School must also take EDUC 321 The Middle School and its Students.

3. Foreign Language Competence
Competence in one foreign language (e.g., French, German, Italian, Spanish) is required. This competence may be demonstrated in one of these ways by the end of the M.A. program:

REQUIREMENTS FOR M.A. in ENGLISH
with PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

1. Prerequisite: Initial Licensure in English

2. Requirements: 33 credits

3. Foreign Language Competence

(As described under 3 above)

REQUIREMENTS FOR 18-CREDIT PROGRAM
for PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

1. Prerequisite:

2. Requirements: 18 credits

REQUIREMENTS FOR M.A. in ENGLISH
for Those Not Seeking Licensure

Requirements: 33 credits

A. Course Work: 30 Credits

B. ENGL 647 Research Folio 3 Credits
Required as a capstone experience in formal writing and research on scholarly topics at the end of the master’s program. Students work independently with a graduate faculty member who advises and supervises the candidate’s preparation of research folio materials. After choosing the area and focus of research, the candidate presents a folio that includes a scholarly essay of publishable quality, a 150-word abstract of the essay, an explanation of the critical approach applied to the text, and an annotated bibliography. Suggested length of the essay is 20 pages or 5,000 words. The folio is evalutated by the faculty supervisor, graduate adviser, and the English Department Chair; the essay is then read in a public forum as provided.

For students who have not had such a course as undergraduates, History of the English Language or The Structure of Modern English must be included in their program.

(Up to 6 graduate credits may be taken in a related discipline (such as history). Written permission from the English Department Chair or Graduate Advisor must be obtained before taking these credits.)

C. Foreign Language Competence

(As described under 3 above)

If you have any questions about the M.A. in English program, please call or e-mail the English Graduate Advisor, Dr. Marilyn Sandidge (572-5666) msandidge@wsc.ma.edu, or the English Department office (572-5330).

ADMISSION PROCESS

To apply, you are required to submit:
1. An application (obtained from the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education).
2. Official transcript(s) of a bachelor's degree (including all transcripts of course work leading to the bachelor's degree) from an accredited college or university, and any course credits you wish considered for transfer (maximum 6 credits).
3. Three letters of recommendation from professional sources.
4. Official scores of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE): scores older than five years are not valid.
5. A writing sample, preferably a literary essay.

Send application materials to:

DIVISION OF GRADUATE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
ATTENTION: ADMISSIONS
WESTFIELD STATE COLLEGE
WESTFIELD, MA 01086-1630

Applications are not considered complete until all required credentials are received, and no admission decision may be made until the application is complete.

Admission to the College is granted without regard to race, color, sex, religion or national origin.

Page last updated 12/12/05

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