Graduate School - English

Introduction
Graduate courses in English at ACU are aimed primarily at preparing students for entry in PhD programs or terminal MFA programs or for seeking employment as teachers. As one of a very few religiously-based institutions to offer an MA in English (according to Peterson’s Christian Colleges and Universities, ACU is the only CCCU school and the only university affiliated with Churches of Christ to offer such a program), ACU is uniquely situated to prepare Christian scholars for service and leadership throughout the world.

The Department of English offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree in English with three courses of study for students interested in particular subfields of English studies: a literature track, a composition/rhetoric track, and a writing track. Each of these tracks is aimed at giving students the broadest preparation possible for work in their particular subfield.

Graduate students begin their study with core courses that emphasize intersections of faith and English studies, teacher training and pedagogical exploration, and scholarly production.

The literature track asks students to explore the critical and theoretical approaches to texts written in the various literary periods and to expose students to writers from across the literary spectrum. Courses in this track emphasize student research, writing, and presentation. Students have the option of thesis or nonthesis plans.

The composition and rhetoric track offers students advanced training in current pedagogical rhetorical theory, and is designed primarily for those interested in teaching composition. This track emphasizes student research, writing, and presentation. Students have the option of thesis or nonthesis plans.

The writing track emphasizes creative writing or technical and professional writing by means of courses conducted through workshopping, reading, and writing. A thesis is required for all students in this track.

All degree plans involve 36 hours of course work (18 of which must be conducted at the 600-level) with up to 6 hours dedicated to thesis writing and another six available for courses in a support field offered by another department or program. A 3-hour guided study option is also offered to help students prepare for comprehensive exams.

Admission Requirements   
For admission criteria, please refer to the Graduate School - Admission Requirements section of this catalog. In addition to the general Graduate School requirements, applicants to the MA in English program must submit:

1. An official GRE score (may be waived for ACU graduates with BA in English); 
2. Competence in a second language approved by the English graduate advisor (usually demonstrated through the completion of sophomore-level foreign language courses); and
3. A writing sample in either:
   a . A sample critical essay (maximum of 15 pages) that demonstrates the applicant’s 
        capacity for interpretation and literary analysis, or

          b. A sample creative writing in prose or poetry (maximum of 20 pages) if the student
              intends to pursue the writing emphasis track. Writing samples will not be returned
              unless a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

     4.  12 hours of upper-division English courses.

Applicants who fail to meet one or more admission requirements may be admitted conditionally. A letter to the student will specify the procedures and deadlines for satisfying the entrance requirements.

Except for the language requirement, deficiencies ordinarily must be satisfied during the first semester of study.

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ENGLISH – LITERATURE TRACK (MA)   

Major Code: ENGL

Requirements for the MA in English, literature track, 36-hour thesis/non-thesis
program are:

           1. Core, 9hours:
              ENGL 613 Literary Theory and Faith
              ENGL 652 Rhetorical Theory and Praxis
              ENGL 600 Guided Study in Intensive Research

          2. Literature, 9 hours:
              ENGL 620 Literary Research Methods and Publication
              ENGL 631Contexts: Studies in a Single Author
              ENGL 633 Connections: Studies in a Literary Period

          3. Discourse Studies, 0-9 hours:
              ENGL 530 Advanced English Grammar
              ENGL 532 Introduction to Linguistics
              ENGL 622 Rhetoric and Belief
              ENGL 623 Discourse Theory
              ENGL 624 Non-Traditional Rhetoric

          4. Writing, 0-6 hours:
              ENGL 520 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
              ENGL 522 Fiction Workshop
              ENGL 523 Poetry Workshop

          5. General Literature, 0-9 hours:
              ENGL 571 Literature and Belief
              ENGL 576 Fiction
              ENGL 577 Drama
              ENGL 578 Poetry
              ENGL 615 World Literature

          6. American literature, 6-12 hours
              ENGL 562 American Literature to 1860
              ENGL 563 American Literature after 1860
              ENGL 564 American Novel
              ENGL 570 Multicultural Literature
              ENGL 610 Studies in American Literature (may be repeated up to 9 hours)
              ENGL 631 Contexts: Studies in a single author when author is 
                     from American Literature

          7. British literature to 1789, 3-12 hours:
              ENGL 581 Medieval British Literature
              ENGL 583 Shakespeare
              ENGL 584 17th-Century British Literature
              ENGL 612 Studies in British Literature          
              ENGL 631 Contexts: Studies in a single author when author is 
                     from British Literature before 1789    

        8. British literature after 1789, 3-12 hours
              ENGL 595 18th Century British Literature
              ENGL 596 19th Century British Literature
              ENGL 597 20th Century British Literature
              ENGL 612 Studies in British Literature
              ENGL 631 Contexts: Studies in a single author when author is  
                    from British literature after 1789.

          9. Support field, 0-6 hours

        10. Thesis credits, 6 hours (optional)

        11. Comprehensive Exams

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ENGLISH – COMPOSITION/RHETORIC TRACK (MA)   

Major Code: ENGL

Requirements for the MA in English, composition/rhetoric track, 36-hour thesis/non-thesis program are:

          1. Core, 6 hours
              ENGL 613 Literary Theory and Faith
              ENGL 652 Rhetorical Theory and Praxis   
              ENGL 600 Guided Study in Intensive Research

          2. Rhetoric/Composition, 9 hours
               ENGL 622 Rhetoric and Belief 
               ENGL 623 Discourse Theory
               ENGL 625 Literary Research Methods and Publication

          3. Discourse Studies, 0-12 hours:
               ENGL 530 Advanced English Grammar
               ENGL 532 Introduction to Linguistics
               ENGL 558 Teaching English as a Second Language
               ENGL 624 Non-Traditional Rhetoric

          4. Writing, 0-9 hours
              ENGL 520 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
              ENGL 522 Fiction Workshop
              ENGL 523 Poetry Workshop
              ENGL 525 Advanced Composition
              ENGL 526 Business and Professional Writing
              ENGL 540 Special Topic: Playwriting

          5. Literature, 3-9 hours
              ENGL 562 American Literature to 1860
              ENGL 563 American Literature after 1860
              ENGL 564 American Novel
              ENGL 570 Multicultural Literature
              ENGL 571 Literature and Belief
              ENGL 572 Film and Belief
              ENGL 576 Fiction
              ENGL 577 Drama
              ENGL 578 Poetry
              ENGL 581 Medieval British Literature
              ENGL 583 Shakespeare
              ENGL 584 17th Century British Literature
              ENGL 595 18th Century British Literature
              ENGL 596 19th Century British Literature
              ENGL 597 20th Century British Literature
              ENGL 610 Studies in American Literature (may be repeated up to 9 hours)
              ENGL 612 Studies in British Literature (may be repeated up to 9 hours)
              ENGL 615 World Literature

          6. Support field, 0-6 hours

          7. Thesis credits, 6 hours (optional)

          8. Comprehensive Exams

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ENGLISH – WRITING TRACK (MA)   

Major Code: ENGL

Requirements for the MA in English, writing track, 36-hour thesis program are:

          1. Core, 6 hours
              ENGL 613 Literary Theory and Faith
              ENGL 652 Rhetorical Theory and Praxis

          2. Writing, 12-15 hours
              ENGL 520 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
              ENGL 522 Fiction Workshop
              ENGL 523 Poetry Workshop
              ENGL 525 Advanced Composition
              ENGL 526 Business and Professional Writing
              ENGL 540 Special Topic: Playwriting

          3. Language, 0-9 hours:
              ENGL 529 Rhetoric as Written Discourse
              ENGL 530 Advanced English Grammar
              ENGL 532 Introduction to Linguistics
              ENGL 558 Teaching English as a Second Language

          4. Literature, 0-9 hours:
              ENGL 551 Literature for Young Adults
              ENGL 562 American Literature to 1860
              ENGL 563 American Literature after 1860
              ENGL 564 American Novel
              ENGL 570 Multicultural Literature
              ENGL 571 Literature and Belief
              ENGL 572 Film and Belief
              ENGL 576 Fiction
              ENGL 577 Drama
              ENGL 578 Poetry
              ENGL 581 Medieval British Literature
              ENGL 583 Shakespeare
              ENGL 584 17th Century British Literature
              ENGL 595 18th Century British Literature
              ENGL 596 19th Century British Literature
              ENGL 597 20th Century British Literature
              ENGL 610 Studies in American Literature (may be repeated up to 9 hours)
              ENGL 612 Studies in British Literature (may be repeated up to 9 hours)
              ENGL 615 World Literature

          5. Support field, 0-6 hours

          6. Thesis credits, 6 hours

          7. Comprehensive Exams, Guided Study 0-3 hours

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