Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

English (M.A.)


Bulletin/Catalog Year 2018-2019
College of Arts and Letters
Department of Languages and Literature

Dr. David Guest
Chair, Department of Languages and Literature
Associate Professor
Location: Harned Hall, Room 116
Phone: 931-221-7860
Email: guestd@apsu.edu

Dr. Mercy Cannon
Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor
Phone: (931) 221-7893
Email: cannonm@apsu.edu

 

Our master’s programs in Literature and Creative Writing emphasize teaching and the role of scholarship and creative writing in the development of teachers. Professors and students alike benefit from and enjoy the individual instruction and mentoring our graduate program offers. The ratio of graduate students to graduate faculty is approximately 2:1, ideal for students who want help in developing their particular talents. Graduate students join faculty in mentoring and teaching undergraduate students and in conducting and presenting research. Our graduate students have gone on to teach in high schools and universities, work as writers and editors, and pursue further studies in Ph.D. programs across the country.

Admission Requirements


Listed below are the required application materials and the associated scores (if necessary) for each.

  • Application for admission
  • Application Fee:  $45 domestic or $55 international
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
  • Official acceptable GRE scores
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Brief cover letter outlining your graduate career goals
  • Scholarly writing sample (minimum 6 pages)
  • Military documents (if applicable)
  • Admission decision by department

To  be  admitted,  an  applicant  must  have  a  bachelor’s  degree  with  a  minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.9, and must meet the conditions of the following formulae for the GRE exam:

                    GPA + (0.15 x GRE [Verbal]) > 23.5
                    GPA + (0.15 x GRE [Quant]) > 23.5
                    GRE Analytical Writing Score of at least 3.5.

The Graduate Coordinator will accept unofficial copies of GRE scores and transcripts.

Under “Non-Degree Seeking” status, an applicant may be granted conditional admission status if he or she submits unofficial documents for review and meets the criteria for regular admission. The Graduate Bulletin offers a full explanation of requirements for “Non-Degree Seeking” status.

Non-degree seeking students and students from other graduate programs who would like to enroll in graduate-level courses must request the permission of the department.  The graduate program in English is not required to allow non-degree seeking students or graduate students pursuing degrees in other graduate programs at Austin Peay State University to enroll in graduate seminars.

Austin Peay State University’s Department of Languages and Literature reserves the right to deny admissions to prospective graduate students on the basis of their academic performance, professional qualifications, and personal conduct.

For more information about the application process, please visit apsu.edu/grad-studies.

Program Options


All students are required to pass a written Comprehensive Examination in English and American literature. This examination is based upon a published reading list and is typically taken in the student’s last semester of residence.

English M.A. (non-thesis)


Students selecting non-thesis will use Research Plan I.
(See Graduate Research Requirements )

Required:


Total: 33 Hours


English M.A. (thesis)


Students selecting thesis will use Research Plan III.
(See Graduate Research Requirements )

Required:


Total: 33 Hours


Creative Writing Concentration


Master of Arts in English Program Course Requirements:
  1. ENGL 5000 Bibliography and Methods of Research   
  2. Five (5) graduate-level literature courses (15 credits total)
  3. Five (5) graduate-level courses (15 credits total; can include 6 thesis hours; can be literature, linguisitics, creative writing, professional/technical writing courses)
  4. Passing score on Comprehensive Examination.
Requirements:

Twelve (12) credits in graduate-level creative writing courses.  The courses listed below will count towards the Creative Writing Concentration and simultaneously count towards item 3 above.  An approved thesis in creative writing can also count towards the 12 required credits.  Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in creative writing courses in order to complete the Creative Writing Concentration.

Creative Writing Courses


(Minimally select 12 credit hours)

Linguistics Concentration


Master of Arts in English Program Course Requirements:
  1. ENGL 5000 - Bibliography and Methods of Research   3 
  2. Five (5) graduate-level literature courses (15 credits total)
  3. Five (5) graduate-level courses (15 credits total; can include 6 thesis hours; can be literature, linguisitics, creative writing, professional/technical writing courses)
  4. Passing score on Comprehensive Examination.
Requirements:

Twelve (12) credits in graduate-level Linguistic courses.  The courses listed below will count towards the Linguistics Concentration and simultaneously count towards item 3 above.  An approved thesis in Linguistics can also count towards the 12 required credits.  Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in linguistic courses in order to complete the Linguistics Concentration.

Linguistics Courses


(Minimally select 12 credit hours)