English

The M.A. in English at CSUN offers intensive training in textual and cultural study, including rhetoric, book studies, literature, creative writing, creative writing studies and critical theory. Our graduates are versed in the study and production of texts of all kinds, including their social, cultural, political, creative and technological contexts. We welcome students who wish to apply their critical reading and writing skills to the full range of cultural texts, past, present and future.

The M.A. in English consists of three options: Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Composition. The English department offers a limited number of openings for classified graduate students who wish to be Teaching Associates (TAs). TAs enroll in ENGL 600A (for 3 units credit) and ENGL 600B (for 3 units credit) and normally teach, under guidance, one section of Approaches to University Writing per semester for a stipend. Other teaching opportunities may be available to second-year TAs. For further information concerning choice of option or career opportunities, students should see the graduate advisor. To apply for a Teaching Associateship, students should see the director of composition.

A. Admission Requirements

In addition to the University requirements, the English department requires that students meet one of two conditions before being admitted into the department program:

1. Students with a B.A. in English must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division English courses. This GPA is determined by the cumulative GPA of all approved upper division English courses.
2. Students with a B.A. in a subject other than English must have a minimum of 24 semester units of approved upper division English courses or their equivalent (as determined by their disciplinary relevance) with a minimum 3.0 GPA in these courses. This GPA is determined by the cumulative GPA of all approved upper division English courses.

One of these two conditions must be met before a student may be admitted into the English department M.A. program. Applicants who, upon departmental evaluation, do not possess enough qualifying units or the required GPA need to take additional undergraduate upper division English courses to make up any deficits before admission into the program.

B. Classified Status

A classified student has fulfilled the following three criteria:

1. A B.A. in English or has already completed 24 upper division-approved English or their equivalent (as determined by their disciplinary relevance) semester units (upper division English GPA minimum required: 3.0).
2. A passing score on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE) or a score of 3 or greater on the written section of the GRE can exempt students from the UDWPE.
3. A GPA of 3.0 or greater in upper division English and a 3.0 in the last 60 units.

C. Denied Students

Denied students fall into one or more of these categories:

1. Do not have a B.A. in English.
2. Do not have 24 upper division approved English semester units and/or the equivalent, as determined by their potential to be offered in English department curriculum.
3. Do not have the required minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division English units.

Denied students may not take any graduate level courses (500- to 600-level).

Note that the English department’s requirements for classification are more stringent than the University’s requirements.

The UDWPE cannot be waived, but if a student passed this test or its equivalent at another CSU as an undergraduate, the student need not take it again. Students who have taken the written portion of the GRE and received a score of 3 or greater can be exempted from the UDWPE.

D. Degree Requirements

1. Core Requirements (15 units)

ENGL 507 An Introduction to Graduate Studies in English (3)

Seminar in Theory (3 units)

Select one of the following courses:

ENGL 638 Seminar in Critical Approaches to Literature (3)
ENGL 651 Rhetoric and Composition Theory (3)
ENGL 652 Creative Writing Studies (3)

Seminar in Genre Studies (3 units)

Select one of the following courses or equivalent:

ENGL 622 Seminar on Aspects of Poetry (3)
ENGL 623 Seminar in Studies in Prose Fiction (3)
ENGL 624 Studies in Dramatic Literature (3)
ENGL 653 Literary and Rhetorical Genre Theory (3)

Seminar in Cultural Studies or Textual Studies (3 units)

Select one of the following courses or equivalent:

ENGL 525A-Z Topics in English and Cultural Studies (3)
ENGL 630A-Z Seminar in Literary Periods (3)

Seminar in the Study of Language (3 units)

Select one of the following courses or equivalent:

ENGL 604 Seminar in Language and Linguistics (3)
ENGL 650 20th Century Rhetoric (3)

2. Literature Option Requirements (12 units)

Two 500- or 600-level ENGL seminars, with an emphasis on literature (6)
Two electives, selected with the approval of the graduate advisor (6)

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)

ENGL 698D Graduate Project (3)
or ENGL 697C Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)

Note: The department may not offer ENGL 698D every term. Students who choose not to take ENGL 698D must instead take ENGL 697C, the comprehensive examination.

E. Notes

1. In all options, students may choose, with consent of the graduate advisor, two 400-level courses in English or outside the English department that have been approved for graduate credit.

2. Students may repeat the following courses once for credit:
ENGL 512 Writing for Performance (3-3)
ENGL 608 Seminar in Narrative Writing (3-3)
ENGL 609 Seminar in Poetry Writing (3-3)
ENGL 622 Seminar on Aspects of Poetry (3-3)
ENGL 623 Seminar in Studies in Prose Fiction (3-3)

3. Students may repeat the following courses twice for credit:
ENGL 525A-Z Topics in English and Cultural Studies (3-3-3)
ENGL 620A-Z Seminar in Individual Authors (3-3-3)
ENGL 630A-Z Seminar in Literary Periods (3-3-3)

Total Units Required for the M.A. Degree: 30