Phone: 703-993-1160
Web: english.gmu.edu
Professors: L. Brown, Cheuse, D’Andrea (Robinson Professor), Foster, Goodwin, Hodges, Jann, Lathbury, Lowry, Nadeau, Pankey
Associate professors: Albanese, Amireh, Anderson, Atkinson, Burr, Clark, Foreman, Fuchs, Gallehr, Hawk, Holisky, Jones, Kaplan (chair), Kaufmann, Keaney, Kuebrich, Lattanzi Shutika, Matz, Rutledge, Tichy, Trafton, Weinberger, Yadav, Yocom
Assistant professors: Eisner, Eyman, Habila, Harvey, Keith, Lin, Marcantonio, McCarthy, Ngalabak, Reid, Sample, Widerhold, Zawacki
Term associate professors: Koch, Michals, Miller, Samuelian, Scott, Taciuch, Taylor, Thompson
Term instructors: Beach, Hoy, Raffel, Scolaro
Adjunct assistant professors: Burnham, DeFazio, Dreisonstok, Fowler, Humbertson, Jacobs, Kuhta, Moody, Pabich, Redondo
Adjunct instructors: Cooper, Grogan-Barone, Gulshan, Holcomb, Johnston, McKinney
The English Department offers all course work designated CL, ENGL, LING, and NAIS in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
Courses offered by other departments are occasionally cross-listed with English and given the ENGL course designator; such courses may be counted toward the English major.
BA-ENGL
In addition to university-wide general education requirements and college-level requirements for the BA degree in CHSS, students pursuing this degree must complete 30 credits (nine courses) in English beyond ENGL 302 with a minimum GPA of 2.00 distributed as follows:
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 333, 368, 370, 371, 372, 375, 380, 390, 423, 425, 447, 452, 454, 463, 478, or from special topics courses when designated by department
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 344, 397, 398, 399, 458, 464 or 497
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 327, 330, 332, 333, 334, 338, 349, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 460, 479, 490, 491, 493, or from special topics courses when designated by department. Up to one course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from COMM 465; CULT 320; PSYC 362; SOCI 315; WMST 300, 330.
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 335, 336, 440, 443, 445, 447, 448, 449 or from special topics courses when designated by department. A maximum of one course (3 credits) may be from courses on Shakespeare. Up to one course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from FREN 413, 442; RUSS 407; SPAN 565, THR 350, 351, 352, 380, 381
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 380, 398, 463, 437, 450, 452, 453, 454, 456, 459, 460, 492 or from special topics courses when designated by department
At least one of the four courses (3 credits) must be in fiction before 1915 chosen from ENGL 436, 450, 452, 453, or from special topics courses when designated by department
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 327, 332, 343, 421, 422, 490 or from special topics courses when designated by department. Up to one course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from ARTH 362, 373, 374; COMM 380, 465; MUSI 301; RUSS 470
At least two courses (6 credits) in folklore and mythology chosen from ENGL 311, 333, 337, 491, 498, 591 or from special topics courses when designated by department. Up to one course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from ANTH 450 or CLAS 340
Up to two courses (6 credits) related to folklore and mythology chosen from ENGL 327, 335, 336, 349, 368, 370, 371, 372, 400, 445, 471, 472, 474. One course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from ANTH 301, 302, 303, 304, 306, 307, 308, 311, 313, 332; ARTH 319, 321, 322, 340, 342, 345, 382, 383, 384, 385; RELI 351
One required course (3 credits): LING 326
Three courses (9 credits) chosen from LING 322, 326, 450, 485, 486, 490, 499, 507, 521, 522, 523, 581, 582
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 355, 336, 400, 401, 402, 431, 440, 471, 472, 473, 474 or from special topics courses when designated by department. Up to one course (3 credits) may be from outside the English Department from ARTH 334, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345; HIST 304, 305, 306, 321; PHIL 302; RELI 371
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 404, 405, 406, 407, 443, 445, 450, 453, 456, 462 or from special topics courses when designated by department
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from 309, 311, 342, 343, 392, 399, 410, 489, 496, 498, 503, 504, 505 or from special topics courses when designated by department
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from ENGL 335, 336, 390, 397, 400, 401, 402, 404, 406, 407, 462, 463, 468, 471 or from special topics courses when designated by department
At least two courses (6 credits) chosen from ENGL 349, 350, 436, 437, 439, 448 or from special topics courses when designated by department
Up to one course (3 credits) chosen from courses from the concentrations in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, American Literature, or Modern British Literature
Up to one course (3 credits) in a relevant course from these approved courses: ANTH 300; CULT 320; HIST 308, 309, 387; CHIN 310, 311, 325, 328; FRLN 330; FREN 325, 329; GERM 325; JAPA 320; RUSS 325, 326, 327; SPAN 325, 329
Students should consult with an English Department advisor to learn ways in which the university-wide general education requirements can also satisfy college-level requirements or the English major. Graduating majors participate in assessment of the degree by preparing a dossier of writing completed in their upper-level courses.
The English Department and the Modern and Classical Languages Department offer a BA in English with an emphasis in comparative literature. This program combines the study of literature in English with the study of one or more foreign literatures and with cross-cultural literary study. It requires 10 courses above ENGL 302, distributed as follows:
Students should consult with their advisor to design a program of study that best suits their particular interests and goals.
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as “writing intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in English fulfill this requirement by successfully completing ENGL 325.
Students interested in designing a double major are encouraged to discuss their plans with their English advisor and the director of undergraduate programs in English.
To qualify for graduation with honors, students must complete the honors course sequence and receive a 3.50 GPA in all courses counted toward the major and, separately, a minimum 3.50 GPA in their honors courses. Honors courses may simultaneously satisfy concentration and distribution requirements in the major.
Students may satisfy the honors course sequence in several ways:
See the English Department for application procedures and other information.
A minor in English provides students with a sound introduction to the field of literary studies and allows them to select a set of courses to suit their individual interests. Prerequisites for the minor in English are the 3-credit university-wide general education requirement in literature.
Students pursuing this minor must complete 18 credits above ENGL 302 with a minimum 2.00 GPA distributed as follows:
The minor must be approved by the English Department undergraduate advisor before graduation. In accordance with university policy, at least 8 credits must be applied only to the minor and may not be used to fulfill requirements of the student’s major, concentration, or another minor. For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.
The minor in teaching English as a second language (TESL) helps prepare undergraduate students to teach nonnative speakers of English in the United States or abroad. This course of study combines linguistic theory, second language acquisition theory, and ESL teaching methodology.
The minor in TESL may be pursued concurrently with any undergraduate major. English majors concentrating in linguistics can apply up to 9 credits in LING used for the major to the TESL minor. Students in the TESL minor must have approval from the director to register for the 500-level courses in the TESL program.
Students pursuing this minor complete 18 credits distributed as follows:
Other suitable elective courses may be applied to the minor with the prior approval of the director. In accordance with university policy, at least 8 credits must be applied only to the minor and may not be used to fulfill requirements of the student’s major, concentration, or another minor.
The department coordinates or co-coordinates the interdisciplinary minors in film and media studies, folklore and mythology, and linguistics. See the Interdisciplinary Minors section of this chapter for more information.
The English Department permits qualified undergraduates to enroll in its graduate courses numbered 500 through 599, either for undergraduate or reserve graduate credit. See the department for details on how to enroll.
Students who plan to seek teacher licensure and become K–12 teachers should consult the College of Education and Human Development chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.
The Writing Center offers one-on-one conferencing during all stages of the writing process. Conferences are free to all Mason students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Writing Center tutors, who are graduate teaching assistants in the English Department, have been trained in current methods of composition instruction. They can help clients overcome writing anxiety, develop organizational and revision skills, and learn useful strategies for editing their own work. Appointments should be made by calling 703-993-1200 or stopping by the center in Robinson Hall A, Room 116, to schedule a session.
The Northern Virginia Writing Project (NVWP) is an in-service organization dedicated to improving the writing of Northern Virginia students, kindergarten through university level. Each summer, selected teachers attend an intensive five-week institute where they demonstrate successful teaching techniques, study research on the teaching of writing, and write. After the summer institute, participants return to their schools, colleges, and universities to lead workshops and in-service seminars for other teachers. NVWP is an affiliate of the National Writing Project and one of the seven sites of the Virginia Writing Project.
Highly qualified Mason undergraduates may apply to the accelerated master’s degree program and obtain both a BA in English and an MA in English with a concentration in linguistics after satisfactory completion of 144 credits. Well-prepared undergraduates are encouraged to apply as they near completion of 90 credits. Satisfactory performance in LING 326 is a prerequisite for admission. Admitted students are able to use up to 6 graduate credits in partial fulfillment of requirements for the undergraduate degree. On completion and conferral of the undergraduate degree with satisfactory performance (3.00 in each course, grade of B or better) in graduate courses, students are given advanced standing in the master’s program. All other master’s degree requirements must be met. Interested students should contact the director of linguistics for details about the application process.
The English Department offers graduate programs in the study and practice of literature and writing, as well as course work in related fields such as folklore, film, and cultural studies. The MA in English (30 credits) provides concentrations in literature, cultural studies, professional writing and rhetoric, the teaching of writing and literature, and linguistics. The department also offers a terminal degree, the MFA in creative writing (48 credits), with concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. In addition, the department offers a certificate in teaching English as a second language (TESL, 18 credits), a certificate in professional writing and rhetoric (18 credits), and courses as part of the PhD in education.
MA-ENGL
In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit one copy of a 1,000-word analytical writing sample and two letters of recommendation. For those applying in cultural studies, literature, professional writing and rhetoric, and the teaching of writing and literature, the writing sample should be an interpretive paper on a literary text. In addition to the writing sample, applicants must submit a goals statement of no more than 750 words. Applicants for the concentration in professional writing and rhetoric must also submit two copies of a 10- to 15-page portfolio of their nonfiction work such as a technical or business report, essay, term paper, editing project, or any other material reflecting interests and skills in nonfiction writing.
Applicants may submit scores from the GRE when they believe those scores will lead to a clearer representation of their qualifications. Those with undergraduate majors in disciplines other than English are encouraged to apply, but they may be required to make up deficiencies before entering the program.
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 30 credits in graduate English courses in one of the following concentrations. Students must also demonstrate foreign language proficiency by course work equivalent to Mason’s foreign language 210 or by passing a translation test administered by the department.
The linguistics concentration of the MA in English combines courses in linguistics with courses in some related area of language study, such as teaching English as a second language, bilingual education, or foreign language teaching. The course of study is designed to prepare students for teaching in one of these fields or for doctoral work. The certificate in teaching English as a second language can be earned concurrently. Students pursuing the linguistics concentration must successfully complete 30 graduate credits, distributed as follows, and demonstrate foreign language proficiency (see above).
MFA-CW
The MFA program has three concentrations: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Students should apply to only one concentration, although a student turned down by one concentration may subsequently apply to another or to that same concentration in a subsequent year.
Students interested in taking individual courses or in applying in the future to the MFA program are welcome to apply to take classes as nondegree students; however, such enrollments are allowed only with the instructor’s permission. Regular applicants to the MFA program who are denied admission may not take courses as nondegree students. Students interested in taking a course as nondegree should submit a brief letter of introduction and a writing sample to the professor at least one week before the start of classes.
In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, one copy of a 1,000-word analytical writing sample, and a portfolio of original work. The analytical writing sample may be a paper written for an undergraduate class or any other work that gives evidence of advanced writing skills. For those applying to the MFA concentration in fiction, the portfolio should consist of up to 50 pages of fiction; at least two complete short stories are preferred. For those applying to the poetry concentration, the portfolio should consist of up to 20 pages of poetry. For those applying to the nonfiction concentration, the portfolio should consist of up to 50 pages of creative nonfiction.
Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 48 graduate credits, distributed as follows:
With the approval of the MFA faculty, the program director, and the dean, the number of credits required for an MFA may be reduced by a maximum of 20 credits on the basis of graduate course work before admission.
Students in poetry must pass a written MFA exam based on the authors they have chosen. The authors are selected in collaboration with the writing faculty any time after completing 12 credits of course work and before completing 32 credits. The exam must be completed at least one semester before the student registers for the final 3 credits of thesis.
Students in fiction and nonfiction must pass an MFA exam or complete an MFA project. Students who elect to take the MFA exam select, after the completion of 18 credits and with the approval of their faculty advisors, a list of authors and an area of emphasis (for example, the European novel). Students who elect to complete an MFA project (such as editing an anthology) must carry out the project under the direction of a faculty member and may register for ENGL 798 to fulfill this requirement. ENGL 798 may not be used to fulfill the literature requirement or as thesis preparation. The exam or project must be completed at least one semester before the student registers for the final 3 credits of thesis.
Students who have not completed the equivalent of Mason’s foreign language 210 must do so or demonstrate proficiency by passing a translation test administered by the English Department.
CERG-FLK
The certificate in folklore enables students to explore the processes of tradition that move through multiple expressive forms, such as folktales, folk beliefs, folk medicine, folk art, folksong, and literature. A discipline based on ethnographic fieldwork, folklore offers students a chance to work in communities and collect living traditional materials that are critical to human identity and values. Interdisciplinary by nature, folklore thrives on local particularities as well as compelling global connections. This certificate prepares students for careers in cultural agencies, governmental organizations, and teaching institutions, and advanced study in the humanities.
Students pursuing this certificate must complete 18 credits distributed as follows:
CERG-TESL
The Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate prepares students to teach non-native speakers of English in the United States or abroad. Certificate courses fulfill, in part, requirements for an endorsement in English as a second language to the Virginia state teaching credential. Students who want to earn this endorsement should consult with an advisor.
Applicants must be admitted to graduate study or approved for graduate course enrollment as nondegree students. Students who initially enroll in the certificate program as nondegree must apply for admission to the graduate program no later than the second semester of study. When formal admission to graduate study is sought, applicants must submit one copy of an analytical writing sample of approximately 1,000 words, a goals statement, and two letters of recommendation.
The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of several degree programs offered through the Graduate School of Education, the English Department, and the Modern and Classical Languages Department. Part of the course work toward the certificate may be applied toward degrees in those departments. Students enrolled in another graduate degree program who want to work for the certificate must apply to the English Department for admission into the certificate program.
Students pursuing this certificate must complete 18 credits, earning a grade of 3.00 or better, distributed as follows:
CERG- PWE
This certificate provides graduate students with course work in nonfiction writing in specific genres, current writing practices and theories of writing in organizational settings, research methods in professional writing, and nonfiction literature.
Applicants must submit an analytical writing sample of at least 1,000 words, a goals statement, two letters of recommendation, and a portfolio of writing or editing. Applicants must be currently admitted to a graduate degree program or approved for enrollment as nondegree students. Because only 6 credits earned as a nondegree student may be applied to the certificate, students who initially take courses as nondegree should apply for admission before completing 6 credits of course work. Completion of course work is not in itself a guarantee of admission to the certificate program.
The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of several degree programs in English and elsewhere in CHSS. Part of the course work toward the certificate may be applied to those degrees.
Students pursuing this certificate must complete 18 credits of English graduate courses, earning a grade of B or better in each, distributed as follows:
Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work presented on the certificate application.