Associate Professors--Earthman, Evitt, Gillotte, Kwok, Lyles, Peel, Shih, Sommers, Waksler, Weinstein
Assistant Professors--Avery, Carlton, Christmas, Nakayama, Schaffer, Schoerke, Stec
B.A. in English: Concentration in Language Studies
B.A. in English: Concentration in Literature
Minor in English and American Literature
Minor in English Language Studies
M.A. in English: Concentration in Composition
M.A. in English: Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
M.A. in English: Concentration in Linguistics
M.A. in English: Concentration in Literature
Certificate in Teaching of Composition
Certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading
The M.A. in English with Concentration in Composition addresses the need for professionalization of writing instruction, drawing on recent research into the composing process and into the unique characteristics of written English. The concentration emphasizes theory, research, and practice in the teaching of writing at advanced-secondary, community-college, and college levels. It builds upon a pioneering program designed to train teachers of composition at San Francisco State and provides professional preparation for writing teachers and supervisors, and a rigorous scholarly foundation for students preparing for doctoral work in composition or adult literacy.
The Master of Arts in English with Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is offered as a result of a growing local, national, and international demand for persons prepared to perform various services in English as a foreign or second language. This concentration includes work in literature and foreign languages, with optional electives in education and the social sciences, as well as specialized work at an advanced level in linguistics and language teaching. The concentration provides training for teachers and a suitable background for supervisors and others responsible for the preparation of materials and courses of study in English as a foreign or second language. Completion of the Master of Arts with a concentration in TESOL may not fulfill the requirements for teacher credentialing in the State of California; some California credentials may require additional course work and/or examinations.
The M.A. in English with Concentration in Linguistics provides students with a solid grounding in the tools of language analysis. The course offerings in contemporary linguistic theory cover a broad spectrum of the levels of linguistic structure: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, discourse analysis, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. The program provides background for teachers of English at the secondary and community college levels, for other specialists in education, and for those who wish to pursue more advanced studies. Since the program allows considerable choice in course work beyond a basic set of core requirements, the student in consultation with an adviser can plan a program to suit individual interests and career requirements.
The M.A. in English with Concentration in Literature develops professional skills, ensures breadth of knowledge, and provides opportunities for specialization. Broader relationships are studied in the survey, period, and genre courses; narrower, deeper investigations are undertaken in the seminars. The thesis explores critical possibilities well beyond the range of the seminar paper. It measures the candidate's ability to isolate and thoroughly examine a particular literary problem, theme, or idea.
The Certificate in the Teaching of Composition has been designed as a quick, economical means of attaining proficiency in the teaching of composition at senior high school, community college, college, and adult levels. It is aimed at both experienced and aspirant teachers who wish to study the practice of teaching composition without the theoretical and research background obtained in the M.A. in English: Concentration in Composition.
The Certificate in the Teaching of Post-Secondary Reading enables prospective and already practicing post-secondary teachers to attain proficiency in the teaching of reading at community college, college, and adult levels. New requirements for teaching reading in the community colleges (Assembly Bill 1725) specify that new instructors must possess a master's degree in education with a specialization in reading, or a master's in English or TESOL with additional certification in the teaching of reading.
Students completing the M.A. in Composition typically either go on to doctoral work with a view to teaching at a four-year institution or enter the community-college job market. At the university level, specialists in composition and rhetoric are in increasing demand as researchers and directors of undergraduate writing programs. Two-year colleges are increasingly recognizing the need for professional training in the teaching of composition and are hiring accordingly.
The Master of Arts with Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages prepares students specifically to teach English to non-native speakers of the language. Most graduates of the program become TESOL classroom teachers in adult education classes, public schools, intensive language programs, and colleges either in the United States or foreign countries. Others choose jobs in related areas such as program administration, curriculum design, materials writing, and teacher training.
The Master of Arts in Linguistics prepares students for a variety of teaching and research positions in which the emphasis is on the structure of language. Graduates of the program may teach English language or writing, work in the fields of speech production or speech recognition, or go on to further study in linguistics or related disciplines.
While the M.A. in Literature is specifically designed to prepare a student for a career in teaching literature in community colleges or high schools in the U.S. or overseas, it has a far broader application. Any career requiring communication, research or analytic skills, literacy, a careful scholarly approach and a broad understanding of human values may use this program as a base. Those include publishing, editing, media, journalism, technical writing, government service, law, and administrative or research work in business or industry.
The Certificate in the Teaching of Composition prepares students for teaching composition at the advanced secondary, community college, and college levels. Many students in M.A. programs other than composition take the certificate as a means of preparing themselves for teaching positions in two-year colleges, recognizing that other degree concentrations in English may not make them sufficiently marketable. In addition a number of two-year college and high school English teachers take the courses to develop their expertise in composition.
The Certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading enables prospective and already practicing post-seconday teachers to develop their ability to meet specific individual professional needs in the area of basic literacy and reading instruction. This certificate prepares students for teaching positions in the community colleges and community agencies where specialized background and techniques are necessary.
English majors are required to complete a 39-unit program consisting of fifteen (15) units of core requirements and additional requirements in an area of concentration.
English courses normally earn three units of credit. However, some courses which fulfill requirements for the major are variable unit courses and may earn four or five units. For further information on how to apply these additional units to completion of the major, see the elective unit section under each concentration, pick up a Literature Course Classification Guide(available in the English Department), and consult with your adviser.
The basic requirements for the B.A. in English can be met by completing anyone of the following areas of concentration. Guidelines for the patterns of additional requirements for each concentration, including the Individual Major, are available in the department office. In addition students must take one critical writing course which includes an introduction to literature; typically this requirement will be met by students taking English 214 to fulfill university requirements. But for students not taking English 214, one of the following must be included on their program: English 418 or English 411 (foreign students only). English 50, 114, 214, 410/414 cannot be counted for credit in the major.
Nine units of work in lower division courses may be accepted for credit in the major upon consent of an adviser.
Courses for this discipline are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page reference).
Units
One upper division course in Shakespeare 3
ENG 480 Junior Seminar 3
One of the following courses in English litera-
ture before 1800: 3
ENG 501 Age of Chaucer
ENG 509 Age of Humanism
ENG 510 Age of Wit
One of the following courses in English/
American literature of the 19th century: 3
ENG 514 Age of Romantics
ENG 516 Age of Victorians
ENG 526 Age of American Renaissance
One course in an individual author 3
Concentration(see listings below) 24
Total for major 39
One course in language with approval of
adviser 3
One course in theory or criticism 3
One course in English literature before 1800
(apart from core Shakespeare require-
ment) 3
Courses selected with approval of adviser 15
Four courses in language 12
ENG 421 Structure of English
ENG 422 History of English Language
ENG 424 Phonology and Morphology
ENG 425 Language in Context
Courses selected with approval of adviser 12
Students enrolling in the Individual Major
Program will follow a 24-unit course of
study worked out in continuous close
consultation with an individual program
adviser. Each course of study is adapted
to the background and interests of the
student. The Individual Major is available
to students who can define a course of
study in a serious and coherent way.
Interested students apply with the English
Department advising coordinator. 24
One of the following courses in lower division
literature: 3
ENG 150 The Study of Literature
ENG 152 The Novel in English
ENG 154 Masterworks of Literature
ENG 155 Contemporary Literature
ENG 158 American Literature
ENG 159 Beginning Shakespeare
One of the following courses in Language: 3
ENG 420 Introduction to the Study of
Language
ENG 421 The Structure of English
ENG 422 History of the English Language
ENG 424 Phonology and Morphology
ENG 425 Language in Context
ENG 429 Stylistics
One upper division course in Shakespeare 3
One upper division course in pre-1800
literature 3
Three upper division literature courses
(electives) 9
Total for minor 21
ENG 421 The Structure of English 3
ENG 424 Phonology and Morphology 3
ENG 425 Language in Context 3
Three units selected from the following:
ENG 420, 422, 426, 429, 651 3
Six units in Literature, three of which must be
from the following: 6
ENG 150 The Study of Literature
ENG 152 The Novel in English
ENG 154 Masterworks of Literature
ENG 155 Contemporary Literature
ENG 158 American Literature
ENG 159 Beginning Shakespeare
One upper division course in Shakespeare 3
Total 21
All M.A. candidates who wish to receive the Single Subject Teaching Credential concurrently with the M.A. should confer with an appropriate adviser in the College of Education.
Courses for these programs are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page reference).
It is expected that a student completing this program is able to write prose publishable in academic journals.
Units
ENG 700 Introduction to Composition
Theory 3
ENG 704 Introduction to the Teaching of
Writing 3
ENG 706 Seminar in Sociolinguistics of
Composition 3
ENG 716 Projects in the Teaching of
Writing 3
ENG 890 Seminar in Research in
Composition 3
ENG 892 Integrative Seminar in
Composition Studies 3
Units to be taken with the approval of an
adviser from the following: 12
ENG 429 Stylistics
ENG 555 Short Story
ENG 635 Coming of Age in America
ENG 701 Theoretical Backgrounds in Com-
munity College and College
Reading Instruction
ENG 702 Reading-Writing Connections
ENG 705 Seminar in Basic/Remedial
Writing
ENG 707 Current Issues in Composition
ENG 708 Computers and the Teaching of
Writing
ENG 715 Projects in the Teaching of
Reading
ENG 717 Projects in Teaching Literature
ENG 718 Supervision of Teaching
Experience
ENG 651 Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages
ENG 730 Introduction to Graduate Study:
TESOL
ENG 800 Special Topics in the Study of
Composition and Reading
ENG 815 Research Topics in Post-
Secondary Reading
ENG 896 Projects in Composition
Research
orother approved courses within or outside
the English Department
Minimum total 30andMaster's Comprehensive Written and Oral Examinations
Master's Examinations.Failure of these examinations does not disqualify the candidate unless the examining committee so directs. The candidate may take the examinations twice, and if failing both times, will be disqualified from the graduate program.
NOTE:Prerequisite to ENG 704 is ENG 657, passed with a grade of B or better; prerequisite to ENG 716 is ENG 704, passed with a grade of B or better; prerequisite to ENG 890 is ENG 700.
Students whose native language is not English and whose education was outside the United States must present evidence of a TOEFL score of 570 or higher. Students applying from other countries are accepted only for the Fall semester.
Units
ENG 653 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar 3
ENG 730 Introduction to Graduate Study of
TESOL 3
ENG 731 Seminar: TESOL Listening and
Speaking Skills 3
ENG 732 Seminar: TESOL Reading and
Writing Skills 3
ENG 733 Student Teaching in Teaching
English to Speakers of Other
Language s 3
ENG 891 Integrative Seminar in Teaching
English to Speakers of Other
Languages 3
Upper division or graduate courses selected
with adviser's approval from subjects in
each of Groups I, II, III, and IV (see
below) 12
Minimum total 30
andMaster's Comprehensive Examinations or
Master's Thesis (see below)
ENG 720 Seminar in Language, Literature,
and Culture: TESOL
ENG 722 Seminar in Language Assessment
ENG 724 Special Topics in TESOL
ENG 728 Seminar in Sociolinguistics
ENG 729 Seminar in Psycholinguistics
ENG 719 Seminar: Contemporary Semantic
Theory
ENG 723 Seminar in the Structure of
English
ENG 725 Special Topics in Linguistics
Master's Examinations.The oral and written comprehensive examinations test the ability of students to integrate the knowledge and experience they have acquired in this field. The examinations are on the content areas covered in the program, with an emphasis on methodological facets of TESOL. The candidate may take the examinations twice and, if failing both times, will be disqualified from the graduate program.
Upon recommendation of the adviser and consent of the graduate coordinator, a student can write a master's thesis in lieu of taking the comprehensive examinations.
Students whose native language is not English and whose education was outside the United States must present evidence of a TOEFL score of 570 or higher. International students applying from abroad are accepted only for the Fall semester.
Units
ENG 719 Seminar: Contemporary Semantic
Theory 3
ENG 729 Seminar in Psycholinguistics 3
ENG 728 Seminar in Sociolinguistics 3
ENG 723 Seminar in the Structure of English 3
Total for core 12
Units to be taken from one or more of the
following groups of related courses or
other courses approved by an adviser. At
least two courses must be linguistics
courses. All must be selected with
approval of adviser. 15
ENG 651 Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages: Basic Principles
ENG 653 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar
ENG 720 Seminar in Language, Literature,
and Culture: TESOL
ENG 726 Practicum in TESOL
ENG 730 Introduction to Graduate Study:
TESOL
ENG 731 Seminar: TESOL Listening and
Speaking Skills
ENG 732 Seminar: TESOL Reading and
Writing Skills
ENG 422 History of the English Language
ENG 724 Special Topics in TESOL (1-3)
ENG 725 Special Topics in Linguistics
ANTH 500 Descriptive Linguistics
PHIL 830 Seminar in the Philosophy of
Language
ENG 722 Seminar in Language Assessment
ENG 724 Special Topics in TESOL (1-3)
ENG 725 Special Topics in Linguistics
SPCH 503 Sex Roles and Communication (4)
SPCH 541 Intercultural Communication (4)
SPCH 750 Seminar in Communication and
Culture (4)
ENG 654 Tutoring in Reading
ENG 656 Topics in Reading in the Secondary
School (1-3)
ENG 657 Grammar and Rhetoric of the
Sentence
ENG 658 Projects in Study and Reading
Techniques
ENG 704 Introduction to Teaching of
Writing
ENG 715 Projects in the Teaching of
Reading
ENG 716 Projects in the Teaching of
Writing
ENG 429 Stylistics
ENG 655 Literature and the Adolescent
Reader
ENG 720 Seminar in Language, Literature,
and Culture: TESOL
ENG 782 Seminar in Chaucer
One of the following 3
ENG 898 Master's Thesis or
ENG 899 Special Study and
Master's Comprehensive Written and Oral
Examinations
Minimum total 30andForeign Language Requirement (see below)
Master's Examinations.Failure in these examinations does not disqualify the candidate unless the examining committee so directs. The candidate may take the examinations twice, and, if failure occurs both times, will be disqualified from the graduate program.
Foreign Language Requirement.Ten semester units, or the equivalent, of a modern European language, plus a minimum of one semester or the equivalent of a non-Indo-European language, concurrent with ENG 426, is required of all candidates for the Master of Arts in English with Concentration in Linguistics. The student has the alternative of satisfying the foreign language requirement by examination. Units earned in foreign language study are not to be included in the student's Graduate Approved Program.
In addition to the materials sent to the Office of Admissions, the applicant must submit the following items to the English Department in order to be considered for admission: (1) English Department application; (2) at least two letters of recommendation; (3) one official set of transcripts; (4) writing sample (five page critical essay). Contact the graduate program assistant for the department application and department deadlines.
Applicants who meet the following requirements are eligible for admission to classified standing:completion of an undergraduate English literature major, comparable to the major program at this university, and achievement of a GPA of at least 3.0 in the major.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may be accepted conditionally and can achieve classified status as follows:
NOTE:English courses usually earn three (3) units of credit; however, some upper division courses which fulfill requirements for the M.A. in Literature may be offered for three (3) to five (5) units.
Units
ENG 741 Theory of Literature 3
ENG 742-790 Graduate Seminars 9
Graduate level courses 6
Electives on advisement 9
ENG 898 Master's Thesis 3
Minimum total 30
andMaster's Oral ExaminationNOTE:ENG 704, 705, 715, and 716 may notbe included among the electives. Courses from other related departments (up to six units with approval of adviser) may be included.
Courses selected with approval of adviser as
follows:
Early Period Requirement 6
Period Emphasis 6
Genre course in the period of emphasis 3
Individual Author course from the period of
emphasis 3
Theory and Criticism course, selected from
the following or other courses on
advisement: 3
ENG 429 Stylistics
ENG 600 Theory of Literature
ENG 601 Literature and Psychology
ENG 602 Literature and Society
ENG 603 Literature and the History of
Ideas
ENG 611 Modern Criticism
ENG 613 Feminist Literary Criticism
ENG 615 Imagery, Metaphor, and Symbol
ENG 742 Seminar: Studies in Criticism
ENG 743 Seminar: Studies in Principles
of Literary Form
ENG 744 Seminar: Literature and
Psychology
ENG 746 Seminar: Modern Criticism
ENG 747 Feminist Criticisms
Early Period Requirement.Six of the 30 units in the General Studies Emphasis must be chosen from courses in literature before 1800. The early period requirement may be met by courses that also fulfill the above listed program requirements (for example, early period courses might also fulfill author, period, genre, seminar, graduate level, elective, or theory and criticism required courses). Thus, the early period requirement is a distributionrequirement, not a course requirement.
The number of courses and seminars, graduate level courses, and electives selected individually by the student and proposed for the Special Studies emphasis must conform to the Program Requirements (see above).
A candidate who has failed the oral examination may not take it again before the next regular semester. A candidate who failed the examination twice will not be permitted to continue in the program for the M.A. in Literature. Consult The Prospectus and the Thesishandout available in the English Office for more information.
Units
ENG 657 Grammar and Rhetoric of the
Sentence 3
ENG 704 Introduction to the Teaching of
Writing 3
ENG 716 Projects in the Teaching of
Writing 3
Select one of the following: 3
ENG 429 Stylistics
ENG 656 Topics in Reading in the
Secondary School
ENG 658 Projects in Study and Reading
Techniques
ENG 700 Introduction to Graduate Study
in Composition
ENG 701 Theoretical Backgrounds in
Community College and
College Reading Instruction
ENG 702 Reading/Writing Connections
ENG 705 Seminar in Teaching Basic/
Remedial Writing
ENG 706 Seminar in Sociolinguistics of
Composition
ENG 707 Current Issues in Composition
ENG 708 Computers and the Teaching
of Writing
ENG 715 Projects in the Teaching of
Reading
ENG 717 Projects in the Teaching of
Literature
ENG 718 Supervision of Teaching
Experience
ENG 732 Seminar: TESOL Reading and
Writing Skills
ENG 800 Special Topics in the Study of
Composition and Reading
Total for program 12NOTE:Students may enroll in any of the courses listed above, even if they do not wish to complete the sequence. ENG 657 is prerequisite to ENG 704 and 705. ENG 704 is prerequisite to ENG 716. Courses applied to the certificate may notbe taken CR/NC and a grade of A or B must be earned in each.
The certificate program is coordinated by the director of composition, the department chair, and the dean of the Graduate Division. For more information, contact the secretary, Composition Office (338-2128).
Satisfactory completion of ENG 657 is prerequisite to many of the courses in this certificate. Check the Announcement of Courses section for all prerequisites. ISED 606 meets the requirement for the Preliminary Designated Subjects Credential in Adult Education.
Units
ENG 701 Theoretical Backgrounds in Com-
munity College and College
Reading Instruction 3
ENG 702 Reading/Writing Connections 3
ENG 715 Projects in the Teaching of
Reading 3
Select one of the following: 3
ENG 653 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar
ENG 656 Reading Theory and Methods
ENG 657 Grammar and Rhetoric of the
Sentence
ENG 704 Introduction to the Teaching of
Writing
ENG 705 Seminar in Teaching Develop-
mental Writing
ENG 706 Sociolinguistics of Composition
ENG 717 Projects in the Teaching of
Literature
ENG 728 Seminar in Sociolinguistics
ENG 729 Seminar: Psycholinguistics
ENG 732 Seminar: TESOL Reading and
Writing Skills
ISED 606 Seminar in Principles and
Methods of Adult Education
ISED 891 Adult Literacy and Basic Education
Total for certificate 12