School of Liberal Arts

Departmental E-mail: english@iu.edu

Departmental URL: liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/english

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in English, Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language, Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language, Certificate in Professional Editing, Certificate in Teaching Literature, Certificate in Teaching Writing

Program Information

IU Indianapolis’ graduate English program has been designed to prepare students for careers in the analysis and production of “texts.” To this end, the program covers issues and skills in reading and writing, in the richest sense of these words, to prepare students to address these issues and to teach these skills. Graduates of the program should be prepared for such careers as teaching writing and literature; teaching English as a second language; and writing for business, government, and other professions.

In contrast to traditional M.A. programs, which place heavy emphasis on literary history, the IU Indianapolis program focuses on the application of English studies to contemporary situations and problems.  Because of IU Indianapolis’ urban, nonresidential setting, its English graduate program will strive, in its curriculum and scheduling, to meet the special needs of part-time, nonresidential students.

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Master of Arts in English

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale in the student’s undergraduate major, documented by an official transcript. Applicants are normally expected to have been English majors, but admission will be considered also for those who otherwise demonstrate the competency necessary for successful graduate work in English.
2. Applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; preference is given to those who have earned a score of 160 on the Verbal exam. Applicants seeking financial support are encouraged to take the examination by December of the year prior to admission.
3. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.
4.  Applicants must submit a 500-750 word personal statement. 

Foreign Language Requirements

None, but M.A. students continuing on for the Ph.D. are encouraged to validate their reading proficiency in a foreign language according to University Graduate School standards.

Grades

M.A. students must maintain a 3.0 (B) grade point average.

Course Requirements

Students may select one of the two options outlined below after consulting with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in English and/or other faculty advisors in English. Students will then submit a brief written statement to the DGS that presents a rationale for their choice. As can be seen in the following outline of the two alternative courses of study, students who choose not to write a thesis will be required to take eight additional credit hours of course work, for a total of 40 credit hours.

Core Courses:

At the beginning of your graduate career, you will take two core courses that provide an introduction to major areas in the discipline of English:

• Language: G500, Introduction to the English Language, 4 credits
• Literature: L506, Introductory Methods of Criticism/Research, 4 credits
• Writing: W509, Introduction to Writing and Literacy Studies, 4 credits

Thesis Option:

• Required Courses: Students must take two of the program’s three core courses for a total of 8 credit hours.
• Electives: Students choose six courses in consultation with a faculty advisor for a total of 24 credit hours.  These 24 hours may include a third core course and up to 8 credit hours of Internship.
• Required: MA thesis. 4 credit hours. 
• Total: 36 credit hours

Non-thesis Option:

• Required Courses: Students must take two of the program’s three core courses for a total of 8 credit hours
• Electives: Students choose eight courses in consultation with a faculty advisor for a total of 32 credit hours. These 32 credit hours may include a third core course and up to 8 credit hours of Internship.
• Total: 40 credit hours

The three core courses, which carry 4 credit hours each, provide an introduction to three major areas in the discipline of English: language (G500 Introduction to the English Language), writing (W509 Introduction to Writing and Literacy Studies), and literature (L506 Introduction to Methods of Criticism and Research).  All students are required to take two of the three core courses, preferably at the beginning of the graduate program.

Master of Arts in Teaching Speakers of Other Languages

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale in the student’s undergraduate major, documented by an official transcript. Applicants are normally expected to have been English majors, but admission will be considered also for those who otherwise demonstrate the competency necessary for successful graduate work in English.
2. Applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; preference is given to those who have earned a score of 160 on the Verbal exam. Applicants seeking financial support are encouraged to take the examination by December of the year prior to admission.
3. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.
4. Applicants must submit a 500-750 word personal statement. 

Foreign Language Requirements

TOEFL or IELTS official scores are required for nonnative speaking applicants only and must be reported directly to IU Indianapolis. Test scores are not required if the applicant has earned (or will earn) a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a country where English is the official language (please refer to the Office of International Affairs website.)  The department will only consider applications once the required minimum score is met and does not offer admission to applicants not meeting the required minimum scores.

• The IU Indianapolis Institution Code for ETS is: #1325
• Recommended minimum scores for applicants who are nonnative speakers of English: 100 TOEFL iBT; 7.0 IELTS.

Grades

M.A. students must maintain a 3.0 (B) grade point average.

Course Requirements

The 31-credit hour M.A. in TESOL is comprised of core courses, elective courses, and the completion of either a thesis or internship.  Please click on the tabs above for more information.

Core Courses (16 credit hours/5 courses)

At the beginning of your graduate career, you will take two core courses that provide an introduction to major areas in the discipline of English:

• ENG-G 500 Introduction to the English Language (4cr)
• ENG-Z 520 Second Language Development (3cr)
• ENG-Z 523 TESOL Methods (3cr)
• ENG-Z 541 English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Materials Development (3cr)
• ENG-Z 545 TESOL Practicum (3cr)

Elective Courses (At least 15 credit hours/5 courses)

• ENG-G 625 Discourse Analysis and Introduction to Research (4cr)
• ENG-G 652 Sociolinguistics (4cr)
• ENG-Z 536 Pedagogical Grammar (3cr)
• ENG-Z 570 Second Language Writing (3cr)
• ENG-Z 575 Second Language Learning and Technology (3cr)
• ENG-Z 598 TESOL Internship (3cr)
• ENG-Z 600 Seminar in TESOL (variable topics) (3cr)
• ENG-Z 690 Advanced Readings in TESOL (1-4cr)
• ENG-Z 699 M.A. Thesis – TESOL (3cr)
• Other graduate courses in literature, writing, and literacy, or related fields as approved by the director. No more than six credits may be transferred from or taken outside the department.

Students should select one of two program options:

Thesis Option

Required Courses: Students must take the five core courses for a total of 16 credit hours, as well as ENG-Z 690 Advanced Reading in TESOL (1-4 credits) and ENG-Z 699 M.A. Thesis (3 credits)

• Electives: Students choose at least three courses (at least 8-11 credits)
• Total: 31 credit hours

Internship Option

Required Courses: Students must take the five core courses for a total of 16 credit hours, as well as ENG-Z 598 TESOL Internship (3 credits)

• Electives: Students choose at least four courses (at least 12 credits)
• Total: 31 credit hours

Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Others Languages (TESOL)

The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a six-course, 21-credit program. The five required courses include ENG G-500, G-541, and LING L-535, as well as LING L-532 and L-534. The elective course can be chosen from ENG G-625, G-652, and LING T-600; other English courses and courses in other departments relevant to TESL are acceptable with approval from the director. An emphasis in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) can be earned by taking LING T-600 as the elective course and completing the practicum in an ESP setting. For more information about the certificate, contact Professor Karen Kovacik (kkovacik@iu.edu) or visit the program’s web site at liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/english/current-students/graduate-studies/certificates/tesol-certificate.

Certificate in Professional Editing

See the separate entry for “Certificate in Professional Editing” in the University Graduate Bulletin for more information, or visit the program’s web site at liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/english/current-students/graduate-studies/certificates/certificate-in-professional-editing

Certificate in Teaching Literature

This 20-hour graduate Certificate in Teaching Literature is a structured program designed for licensed middle school and high school teachers, current M.A. students, and university and college faculty in literature and other subject areas who wish to enhance their professional careers. The certificate offers students an opportunity to explore the theories and best practices that promote learning and strengthen professional mentorship of area teachers. This certificate requires L-503, L-506, and L-508 as well as two other graduate literature courses chosen by the student and approved by the Program Director.

Credits earned in the certificate can be applied to an M.A. in English upon acceptance into that degree program. For more information about the certificate, contact Professor Professor Megan L. Musgrave memusgra@iu.edu or visit the program’s web site at liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/english/current-students/graduate-studies/certificates/teaching-literature-certificate

Certificate in Teaching Writing

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing is a 20-hour program of study for certified middle school or high school teachers, part-time university writing faculty and lecturers in other disciplines, and M.A. students interested in earning a certificate in writing to enhance their professional teaching careers. Major topics include theories and methods of teaching writing; understanding linguistic diversity; uses of technology in writing; social aspects of writing development; non-fiction writing; writing assessment; and teacher research. The Certificate requires completion of five graduate courses consisting of one core course (ENG-W 509) and four elective courses as approved by the Program Director.

Graduate credits earned can be applied toward the M.A. in English upon acceptance into the M.A.  For more information about the certificate, contact Professor Andy Buchenot, buchenot@iu.edu or visit the program’s web site at liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/english/current-students/graduate-studies/certificates/teaching-writing-certificate