Graduate Studies in English
The Department of
English offers
three registration tracks: two for students seeking professional
certification and one for non-certification. All three programs provide
students the opportunity to study language and literature in various
cultures and media. Students already holding initial
certification may choose either the Master of Arts in English program
for professional certification, or the Master of Science in Education:
English 7-12 program for professional certification. The programs
emphasize the importance of “learning how to learn” rather
than becoming only storehouses of information. Equally important is
giving potential and practicing teachers the opportunity to refine,
discover, or change their own approaches to the teaching of language,
literature, and literacy. For those students seeking certification who
also wish to use their graduate degree to gain more depth in
literature, we recommend enrolling in the Master of Arts in English
program for certification. Others seeking additional course work
in education should enroll in the Master of Science in Education
program. The Department of English also offers a Master of Arts
in English program without certification for students seeking
preparation at the graduate level for further academic and professional
endeavors.
Before graduation students seeking certification must
fill out a Graduate Recommendation Release Form, available in the
English Department office, the Registrar’s Office, and
online here,
in order for SUNY Fredonia to release academic and Social Security
number information to the New York State Education Department.
Students wishing to be considered for a teaching
assistantship should also be sure to check the appropriate box on the
graduate application form. Upon approval of the applicant’s
acceptance into the graduate program, the graduate coordinator will
contact the applicant, asking the applicant to submit either a
supplemental letter of recommendation that directly speaks to the
candidate’s potential teaching ability and ability to do
graduate-level work, or a one- to two-page personal statement that
reflects a sense of the candidate’s qualifications and
motivations for teaching a freshman composition class. It can include
discussions of any teaching experience, knowledge of composition theory
and current pedagogical methods, and other relevant preparation, as
well as how teaching composition relates to the applicant’s
professional goals. As teaching assistantships become
available, the qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Applications received by March 15 will have priority. For more information, please contact the grad coordinator.
English Department Program Goals/Objectives
The Department of English has structured its graduate programs to
provide students with opportunities to develop critical reading,
writing and thinking strategies. In accordance with principles
articulated by the Modern Language Association (MLA) and other
professional organizations, English majors will:
- read attentively, closely, and critically;
- write thoughtfully, coherently, and persuasively;
- develop and challenge their own thinking through scholarly research.
Candidates seeking initial and permanent/professional
certification will also meet NCTE standards for the preparation of
teachers of English Language Arts.
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