English

Associate Professors--Earthman, Kwok, Lyles, Nakayama, Peel, Shih, Sommers, Waksler, Weinstein

Assistant Professors--Avery, Carleton, Christmas, Goen, Schaffer, Schoerke, Stec

Programs

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

Program Scope

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.

Career Outlook

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.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH

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 any one 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).

	Program	Units
Core Requirements
One upper division course in Shakespeare		3
ENG 480	Junior Seminar	3
One of the following courses in English literature 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
Concentration I: Literature
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 requirement)		3
Courses selected with approval of adviser		15
Concentration II: Language Studies
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
Concentration III: Individual Major
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

MINOR IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE

MINOR IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH

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).

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH: CONCENTRATION IN COMPOSITION

It is expected that a student completing this program is able to write prose publishable in academic journals.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

	Program	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 Community 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
or other approved courses within or outside the English Department
Minimum total		30

and Master'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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH: CONCENTRATION IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES

• Linguistics/Language Studies--If not waived based on previous course work, students must pass equivalency examinations (administered at SFSU) or take the following at SFSU: ENG 421, 424, 425, and 426 (12 units).
• Literature--Students must have already taken equivalent courses or take at SFSU six upper division or graduate units in British or American literature.
• Foreign Language Prerequisite Requirement--One semester's work (three to five units) of one foreign language is required, to be taken concurrently with ENG 426, Second Language Acquisition. For native speakers of English, the foreign language must be a non-Indo-European language or an Indo-European language which differs considerably from English, such as Farsi or Hindi. American Sign Language may be used to meet this requirement. For non-native speakers of English, the foreign language can be English or another language.
• ESLPT--Non-native speakers of English are also required to take the English as a Second Language Placement Test before their first semster of attendance.

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.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

	Program	Units
Core Courses (18 units)
The core courses listed below are required of all students graduating from this program.
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 Languages	3
ENG 891	Integrative Seminar in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages	3
Group Courses (12 units)
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

and Master's Comprehensive Examinations or
Master's Thesis (see below)

Group I: Advanced Seminar in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (3 units)

Group II: Linguistic Theory (3 units)

Group III: Related Courses--Education/Psychology/Social Science (3 units)

Group IV: Related Courses--Humanities (3 units)

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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH: CONCENTRATION IN LINGUISTICS

• Linguistics/Language Studies: ENG 421, 424, 425, and 426 (twelve units) or pass equivalency examinations taken at SFSU.
• Six upper division or graduate units in British or American literature.
• Ten units of a modern European language.
• A non-Indo-European language concurrent with ENG 426.

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.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

ENG 723

	Program	Units
Required core courses
ENG 719	Seminar: Contemporary Semantic Theory	3
ENG 729	Seminar in Psycholinguistics	3
ENG 728	Seminar in Sociolinguistics	3
Seminar in the Structure of English	3
Total for core		12
Related Courses (15 units)
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
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
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
Linguistics
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
Special Topics in Linguistics
ENG 722	Seminar in Language Assessment
ENG 724	Special Topics in TESOL (1-3)
ENG 725	Special Topics in Linguistics
Speech and Communication Studies
SPCH 503	Sex Roles and Communication (4)
SPCH 541	Intercultural Communication (4)
SPCH 750	Seminar in Communication and Culture (4)
Reading and Writing
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
Literature
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		30

and Foreign 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.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH: CONCENTRATION IN LITERATURE

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:

• With subject matter deficiency: a 3.0 or higher GPA in an undergraduate major other than English with either some courses in literature (with a 3.0 or higher GPA) or a background showing personal interest in literature. The applicant will be directed by a graduate adviser to complete course work in this university's undergraduate major, but such courses may not be credited toward the M.A. program.
• With a grade point average deficiency (conditional status): a GPA of 2.5 to 2.9 in an undergraduate English major (without nine or more units of graduate English taken with a GPA of 3.0 or higher). The applicant is required to take nine to twelve units of upper division literature courses, with a GPA of at least 3.0 attained in them, before being admitted to graduate work. These courses may be credited toward the M.A. program. If the required GPA is not attained, the student will be disqualified from the M.A. program in literature.
• With both subject matter and GPA deficiency: a course record as described above in "subject matter deficiency" with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.9. The applicant is in conditional status as described in "grade point average deficiency" while earning undergraduate major units as described in "subject matter deficiency."

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Program

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.

	Program Requirements	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

and Master's Oral Examination NOTE: ENG 704, 705, 715, and 716 may not be included among the electives. Courses from other related departments (up to six units with approval of adviser) may be included.

General Studies Emphasis

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 distribution requirement, not a course requirement.

Special Studies Emphasis

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).

Culminating Experience

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 Thesis handout available in the English Office for more information.

CERTIFICATE IN THE TEACHING OF COMPOSITION

Written English Proficiency Requirement

	Program	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		12

NOTE: 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 not be 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).

CERTIFICATE IN TEACHING
POST-SECONDARY READING

Written English Proficiency Requirement

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.

	Program	Units
ENG 701	Theoretical Backgrounds in Community 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 Developmental 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