ENGLISH

Head of the Department: Dennis Baron

Director of Graduate Studies: Carol T. Neely

Correspondence and Admission Information: Director of Graduate Studies, Department of English, 210 English Building, 608 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-3646; E-mail: grad@english.uiuc.edu

URL: www.english.uiuc.edu

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of English offers programs of study leading to the master of arts and the doctor of philosophy degrees. The Ph.D. program is, in general, designed to educate and train teacher-scholars who will take positions in colleges and universities throughout the country. The master of arts program may be either a first step toward the Ph.D. degree or a final educational stage for qualified students who wish to pursue their knowledge of English and American language and literature beyond the undergraduate level. Both the master of arts and doctoral degrees may be earned with a specialization in writing studies. A graduate program in creative writing has recently been approved and will begin accepting applications for Fall 2002.

ADMISSION

A student who wishes to be considered for admission to graduate studies in English must present the equivalent of at least 20 semester hours of undergraduate work in English and American literature, excluding required work in rhetoric or composition. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the verbal and subject tests are required for those applying for the literature program. The GRE subject test for literature in English is not required of writing studies applicants. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit Test of English as a Foreig n Language (TOEFL) scores. Currently, a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test (213 on the computer-based test) is required. Before a teaching assistantship involving classroom instruction or student consultation can be awarded to a non-native speaker of English, the applicant must take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and achieve a score of 50 or higher (230 or higher before 1996). Because applications for admission usually far exceed capacity, in recent years undergraduate grade point averages of students admitted have been significantly higher than the 3.0 (A = 4.0) required by the Graduate College. The committee on admissions tends to select those applicants who have a solid array of undergraduate courses, knowledge of a foreign language, strong recommendations, and a compelling writing sample: in short, an academic record that shows promise of doing outstanding work in the field and earning degrees within a reasonable time. Preference is given to applicants who will be full-time stu dents and active degree candidates. Applicants are considered only in spring for fall admission, and the deadline for submitting applications is January 1.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this program.

MASTER OF ARTS

A candidate for the Master of Arts in English must spend at least two semesters or the equivalent in residence and complete at least eight units of coursework. At least four units must be at the 400 level, and three of the four must be in English. The student must show a knowledge of one foreign language equivalent to that acquired by three years of undergraduate coursework. A full-time student can complete this program in two academic years.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Students in the program who have earned their master's degrees must apply formally to the Ph.D. program. Applicants who have completed their master's degrees elsewhere may also apply. Seldom are applicants accepted with graduate grade point averages below 3.5. A student who has earned the master of arts degree elsewhere must demonstrate knowledge of one foreign language on a level equivalent to that required of master's candidates in the English department's program. The Ph.D. degree requires eight units of coursework, planned in consultation with an adviser. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged. Students may take courses outside of English. They may complete a minor in Women's Studies; obtain certification through the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory; or declare a concentration in Cultural Studies and Interpretive Research. The special field examination is taken as the student completes coursework and prepares to write the thesis. The student then goes on to complete and defend the thesis under the direction of a committee composed of four professors. A total of 16 units beyond the master's degree, including thesis credi ts, is required. A full-time student can complete this program in four years beyond the master's degree.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to students in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and waivers of tuition and service fees. For complete information about the program, prospective applicants should write to the above address for the department's handbook on graduate studies.