General Graduate Program Requirements

Graduate School policies and standards can be found on the Graduate School Policies page. 

The minimum GPA for any graduate program is 3.0. Individual programs may require more than a 3.0 to remain in good standing. 

The minimum grade for a course to be accepted toward any requirement is C. Individual programs may require higher grades for specific courses.

MASTER OF ARTS - ENGLISH; ENGLISH TEACHING CONCENTRATION

• The M.A. in English with a concentration in English Teaching offers a balance of advanced studies in composition, linguistics, literature, critical theory, and pedagogy.
• Graduate students have two options for completing the M.A. in English with a concentration in English Teaching:
  • Strand One is designed to extend and enrich the professional development of experienced middle school and high school teachers of English language arts.
  • Strand Two is designed for individuals who have a B.A. in English or a related field and who wish to be licensed to teach English at the secondary level (grades 5-12) while they work on the M.A.
    • With additional coursework, field experiences, and student teaching, individuals may receive secondary English licensure as part of their degree.
    • After admission to the program, graduate students must apply to the Teacher Education Program in Teaching & Learning in order to take licensure courses at the graduate level. 
    • Strand Two is also appropriate for individuals who wish to learn teaching pedagogy but do not need secondary licensure.
• The program is also the home of the Montana Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project, which is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of writing at all grade levels.
• Graduates from the program pursue opportunities in secondary education and/or go on to leadership positions in middle and high school English departments and/or curriculum programs. Candidates may apply for admission throughout the year. In a typical year, 7-10 students enter the program.

Requirements

• The requirements for the MA in English with a concentration in English Teaching degree include thirty-six (36) credits of graduate-level coursework, an in-house professional paper, and an oral defense of the paper.
• Course requirements include
  • three 500-level workshops in English teaching pedagogy,
  • two 500-level literature seminars,
  • and up to 4 professional paper credits.
• Students must also complete 20th Century Critical Theory, and either Introduction to Linguistics or Structure and History of English for Teachers (unless these courses or their equivalents have already been completed at the undergraduate level).
• Students may take up to nine (9) credits in courses outside the department, and up to nine (9) credits of Graduate Independent Study. Excluding professional paper credits, half of the remaining credits must be earned in 500-level courses.

Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
500-Level English Teaching (ENT) Course Requirement
Complete three of the following courses:		9
ENT 543	Advanced Teaching Strategies for Young Adult Literature
ENT 544	Creative Drama English Class
ENT 545	Theory and Pedagogy of Literacy
ENT 547	Advanced Teaching Strategies of Writing & Reading
ENT 548	Portfolios and Assessment
ENT 550	Montana Writing Project 1
ENT 552	MWP Leadership Training
500-Level Literature (LIT) Course Requirement
Complete two of the following courses:		6
LIT 502	Special Topics in Ecocriticism
LIT 520	Seminar in British Literature
LIT 521	Seminar in American Literature
LIT 522	Seminar in Comparative Literature
LIT 524	Nature, Language and Politics
Linguistic Analysis Requirement 2
Complete the following course:
LING 470	Linguistic Analysis (This is required only if not taken as an undergraduate.)	3
20th Century Critical Theory Requirement 2
Complete one course with 20th century critical theory chosen in consulation with your advisor. This is required only if not taken as an undergraduate.		3
Shakespeare Requirement 2
Complete one course on Shakespeare chosen in consultation with your advisor. This is required only if not taken as an undergraduate.		3
Electives
Complete 8-11 credits of graduate-level courses in the following subject areas:		8-11
English Teaching (ENT)
Literature (LIT)
Creative Writing (CRWR)
Composition and Rhetoric (WRIT)
Irish Studies (IRSH)
Education (EDU) 3
Linguistics (LING) 3
Native American Studies (NASX) 3
Professional Paper
Complete the following course:
ENT 599	Professional Paper	1-4
Total Hours		36

¹

This course, available for up to 9 credits, may count for two of the three required ENT 500-level courses; the remaining 3 credits may count toward elective credit.

²

Individuals who have already taken a course or equivalent have fulfilled this
requirement and must substitute another 3--credit English elective to reach the requisite 36 credits.

³

A maximum of 9 credits from outside the Department of English may count toward the 36-credits minimum for the degree.