1062
English
The Master of Fine Arts Degree The MFA in Creative Writing allows students to focus on developing their abilities as poets and/or fiction writers, through a course of study emphasizing creative writing workshops, literature seminars, and electives in either of those areas or other areas in language and culture. In consultation with their advisory committees, students devise an individualized curriculum that reflects their own artistic and intellectual interests and prepares them to publish their artistic writing, enter a PhD program or teach at the college level. The MFA in Creative Writing consists of 42 credit hours, including 12 hours of thesis. In addition to these hours, students must present their creative work at a public reading following the completion of their thesis. Prerequisites include a baccalaureate degree with an English major, or at least 12 hours in English (excluding freshman composition) and writing sample of high quality. Successful applicants usually have a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, particularly in English courses. The Doctor of Philosophy Degree The Department of English grants one doctoral degree, the PhD in English. Students may, however, emphasize in their courses, their exams, and their dissertations a variety of areas: all periods of British and American literature, Native American literature and language, creative writing, literary theory and criticism, screen studies, rhetoric and professional writing, linguistics and TESL. They may also choose an interdisciplinary emphasis. In consultation with their advisory committees, students devise an individualized curriculum that reflects their own intellectual interests and professional goals. Prerequisites include a master's degree in English or a field related to the student's area of emphasis. Successful applicants usually have a minimum grade-point average of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale in their master's degrees. All PhD students are admitted provisionally and must take the first-year examination during their second semester of enrollment. The PhD degree consists of 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Fifteen to 20 of these hours are devoted to the dissertation. In addition to these hours, students must take a first-year examination; demonstrate reading knowledge of two foreign languages or mastery of one language; pass the PhD qualifying examination in two areas; and pass an oral defense of the dissertation. The dissertation is a work of original research prepared under the direction of the dissertation committee. Creative Writing students may present as their dissertations original works in poetry or prose fiction. Additional information and requirements may be found in the English Graduate Guidelines, which may be consulted online at english.okstate.edu (http://english.okstate.edu). Faculty William Decker, PhD—Professor and Head Regents Professors: Edward Jones, PhD; Timothy Murphy, PhD (Houston- Truaz-Wentz Professor); Dennis Preston, PhD Professors: Linda Austin, PhD; Richard Frohock, PhD; Toni Graham, MFA; Elizabeth Grubgeld, PhD; Gene Halleck, PhD; Lisa Lewis, PhD; Carol L. Moder, PhD; Jeffrey Walker, PhD; Martin Wallen, PhD Associate Professors: Nancy Caplow, PhD; An Cheng, PhD; Randi Eldevik, PhD; Lynn Lewis, PhD; Jeff Menne, PhD; Aimee Parkison, MFA; Lindsey Claire Smith, PhD; Stacy Takacs, PhD; Andrew Wadoski, PhD
poetry or prose fiction. The programs in professional writing and TESL have separate degree requirements described below. Professional Writing The MA option in professional writing consists of 30 credit hours (with thesis) or 33 credit hours (without thesis). In addition to these hours, students must fulfill the foreign language requirement and pass the MA qualifying examination in technical writing. Prerequisites are the same as those above. TESL The MA option in teaching English as a second language is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to teach English to non- native speakers in a variety of situations, e.g., teaching English as a foreign language in an overseas school, college or university; teaching English as a second language to international students studying in intensive English programs in the U.S.; or teaching English to bilingual and bicultural students in American public school systems and adult education programs. Prerequisites are the same as those above except that the major may be either in English or in a field related to second language acquisition or teaching. In addition, applicants to the TESL program must have six hours in a foreign language with a grade of "B" or better, or must complete this requirement prior to taking the qualifying examination. The TESL program consists of 30 credit hours (thesis option) or 34 credit hours (non-thesis option). In addition to these hours, students must pass the MA qualifying examinations in TESL. TESL is especially relevant to the public school classroom as a result of recent legislation concerning bilingual education. Teachers in English and other areas of expertise will find this program especially useful. The Oklahoma State Board of Education recently approved an "optional certification" for English as a Second Language. Already certified teachers can obtain this certification upon passing the required standardized examination. Several of the courses offered for the TESL option can prepare students for this examination, although the MA/TESL option degree does not confer certification. Certificate in TEOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) The Certificate in TEOL is a program designed to provide students with the skills important for teaching English to non-native speakers in a variety of situations, including teaching English to bilingual/bicultural, English Language Learner (ELL) and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students in public school systems and adult education programs, teaching English as a Second Language to international students studying in English programs in the U.S., and teaching English as a Foreign Language in an overseas school, college or university. The program consists of 12 credit hours, with three required courses and one elective course chosen from a group of courses offered by the Department of English. Admission to the Certificate Program in TEOL requires a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, a 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, and, for non-native English speakers, appropriate scores on either the TOEFL iBT or IELTS.
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