You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of English
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
English Major
Major requirements (40 units)
Lower-division requirement
Engl 20 (4 units)
Upper-division requirements
Engl 105 (4 units)
Two English courses before 1865* (8 units)
Engl 193T and/or 194T (8 units)
Approved upper-division English electives (see adviser) (16 units)
General Education (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements** (33-36 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may be used toward
a dual major or minor
The English Department requires two college-level courses in a foreign
language for the English major.
Total (124 units)
__________
* Definition of a course before 1865 - Engl 112, 113, 115W, 116, 146, 147,
150, 151, 153, 184, 187, 189, or any "T" course with all course
material before 1865.
** This figure takes into consideration the fact that 3 units of Engl 20
may also be applied toward General Education BREADTH, Division 6.
Advising Notes
- No course used to satisfy General Education CAPSTONE requirements or upper-division General Education requirements may be used to satisfy English major requirements.
- CR/NC grading is not permitted in the English major with the exception of 4 units total of Engl 175T and 186.
- General Education and elective units may be used toward a dual major or minor (see Dual Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
- Not more than 6 units by extension and correspondence courses may be applied toward the English major: correspondence courses may be applied only if they are acceptable for the major at the college where the course is offered.
- English majors are advised to select a course in English history as one of their upper-division electives.
- English majors considering eventual graduate degrees should consult the graduate adviser.
English Minor
Students in many vocational fields often realize that special skill in
writing may be of great use in their future work -- and such skill can best
be obtained through an English minor. The English Minor requires 20 units
above English 1, at least 12 of which must be upper division, and 4 of these
units must be from 189 or 193T/194T. English 160W does not apply to the
English Minor. Courses taken as CR/NC may not apply to the
minor with the exception of 4 units total of 175T and 186.
Engl 189, 193T, or 194T (4 units)
Other upper-division English courses (not including Engl 160W) (8 units)
Other English courses (not including Engl 1) (8 units)
Total (20 units)
Credential Program
Single Subject Waiver Program: English
(Literature/Composition option)
Prerequisites
Engl 20 or equivalent (4 units)
Engl 41, 43, 44 or equivalent (4 units)
Core Courses
(choose the required number of units from each group) (31 units)
Engl 182 (taken concurrently with EHD 155A) (l unit)
Engl 182 (taken concurrently with EHD 155B) (l unit)
Engl 189 (4 units)
Engl 193T or 194T (4 units)
Ling 100 (3 units)
Ling 146 (3 units)
Engl 161 or 163 or 164 (4 units)
Engl 154 or 155 (4 units)
Engl 105, 112, 113, 114, 115W, 116, 146, 147, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155,
156, 167, 168T, 169T, 181, 183T, 184, 187, 193T, 194T, 195 (4 units)
Ling 132 or 138 or Spch 140 or Drama 131 (3 units)
Breadth Courses
(choose the required number of units from each group): (15-17 units)
Engl 105, 112, 113, 114, 115W, 116, 146, 147, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155,
156, 161, 163, 164,
167, 168T, 169T, 181, 183T, 184, 187, 193T, 194T, 250T, 261, 263, 265 (6-8
units)
Drama 22, 33, 34, 134A-B, 139, 185, 186; Hist 150, 151; Ling 148; MCJ 107W;
Phil 120; Spch 105, 108, 114, 140, 142, 162 (9 units)
Total (46-48 units)
Note: 28 upper-division units in English including Engl 189 and 193T
or 194T are required for the B.A.
Credential candidates should take one unit of Engl 182 concurrently with
student teaching (EHD 155B and 1 unit before beginning student teaching
or concurrently with EHD 155A). CTET 161 must be completed before beginning
student teaching (EHD 155B). It is normally offered only in the fall semester.
For program planning consult the English Department's credential coordinator
each semester.
Students fulfilling the competency requirement by taking the National Teachers
Examination should obtain a description of additional requirements from
the credential coordinator.
For credential programs with emphasis in speech, drama, and English as a
second language, see the listings under Speech Communication, Theatre Arts,
and Linguistics.
Graduate Program
The Master of Arts program in English language and literature serves
several categories of students: those teaching high school and community
college; those anticipating doctoral studies; those studying creative or
expository writing; and those simply interested in extending and intensifying
the knowledge acquired in their undergraduate studies.
Admission to the Master of Arts program in English language and literature
assumes preparation equivalent to an undergraduate major in English or a
related field in the liberal arts. Courses which do not count toward the
English major may not be used for the M.A. degree. To reach classified standing,
both English and non-English majors must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or better
in their major and submit GRE scores. (Foreign students must also submit
TOEFL scores.) In the Literature, Composition Theory and Nonfiction Prose
options, the advanced GRE is required for diagnostic purposes only. In addition,
all candidates must submit a writing sample to the graduate committee, whose
approval is necessary for admission to the program.
Consult the graduate adviser every semester for program planning.
(See also Admission to Graduate Standing,
Advancement to Candidacy, Program Requirements, and Criteria
for Thesis and Project.)
Master of Arts Degree Requirements
Literature Option
Under the direction of a graduate adviser, each student prepares and submits
a coherent program individually designed within the following framework:
Engl 250T and/or 280T (12 units)
Other courses in English (see specific requirements) (4 units)
Engl 299 (Thesis) (2 units)
Approved electives in English or other fields (12 units)
Total (30 units)
_________
No more than 8 upper-division units will count toward the graduate degree.
Specific Requirements. The following areas must be covered by graduate
or undergraduate courses (may be satisfied in undergraduate preparation):
English literature (2 courses), American literature, world literature, Shakespeare,
and Chaucer (1 course each).
In addition to the general Graduate Division requirements, advancement to
candidacy requires a reading knowledge of one foreign language, to be demonstrated
by examination; the completion of at least one graduate seminar (250T) with
a grade of B or above; and a review by the graduate committee of the work
already completed.
An interdisciplinary major may be constructed in consultation with the graduate
adviser in which up to 12 units may be taken in departments other than English
when such a program demonstrates a coherent program of study.
Nonfiction Prose Option
Engl 250T and/or 280T (8 units)
Engl 265 (Expository Writing) (8 units)
Engl 299 (Thesis) (2 units)
Approved electives in English or other fields (12 units)
Total (30 units)
_________
No more than 8 upper-division units will count toward the graduate degree.
In addition to the general Graduate Division requirements, advancement to
candidacy requires a reading knowledge of one foreign language, to be demonstrated
by examination; the completion of at least one Engl 250T or 280T course
with a grade of B or above; and a review by the graduate committee
of the work already completed.
Composition Theory Option
Under the direction of a graduate adviser, each student prepares and submits
a coherent program individually designed within the following framework:
Engl 250T or 280T (12 units)
Engl 265 (4 units)
Engl 270 (4 units)
Engl 281 (4 units)
Ling 237 (Ling 132, 134, 135, or 146 may be substituted with prior approval
by the department) (3 units)
Engl 299 (Thesis -- writing theory or pedagogy) (2 units)
Engl 282 (1 units)
Total (30 units)
__________
No more than 8 upper-division units will count toward the graduate degree.
Teaching Requirement. At some period before the completion of the
M.A. degree composition option, the candidate must be engaged in teaching
or co-teaching a course with a strong writing component. While most candidates
would be teaching in the English Department, other teaching assignments
will apply with prior approval of the departmental graduate adviser. Enrollment
in Engl 282 should take place in the same semester that the student is fulfilling
the teaching requirement.
In addition to the general Graduate Division requirements, advancement to
candidacy requires a reading knowledge of one foreign language, to be demonstrated
by passing an examination, completion of at least one Engl 250T or 280T
course with a grade of B or above, and a review by the graduate
committee of the work already completed.
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The M.F.A. in Creative Writing offers advanced degree training to talented students who wish to gain expertise in the writing of poetry or fiction. It assumes that, as in music or the visual arts, the best education for the artist includes: training in the history and traditions associated with the student's discipline, training in theoretical and formal approaches to the craft, and extensive practice with critique of student work by peers and faculty writers. The program combines studio and academic approaches, providing the student with substantial critical workshop experience and a solid background in theory and literature.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program requires: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better in the undergraduate major; a score of at least 500 on the verbal section of the GRE (foreign students must also score 600 or better on the TOEFL); three letters of recommendation from teachers, editors, or others familiar with the applicant's writing and academic skills; and a writing sample of the student's creative work (up to ten poems and/or two short stories) to be evaluated by the creative writing admissions committee. The advanced GRE is not required.
Degree Requirements
In consultation with the M.F.A. adviser, each student prepares and submits
a coherent program individually designed within the following framework:
Engl 261 or 263 (16 units)
Engl 241 and 243 (8 units)
Engl 250T or 280T (12 units)
Approved electives (upper-division or graduate level courses) (12-14
units)
Engl 299 (Thesis) (4-6 units)
Total (54 units)
Note: At least 70% (38 units) of coursework must be at graduate (200)
level.
Specific Requirements
Thesis. The thesis for the M.F.A. in Creative Writing consists
of a single book-length manuscript - of fiction or poems which work together
to make a unified body of work. The thesis committee works closely with
the student on style as well as content; it adheres to a high standard of
publishable quality work. In lieu of a formal defense, the graduating student
is required to give a public reading from his or her work.
Language Requirement. In addition to the general Graduate Division
requirements, advancement to candidacy requires a reading knowledge of one
language other than English. This may be demonstrated either by passing
an examination supervised by the Department of Foreign Languages, or (with
prior approval) by completing an acceptable translation of poetry or prose.
Subject Examination. In addition to the general Graduate Division
requirements, students are required to pass the M.F.A. exit examination
with a grade of B or above. Each student works with his or her adviser to
create a reading list which will be approved by a three member committee.
The exam consists of essay questions that allow the student to demonstrate
a theoretical and critical knowledge of the craft, through using texts from
his or her approved reading list.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Composition
The certificate in composition is a course of study to accompany a M.A.
in English.
Ling 237 (3 units)
Engl 270 (4 units)
Engl 281 (4 units)
Engl 282 (1 units)
Teaching Requirement. At some period before the completion of the Certificate
in Composition, the candidate must be engaged in teaching or co-teaching
a course with a strong writing component. While many candidates would be
teaching in the English Department, other teaching assignments will apply
with prior approval of the departmental graduate adviser. Enrollment in
Engl 282 should take place in the same semester that the student is fulfilling
the teaching requirement.
