English MA Graduate Student Handbook

2019-2020

This handbook is designed to help students navigate the English MA program and answer questions that will likely arise as you earn your degree. If you do not find the information you need within these pages, consult with the English MA Program Coordinator.

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Table of Contents Program Overview.................................................................................................................................................. 3

Learning Outcomes ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Admission Requirements and Application Process ...................................................................................... 5

Application Deadlines ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Degree Requirements ..................................................................................................................................... 6-7

Academic Continuation ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Course Descriptions ..................................................................................................................................... 8-10

Thesis Option .............................................................................................................................................. 11-14

Requirements ............................................................................................................................................. 11

Directed Research ................................................................................................................................ 11-12

Enrollment in ENG 6971 Thesis ............................................................................................................... 12

Defense of MA Thesis ............................................................................................................................... 13

Submission Procedure ............................................................................................................................... 13

Student Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................ 14

Faculty Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................ 14

Guidelines ................................................................................................................................................... 14

Course Plans for a Full-time Student ............................................................................................................. 15

Course Plan for a Part-time Student .............................................................................................................. 16

Pre-professional Training Opportunities ................................................................................................ 17-18

Graduate Assistantships ........................................................................................................................... 17

Teaching Assistantships ........................................................................................................................... 17

Internships .................................................................................................................................................. 18

Sigma Tau Delta ......................................................................................................................................... 18

Administration and Faculty ...................................................................................................................... 19-20

Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................... 21-30

Internship Guidelines and Proposal Form ............................................................................................... 21-22

Directed Research Proposal Form ................................................................................................................... 23

Thesis Guidelines and Sample Title and Approval Pages ..................................................................... 24-27

Information for Graduate Assistants .............................................................................................................. 28

Information for Teaching Assistants ......................................................................................................... 29-30

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Florida Gulf Coast University

Graduate Student Handbook Master of Arts in English

Department of Language and Literature 2019-20

Welcome to the Graduate Program in English

This handbook is designed to give current and prospective students an overview of our Master’s degree in English—its program requirements, curriculum, and policies—and to provide a first place to look for answers to any questions. Students should know, and must abide by, the University and Office of Graduate Studies policies as stated in the Florida Gulf Coast University General Catalogue for their year of matriculation.

The Master of Arts Program in English at Florida Gulf Coast University provides students with graduate education in the study of literature, culture, and writing. The curriculum stands on a strong foundation in literary studies, but it is flexible to meet the needs of students who are pursuing highly individualized goals: to begin or advance a teaching career at the elementary, secondary, or community college levels; to prepare to study in PhD programs; or to plan a career in various professional fields in business, non-profit organizations, and government.

Our program provides genuine mentorship and collaborative work between faculty and students. Students can expect small classes, a supportive and well-published faculty, and opportunities to attend and present research at local and regional conferences.

There are three ways in which students can shape this program to suit their own academic interests: they can gain work experience by completing an English Master’s Internship of their own design, pursue a specific research interest by completing a Directed Research project and a Thesis that grows out of that Directed Research project, and shape the Capstone Project (required of all students) by working with an MA faculty advisor to revise and expand a research paper of their choice.

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Learning Outcomes

FGCU and CAS Learning Outcomes for Graduate Students Graduates of advanced degree programs at Florida Gulf Coast University will:

Exhibit professional and technical expertise consistent with discipline and/or content area accrediting or licensing bodies: Professional & Technical Expertise

Demonstrate the capacity for continuing learning, growth, and scholarly activity in their respective disciplines and fields of study: Continuing Learning

Demonstrate excellence in critical thinking, problem solving, analysis, and strategic planning: Critical Thinking

Demonstrate effective use of a variety of communication skills and modalities: Effective Communication

Be prepared for leadership roles in professional and occupational areas and in communities in which they live and work: Leadership Skills MA in English Program Learning Outcomes for Graduate Students Students who complete the Master of Arts in English Program will demonstrate significant progress toward the following learning outcomes:

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. Evaluate and analyze literary and cultural texts in their appropriate contexts.

2. Conduct scholarly research on topics in literary and cultural studies.

3. Use accepted and appropriate formatting.

4. Apply appropriate critical approaches to analyzing literary and cultural texts.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. Write for specific audiences and purposes with respect for diverse perspectives.

2. Organize ideas and information logically.

3. Articulate ideas and information clearly and coherently using the conventions of standard

English grammar.

Critical Thinking Skills

Graduates will be able to:

1. Formulate an argument of appropriate scope and depth and articulate it clearly.

2. Engage with complex ideas or aspects of a text within a specific and rich context.

3. Support the development of ideas through analysis of relevant details from primary and

secondary sources.

4. Participate in a relevant scholarly conversation.

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Admission Requirements and Application Process Our program’s mission is to prepare students for success in a variety of careers that require strong writing and analytical skills, including the pursuit of a PhD in English and/or teaching at a secondary school, college, or university. Consequently, admission to the MA Program in English at FGCU is competitive and selective, so applicants who meet the minimum requirements for consideration will not necessarily be admitted into the program. A successful applicant should be able to demonstrate advanced achievement in composing literary analysis; therefore, the writing sample is the most important part of the application package. This writing sample must consist of 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research. NOTE: Upload all parts of the application to the Graduate Admissions application site, including GRE scores and all other application materials. Minimum requirements for consideration for admission:

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, either in English or in a related field

A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 A GRE Verbal Reasoning score of at least 500 (old) or 153 (new) and an Analytical

Writing score of at least 3.5 For international students from countries where English is not the primary language, a

minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 79 (internet-based), or 213 (computer-based)

A writing sample of 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research

A personal statement of 2-3 double-spaced pages about your career and personal

goals connected with pursuing graduate work in English literature and literary criticism. This statement should explain your motivation for pursuing a Master's degree at FGCU, goals connected with pursuing this degree, and intended focus of your graduate studies. It should indicate whether you are interested in a teaching

assistantship. Specific references to relevant experience or training will make this statement more effective.

Two recommenders to support your application. These two people may be mentors,

supervisors, or college-level faculty. For any recommender who is FGCU faculty,

simply supply contact information including email address. Any recommender who is a

non-FGCU faculty member, mentor, or supervisor should send a letter of

recommendation directly to FGCU Graduate Admissions as an email attachment to this

address: graduate@fgcu.edu

Application Deadlines for Fall Admission:

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Early deadline: February 15 (consideration for graduate assistantships is based on the candidate’s academic profile)

Late deadline: August 1 (possible consideration for graduate assistantships, depending on available funding)

Early applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications by May 1.

Degree Requirements

Minimum requirements for the degree: the successful completion (cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or better) of 33 semester credits in accordance with the following curriculum.

Required Courses (6 credits)

ENG 6058 Introduction to Graduate Study in English (3) ENG 6950 English Master’s Capstone (3) Restricted Electives (27 credits total)

Complete 27 additional hours of graduate courses in English. The 27 hours completed must

include, at a minimum:

Six credits in United States Literature and Culture (AML)

Six credits in British Literature and Culture (ENL)

Six credits in Literatures and Cultures (LIT)

Six credits in pre-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)

Six credits in post-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)

Pre-1800 Literature courses:

AML 6506 Studies in Early American Lit (3)

AML 6930 ST: US Literature and Culture pre-1800 (3)

ENL 6299 Topics in British Lit pre-1800 (3)

ENL 6305 Major British Authors (3)

ENL 6507 British Literature before 1800 (3)

LIT 6062 Comparative Lit pre-1800 (3)

LIT 6146 Studies in World Lit pre-1800 (3)

LIT 6218 Interdisciplinary Lit pre-1800 (3)

Post-1800 Literature Courses:

AML 6268 Regional US Literature (3)

AML 6507 Studies in Later American Lit (3)

AML 6508 ST: American Lit & Cult post-1800 (3)

ENL 6290 Topics in Brit Lit post-1800 (3)

ENL 6508 British Literature after 1800 (3)

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LIT 6066 Studies in Comp Lit post-1800 (3)

LIT 6096 Contemporary Literature (3)

LIT 6105 Studies in World Lit post-1800 (3)

LIT 6217 Movements in Lit & Cult Theory (3)

LIT 6406 Interdisciplinary Lit post-1800 (3)

LIT 6806 Literature as Cultural Study (3) Any of the above distribution-required AML, ENL, and LIT courses may be taken up to 3 times for credit, provided that the course content is different each time. Additional Electives: These courses may be selected from any graduate course offered through the English program, including those listed above under the distribution requirements and those listed below as electives. However, please note that the courses listed below do NOT count toward the pre-1800 and post-1800 requirements. Students wishing to become eligible for teaching assistantships must take ENC 6745: Seminar in Composition Pedagogy (offered only in Spring semesters). Students may choose up to six elective credits from other departments within the University with the approval of the English MA Program Coordinator. In addition, students may choose to earn three elective credits by completing a Master's Thesis. The semester before writing a thesis, students must take a corresponding Directed Research course. AML 6910 Directed Research ENC 6745 Seminar in Composition Pedagogy ENG 6940 English Master’s Internship ENG 6971 Thesis ENL 6910 Directed Research LIT 6910 Directed Research

**Note re coursework: A student must receive a grade of C or better to receive credit for a course toward the completion of the degree. A grade of C- or below is therefore a failing grade.

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Academic Continuation

All students in the English MA program must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to be considered in good standing. A student will be placed on academic probation when his/her cumulative grade point average (GPA) drops below 3.0. The student will then have three subsequent courses, or nine hours, to raise the GPA to 3.0. A student on academic probation may not begin any program-specific comprehensive

examination and/or thesis work, and he/she may neither receive a graduate student

assistantship nor graduate until all conditions of academic probation are met. If the student does

not bring the GPA up to 3.0 during the probation period, then the student is dismissed from the

program.

A student who is dismissed may apply for readmission. If readmitted, the program will determine which previously earned credits are applicable toward graduation. The overall time limit for the degree, for both full- and part-time students, is seven years from matriculation into the program.

Course Descriptions AML 6268 – Regional U.S. Literature – 3 credits A study of the literature and culture of a particular geographic region of the United States. AML 6506 - Studies in Early American Literature - 3 credits

Studies in American literature before 1800

AML 6507 – Studies in Later American Literature – 3 credits

Examination of literature of the U.S. after 1800

AML 6508 – Special Topics in American Literature and Culture post-1800 – 3 credits

Examination of topics in literature of the U.S. after 1800 AML 6910 – Directed Research – 3 credits

Supervised research in preparation for writing a thesis on a topic in the literature of the U.S.

Approval of the coordinator of graduate studies required.

AML 6930 – Special Topics in the Literature and Culture of the U.S. pre-1800 – 3 credits

Focused study of a specific topic or issue in the literature and culture of the United States.

Course may be repeated once with a change in content

ENC 6745 – Seminar in Composition Pedagogy – 3 credits Fundamentals of teaching composition. Covers topics such as teaching methods and culture,

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criticism, writing anxiety, textbook selection, gender and culture issues in the classroom, and appropriate performance expectations in the variety of writing tasks in the liberal arts and sciences. ENG 6058 – Introduction to Graduate Study in English – 3 credits

An introductory course for students enrolled in the M.A. program in English that includes a

survey of some of the major schools of literary and cultural theory. It also introduces students

to the process of producing graduate-level research and prepares them to enter the job market

with a master’s degree. ENG 6940 – English Master's Internship – 0 to 6 credit(s) Supervised professional experience in an English-related field. Interns report to and are assessed by a faculty member.

ENG 6950 - English Master's Capstone - 3 credits

This course will involve systematic and comprehensive revision of previous graduate writing

towards the goal of publication, conference presentation, and/or PhD application writing

sample. Students are encouraged to take this course in their last semester in the program. ENG 6971 – Thesis – 3 credit(s) Supervised writing of the master's thesis. ENL 6290 - Topics in British Literature post-1800 - 3 credits

Examination of British literature and culture after 1800 ENL 6299 - Topics in British Literature pre-1800 - 3 credits

Examination of British literature and culture prior to 1800 ENL 6305 – Major British Authors – 3 credits Examines the life and times of one or more British authors. May be repeated once with a change in content. ENL 6507 – British Literature before 1800 – 3 credits Examines British literature and criticism within a cultural context prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century. ENL 6508 – British Literature after 1800 – 3 credits Examines British literature and criticism within a cultural context since the beginning of the nineteenth century. ENL 6910 – Directed Research – 3 credits Supervised research in preparation for writing a thesis on a topic in British literature. Approval of the coordinator of graduate studies required. LIT 6062 - Studies in Comparative Literature pre-1800 - 3 credits

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An examination of pre-1800 literary and non-literary texts from throughout the world with a focus on the comparative impact of culture. LIT 6066 – Studies in Comparative Literature post-1800 – 3 credits An examination of post-1800 literary and non-literary texts from throughout the world with a focus on the comparative impact of culture. LIT 6096 – Contemporary Literature – 3 credits An examination of post-WWII literature and culture. LIT 6108 - Studies in World Literature post-1800 - 3 credits

Examination of literatures and cultures outside the U.S. and Great Britain after 1800

LIT 6146 – Studies in World Literature pre-1800 – 3 credits

Examination of literatures and cultures outside the U.S. and Great Britain prior to 1800

LIT 6217 - Movements in Literary and Cultural Theory - 3 credits

Examines one or more theories of literature, culture, and textual formation from ancient

Greece to the present. This course can be taught either as a survey of various schools of theory

or as an in-depth study of a particular school of theory e.g. feminist, Freudian, historicist, etc. LIT 6404 - Interdisciplinary Literature pre-1800 - 3 credits An examination of the interrelationships between pre-1800 literature and other disciplines or fields. LIT 6406 – Interdisciplinary Literature post-1800 – 3 credits An examination of the interrelationships between post-1800 literature and other disciplines or fields. LIT 6806 – Literature as Cultural Study – 3 credits An examination of culture and its products through a variety of theoretical perspectives. LIT 6910 – Directed Research – 3 credits

Supervised research in preparation for writing a thesis on a topic in interdisciplinary literature

or multicultural literature. Approval of the coordinator of graduate studies required.

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The Thesis Option

The Master’s thesis option is recommended for students who have a specific and well-planned project. Successfully completing a thesis requires additional responsibilities for the student. The true capstone experience for the degree is the Comprehensive Exam, so the department strongly encourages students to attend to that requirement first and foremost. The Master’s Thesis is not required of students planning to go to a PhD program; indeed, graduates from the MA program who have gone on to doctoral programs have typically not chosen the thesis option. This option requires more reading, more research, more writing, and more revision than the coursework it replaces. Therefore, a student who has a highly defined project in mind might find the thesis option an appropriate challenge. The preparation, research, drafting, revising, and defending of the thesis generally demand a one-year commitment by the student. Students contemplating this option need to take a careful and thoughtful self-inventory.

Thesis Requirements

The Master’s Thesis is a scholarly product, typically of 40-80 pages. The thesis will be a substantial product of research carried out under the close supervision of a faculty advisor and one additional reader, with their guidance. A successful thesis undertakes a highly specified and self-contained inquiry that requires a significant canvassing of the available scholarship. The thesis should be built on an appropriate, measured, and sophisticated theoretical or critical foundation, arising organically from the inquiry itself. The theoretical or critical approach should not be imposed as a systematic template. In other words, whatever the critical apparatus, it should serve the inquiry. If the Master’s Thesis is a creative product, it must include a significant contextual statement, approximately 15-25 pages. This statement offers a full discussion of both historical and contemporary influences as well as an argument for the aims, aesthetics, and/or themes contained in the project. Thus, even a creative thesis will require significant reading and research to establish a critical context for the project. Directed Research

The semester before enrolling in thesis hours, the student must take one of the four available Directed Research courses (AML 6910, ENL 6910, or LIT 6910) under the direction of the proposed thesis advisor. Please note that these Directed Research courses are electives; they do not fulfill the AML, ENL, LIT distribution requirements for the MA degree. In order for a student to arrange a Directed Research course, he or she must apply by filling out the Directed Research Proposal Application on page 24 and writing a 750-word proposal, submitting the package to the English MA Program Coordinator. The proposal must be approved by the Program Coordinator, the proposed thesis advisor, and the proposed second reader. A

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successful proposal must indicate that the student has a workable and focused project in mind, and that he or she is fully capable of pursuing it. Because of the extra academic burden involved in completing a thesis, a student must have 3.30 GPA or higher to qualify for a Directed Research course. In the Directed Research course, the student will write a detailed prospectus (approximately 5-7 pages), which includes an overview of the main argument, a review of existing scholarship on the subject, a fully annotated chapter outline, a working bibliography, and a workable timeline for completion of the thesis. This prospectus is the basis through which the student will become “qualified” to undertake the thesis project. The prospectus must be approved by the proposed thesis advisor, the proposed second reader, and the English MA Program Coordinator in order for the student to have permission to pursue the thesis project. Taking a Directed Research course does not automatically qualify the student for the thesis project. A successful Directed Research project should indicate that the student has completed most of the expected research and engaged in significant drafting of the thesis. A Directed Research project that fails this level of achievement will disqualify a student from enrolling in ENG 6971 Thesis. A student cannot take the Directed Research course (AML 6910, CRW 6910, ENL 6910, or LIT 6910) until he or she has passed 18 graduate credit hours in English. A passing grade in Directed Research does not constitute permission to register for ENG 6971 Thesis. Enrollment in ENG 6971 Thesis After the prospectus has been approved by the proposed thesis advisor, the proposed second reader, and the English MA Program Coordinator, and after a successful performance in the Directed Research course, the student enrolls in ENG 6971. The student and thesis advisor should meet periodically to review completed sections of the thesis. The thesis should be completely drafted by the mid-term of the semester. Please review Student and Faculty Responsibilities below. The second reader is expected to review and sign the thesis proposal, read the thesis after it has been drafted and reviewed by the thesis advisor, and offer comments toward a final draft. Once the thesis has gone through its revisions, the thesis advisor and second reader will decide whether or not the thesis meets department expectations. A student cannot take ENG 6971 until he/she has passed 24 graduate credit hours in English.

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Defense of MA Thesis The thesis defense consists of a presentation of a self-contained element of the thesis (this could be a section of the thesis, an introduction, a summation, etc.) in a conference-paper format: a 20-minute oral presentation, with follow-up questions and discussion following. The student should consult with his/her advisor about the scope and focus of this presentation. The aim of the thesis defense is to replicate a professional activity expected of scholars producing original work. The MA Thesis Defense is a required component of the Thesis Option. Successful completion of the thesis, approval by the thesis advisor, second reader, and English MA Program Coordinator, and a successful thesis defense will earn a grade of “S” (satisfactory) for ENG 6971. If one or more of the above criteria are not met, the student receives a “U” (unsatisfactory) for ENG 6971 and can take up to one year to complete all thesis requirements. If the student fails to complete all thesis requirements within one year, the student does not receive credit for ENG 6971 and is required to take another 3-credit elective to complete the course requirements for the program. Submission Procedure for MA Thesis

1. Student submits a 750-word project proposal to the English MA Program Coordinator, proposed thesis advisor, and proposed second reader. Approval of this proposal is required before admission to a Directed Research course.

2. If the proposal is approved, the student enrolls in LIT, CRW, AML, or ENL 6910,

Directed Research, staffed by the proposed thesis advisor. Student conducts research and begins preliminary writing for the thesis project in this course. The student produces a formal thesis prospectus for approval by the proposed thesis advisor, proposed second reader, and English MA Program Coordinator.

3. If the prospectus is approved, the student enrolls in ENG 6971: Thesis.

4. During ENG 6971, the student drafts, revises, and finishes the thesis in accordance with

departmental expectations. The thesis must receive the approval of thesis advisor and second reader.

5. The student defends the thesis.

6. The student uploads his/her thesis into ProQuest in accordance with university

guidelines. In ProQuest, the student will order the Library Copy of this work, which the Library will forward to the Department of Language and Literature. The approximate cost of the Library Copy is $25.

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Student Responsibilities:

The student is expected to take the initiative in finding a thesis topic and in beginning to research it as soon as possible, even before submitting the initial proposal.

It is the student's responsibility to assemble a thesis committee. The student should meet with his/her thesis advisor based on the demands of the thesis

project. The student should respond actively to feedback provided by the advisor and second

reader and revise thesis drafts accordingly. The student must meet the deadlines and conform the thesis to University

specifications.

Faculty Responsibilities:

The thesis advisor should meet with the student based on the demands of the project, provide guidance, and respond to drafts in a timely fashion.

After the thesis advisor approves a complete draft, the advisor will notify the second reader that the thesis is ready for review.

The second reader will comment on the draft in written form and forward his or her comments to the student and the thesis advisor.

Once the student—after receiving these responses—completes a final draft, the thesis advisor will convene with the second reader and formally reach a determination regarding whether the thesis meets expectations.

To adequately serve students, a faculty member should agree to serve on no more than two thesis committees at a time, whether as an advisor or second reader. Status as a graduate faculty member indicates that the faculty member is willing to serve as an advisor or reader for qualified thesis projects.

Guidelines for the MA Thesis

The finished manuscript is a scholarly work that is the product of extensive research and related preparation. The University Library will retain an electronic copy of your thesis in its digital library. The Department of Language of Literature will retain the Library Copy (hard copy) of the thesis. The thesis will then become a visible and permanent measure of the quality of scholarship expected at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Because they are measures of the quality of scholarship produced at FGCU, theses must adhere to a uniform standard of format and construction to preserve the work. All English theses must meet both university and department guidelines.

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Course Plan for a Full-time Student (No Thesis) A full-time course load is nine credit hours per semester, or a total of three courses per semester. Second-year graduate students will attest to the fact that three MA courses are more than enough to handle, especially for those with graduate assistantships and those preparing to assume teaching assistantships. A realistic goal is to finish the program within two years. Students have up to seven full years to complete all requirements for the MA degree. Students admitted as full-time students are not obligated to take a full-time course load. However, all graduate assistants must take full-time course loads during their first two semesters to qualify as teaching assistants. All of these course plans are suggested pathways to completing the degree. Year One Fall Semester Spring Semester ENG 6058 ENC 6745 or elective Two of the following: Two of the following: AML, ENL, LIT AML, ENL, LIT Summer Semester AML, ENL, or LIT course Year Two Fall Semester Spring Semester Two of the following: ENG 6950 AML, ENL, LIT Electives to achieve 33 total hours Elective Course Plan with Thesis Option for a Full-time Student Year One Fall Semester Spring Semester ENG 6058 ENC 6745 or elective Two of the following: Two of the following: AML, ENL, LIT AML, ENL, LIT Summer Semester AML, ENL, LIT course or Elective and reading for the Thesis. Must draft and submit Thesis Proposal.

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Year Two Fall Semester Spring Semester 6910 Directed Research ENG 6971 Two of the following: ENG 6950 AML, ENL, LIT Electives to achieve 33 total hours Course Plan for a Part-time Student Part-time students have up to seven full years to complete the requirements for the degree. If a student takes one class per semester, including summers, he or she can complete the degree within four years. The first course part-time students must take is ENG 6058 (offered every fall semester). The program is committed to offering required courses and a rotation of AML, ENL, and LIT courses in the evening to facilitate satisfying distribution requirements for the degree. Year One Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester ENG 6058 AML, LIT, or ENL AML, LIT, or ENL Year Two Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester AML, LIT, or ENL AML, LIT, or ENL AML, LIT, or ENL Year Three Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester AML, LIT, or ENL Elective Elective Year Four Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester Elective ENG 6950 and elective Elective (if not taken in Spring) or, if following the Thesis Option: Year Four Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester Submit Thesis Proposal 6910 Directed Research ENG 6971 ENG 6950

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Pre-professional Training Opportunities

Qualified students have a range of opportunities through which to learn and to develop new skills under the supervision of professionals in various fields requiring a high degree of facility with language, literature, critical analysis, and verbal expression. Within FGCU, MA students work as tutors in the University Writing Center; as teaching assistants for composition courses; as research assistants in collaborating with faculty on research projects; as editors for The Mangrove Review and Aquila; and as staff for the FGCU Sanibel Island Writers’ Conference.

1) Graduate Assistantships Graduate Assistantships, which include a stipend and may include a tuition-based fee waiver, are available on a competitive basis—the student’s initial admission package determines placement. The English MA Program Coordinator, in consultation with English faculty and the Chair of the Department of Language and Literature, tenders the offers for Graduate Assistantships. These assistantships require ten hours (five hours if on half assistantship offer) of work per week for a semester (fifteen weeks total), and they are usually allocated for positions as tutors in the Writing Center. However, depending upon university support, assistantships might also be available for duties as a research assistant with a faculty member, classroom assistant for a faculty member, editor with The Mangrove Review, or staff assistant for the FGCU Writers’ Conference. A graduate assistant must enroll in at least six credit hours per semester. See page 29 for a detailed list of duties and responsibilities. 2) Teaching Assistantships A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available each year. These Teaching Assistantships include a stipend and may include a tuition-based fee waiver in exchange for teaching one or two composition courses per semester. To qualify, a student must have 18 total graduate credit hours in English before the semester of teaching begins, and a student must take ENC 6745 and pass with a grade of B or higher. Please note that these are qualifying conditions; meeting them does not guarantee a Teaching Assistantship. Teaching Assistants may take 3-9 credit hours of coursework per semester. These Teaching Assistantships are awarded competitively, based on the student’s record of academic achievement at the graduate level and achievement in working as a tutor, graduate assistant, or similar activity. The English MA Program Coordinator, in consultation with English faculty and the Chair of the Department of Language and Literature, tenders the offers for teaching assistantships. In addition to standard student evaluations, teaching assistants will be evaluated through classroom observations by the First-Year Composition Coordinator and/or the English MA Program Coordinator in each of their two semesters of teaching. Classroom Observation Reports will be submitted to the student teacher as well as the English MA Program Coordinator and the First-Year Composition Coordinator. See pages 30-31 for a detailed list of duties and responsibilities.

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3) Internships Any second-year MA student may submit a proposal for an internship to the English MA Program Coordinator. The standard internship structure is 3 elective credits for 135 hours of work. However, students may take ENG 6940 English Master’s Internship for 1 to 6 credit(s) of their 33 total credits. Internship possibilities include library science work, editing, academic research, and writing for professional publications. If you wish to seek an internship, register on Eagle Careerlink through the office of Internships & Co-operative Programs online at www.fgcu.edu/internships/; email Lianet Escandell Rodriguez (lescandell@fgcu.edu); and complete the Internship Proposal Form on page 22 for the English MA Program Coordinator. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her internship location is registered with Eagle Careerlink. Some internship contacts: FGCU Archives, Special Collections, & Digital Initiatives Contact Melissa Minds VandeBurgt mvandeburgt@fgcu.edu FGCU Library Ambassadors Contact FYE Librarian Heather Snapp hsnapp@fgcu.edu Writing Center Any MA student may apply for a paid position under the supervision of the Writing Center Director. Individual tutor positions are paid at an hourly rate. Special projects provide potential internship opportunities. Contact Kelsey Fischell at kfischell@fgcu.edu and send as Word attachments a résumé, 3 writing samples, and a list of 3 references—at least 2 of which must be FGCU staff. The Mangrove Review, the student-edited literary magazine at FGCU, offers opportunities for volunteer editor positions. Contact Lori Cornelius lcorneli@fgcu.edu FGCU Sanibel Island Writers’ Conference provides volunteer opportunities in exchange for free attendance at this annual conference. Contact Tom DeMarchi tdemarch@fgcu.edu

4) Sigma Tau Delta Sigma Tau Delta is an international honor society for both undergraduate and graduate students of English language and literature. MA students, whether full-time or part-time, may join provided that they have a 3.3 GPA in their English coursework and pay a one-time $45 application fee. Contact sigma@eagle.fgcu.edu

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Administration and Faculty Coordinator, MA Program in English Dr. Kim Jackson is the Coordinator of the MA Program in English, 2019-2020. The English MA Coordinator is the academic advisor to every student in the MA Program in English. Chair, Department of Language and Literature Dr. Fiona Tolhurst is the Chair of the Department of Language and Literature, 2019-2021. The Department Chair is the administrative officer and supervisor of the department. Director, First-Year Composition Linda Rowland is the Director of Composition. The Director of Composition organizes writing instruction and creates the schedule for undergraduate composition courses including English Composition, Professional Writing, and Expository Writing. Coordinator, Writing Center Kelsey Fischell is the Coordinator of the Writing Center. The Writing Center Coordinator supervises the tutors in the Writing Center and schedules their hours. Director, FGCU Sanibel Island Writers’ Conference Tom DeMarchi, MFA is the Director of the FGCU Sanibel Writers’ Conference. The Director supervises staff in support of this annual writers’ conference. Faculty Advisor, Sigma Tau Delta Allison Dieppa is the faculty advisor for Sigma Tau Delta. She supervises events and activities for FGCU’s chapter. The Mangrove Review Lori Cornelius is the faculty advisor for The Mangrove Review. Administrative Assistant José Rivas is the Executive Secretary for the Department of Language and Literature. The Executive Secretary is responsible for assisting the Department Chair in the necessary paperwork and navigating the university bureaucracy. The Graduate Faculty in English Mary Crone-Romanovski, PhD, Ohio State University Restoration and 18th-Century British Literature and Culture, the Rise of the Novel, Gendered Authorship, Literature and Place, and Popular Culture Delphine Gras, PhD, University of Washington Literature and Culture of the African Diaspora

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Kimberly Jackson, PhD, SUNY Buffalo 21st Century Horror, Gothicism, Cultural Studies, and Literary Theory Laci Mattison, PhD, Florida State University 20th-Century British Literature, Modernism and Late Modernism, Modernist Women Writers, Contemporary Literature, and Critical Theory Myra Mendible, PhD, University of Miami Ethnic and Gender Studies, Politics and Literature, and Media Studies Masami Sugimori, PhD, Kansas University 20th-Century American Literature, American Modernism, the Harlem Renaissance, Critical Race Studies, and the Literature of Racial Passing Fiona Tolhurst, PhD, Princeton University Medieval Arthurian Literature (Latin, Middle English, and Old French), Chaucer, Medieval and Renaissance Drama, and Medieval Women Writers Rebecca Totaro, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Shakespeare, Literature of the Bubonic Plague, Early Modern Meteorology and Physiology, and Literacy Jordan Von Cannon, PhD, Louisiana State University Early American literature, 19th-century American literature, U.S. women writers, digital humanities, and women's and gender studies

Appendices follow on pp. 21-30

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FGCU MA in English Internship Guidelines & Proposal Form

General Guidelines: FGCU English MA students can arrange to receive credit for individual academic projects through an Internship in a field related to the MA in English Degree. The student is expected to engage in work that is supervised by an Internship Supervisor. The supervisor must have demonstrable expertise in the internship area. Intern Responsibilities Include:

Complete and sign the Internship Proposal Form (IPF), then attach to the IPF the “Internship Schedule” and “Internship Assignments” documents.

Acquire the signatures of the Internship Supervisor and English MA Program Coordinator on the IPF.

Complete all duties described in “Internship Schedule” and “Internship Assignments” documents to receive credit for the internship.

Send an email to Lianet Escandell Rodriguez (lescandell@fgcu.edu)—copied to the MA Coordinator—to register the internship with the Office of Internship and Co-operative Programs. In that email state 1) the intern’s name and UIN number 2) the name of the employer/the sponsor of the internship 3) the name of the internship supervisor 4) the email address of the internship supervisor.

Internship Supervisor Responsibilities Include:

Sign the Intern's Internship Schedule and Internship Proposal forms.

Meet with the student regularly during the semester.

Respond to any appropriate questions/requests made by the English MA Program Coordinator.

Program Coordinator Responsibilities Include:

Register MA student for ENG 6940 English Master’s Internship.

Maintain regular communication with the Internship Supervisor and student.

Submit a grade (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) at the end of the semester. Academic Requirements:

Internship Schedule: In order for a proposal to be accepted, the student must create a schedule of meetings and responsibilities that match the requirement of 135 contact

hours with the Internship Supervisor. This schedule must be signed by the Student Intern and Internship Supervisor and sent to the English MA Program Coordinator. Internship Assignments: The student must complete written work relevant to the Internship and English literature and culture. The parameters of the written work should be clearly described in the Internship Assignments Sheet. The English MA Program Coordinator has final approval on all aspects of these assignments.

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Internship Proposal Form Student Intern Name ____________________________ FGCU Email ________________________ Internship Supervisor Name and Title ___________________________________________________________ Institution/Employment _________________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP___________________________________________________________ Phone number (______)_________________E-mail_____________________________ Attach the following to this application:

1) Internship Schedule: In order for a proposal to be accepted, the student must create a

schedule of meetings and responsibilities with the Internship Supervisor. This schedule must be signed by the Student Intern and Internship Supervisor and given to the English MA Program Coordinator.

2) Internship Assignments: The student must complete written work relevant to the

Internship and English literature and culture. The parameters of the written work should be clearly described in the Internship Assignments Sheet. The English MA Program Coordinator will assist with the creation of this document and has final approval on all aspects of the assignments.

This form, along with the Internship Schedule and Assignment documents described immediately above, must be submitted to the English MA Program Coordinator at least two

weeks preceding the term in which the internship begins. Upon approval, the English MA Program Coordinator will create a CRN, and the Intern must register for the course through Gulfline. Graduate Student/Intern Signature: _____________________ Date ____________ Internship Supervisor Signature: ________________________ Date _____________ MA Coordinator Signature: ____________________________ Date _____________

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Department of Language and Literature, Program in English

MA Directed Research Proposal Application _____________________________________________________________ Name Date _____________________________________________________________ Proposed Topic _____________________________________________________________ Name of Proposed Thesis Advisor _____________________________________________________________ Name of Proposed Second Reader Submit with this application a 750-word prospectus of your project. Remember that a Directed Research is for the research and preliminary drafting of your Master’s Thesis. Specifically describe the focus of your project, discuss the work you have already done related to this project (previous coursework and/or independent research), and include a timetable for research and preliminary drafting.

BELOW TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE ENGLISH MA PROGRAM COORDINATOR, PROPOSED THESIS ADVISOR, AND SECOND READER _____ _____ Approved Not Approved _____________________________________________________________ Proposed Thesis Advisor (signature) Date _____________________________________________________________ Proposed Second Reader (signature) Date _____________________________________________________________ Coordinator, MA Program in English (signature) Date

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FGCU Thesis Guidelines 1. Title Page

The title page will include the author’s full legal name full title of the thesis name of the university and administrative unit year in which the thesis was approved The title page should be structured as shown in the sample on page 27.

2. Approval Page

The approval page (with signatures) should be structured as shown in the attached model on page 28 and must include the thesis title degree awarded e.g. MA in English date the thesis was approved by the MA in English faculty name and signature of the student name and signature of each committee member

3. Digital Format: accompanying materials can be uploaded through ProQuest as Supplemental Materials/Files

If such materials are integral to the thesis/dissertation, they must accompany each submission.

Photographs and other illustrative materials will be printed directly on the page. ProQuest requires a 1-inch margin on every page of the thesis.

4. Copies of the Thesis

FGCU has implemented the ProQuest publication system for the purpose of archiving theses and dissertations. Candidates for master’s degrees who are completing a thesis must submit their final thesis electronically through ProQuest UMI ETD prior to the published deadline. This is a university requirement for graduation; failure to meet the ProQuest deadline will result in the student’s graduation being delayed. Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines and Submission information can be found here under the ProQuest link (http://www.fgcu.edu/Graduate/12002.asp ) along with the Approval Sheet required for committee signatures. Keep in mind that the deadlines at this site are for final submission of the approved thesis. Therefore, you must submit the thesis to your supervisor and committee early enough for all approvals to be obtained before the published ProQuest deadline.

5. Multiple Volumes

Each subsequent volume will include a title page that duplicates the title page of the first volume.

Each volume will be identified as Volume I, II, etc. The page numbering follows consecutively from one volume to another.

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6. Copyright

Information on copyright registration is available from the U.S. Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/).

The student is responsible for any fees associated with securing a copyright. The student is also responsible for inserting the copyright notice on an un-numbered

page immediately preceding the title page. Please note that the current copyright laws do protect your thesis even without securing

copyright registration. We recommend that the student select Traditional Publishing through ProQuest. This

option is free. Copyright through ProQuest costs approximately $55.00.

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Sample Title Page: Florida Gulf Coast University Thesis

TITLE OF THESIS

A Thesis

Presented to

The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences

Florida Gulf Coast University

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirement for the Degree of

Master of Arts

By

Anne E. Student

April 5, 2020

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Sample Thesis Approval Page

APPROVAL PAGE

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of

Master of Arts in English

TITLE OF THESIS

Approved: [Example date: March 15, 2020]

_____________________________

Student: Anne E. Student

_____________________________ Thesis Advisor: Prof. C.S. Lewis

_____________________________ Second Reader: Prof. J.R.R. Tolkien

The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content

and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the abovementioned discipline.

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Florida Gulf Coast University

MA in English Information for Graduate Assistants (Fall 2019-Spring 2020)

Minimum Requirements

Formal acceptance into the MA program in English and letter of invitation to become a graduate assistant.

Registration for 6-9 graduate credit hours per semester. Graduate assistants must complete 18 credit hours of graduate coursework in English during their first year in order to be eligible for a teaching assistantship in their second year.

Responsibilities for Graduate Assistants in the Writing Center

You must commit to serving either 5 or 10 hours per week in the Writing Center as a tutor.

You must maintain good academic standing (3.0 GPA) and perform all duties at an acceptable level in order to maintain your assistantship and to have it continued for the full academic year.

Stipend and Tuition Waiver

You will receive a stipend of either $1,875 (for five hours of work/week) or $3,750 (for 10 hours of work/week) spread over 18 pay periods for the academic year.

You may receive a tuition waiver for up to 9 credit hours for the Fall semester. This waiver covers all matriculation fees, but you are still responsible for approximately $600 in other fees per semester.

Your tuition waiver and stipend are guaranteed only for one semester. If you fulfill all responsibilities listed above satisfactorily, your graduate assistantship can be extended into the Spring semester. If you remain in good standing, you can also receive a tuition waiver in the Spring semester.

Your contract will be discontinued and the stipend will be prorated if you do not maintain the responsibilities of this contract.

Contact Executive Secretary of the Department of Language and Literature José Rivas jrivas@fgcu.edu to initiate the employee sign-on process.

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Florida Gulf Coast University

MA in English Information for Teaching Assistants (Fall 2019-Spring 2020) Minimum Requirements

You must announce your desire to become a TA early in the semester prior to the one in which you would be entering the classroom.

You must have taken and passed ENC 6745: Composition Pedagogy with a grade of B or better.

You must have completed 18 graduate credit hours in English.

You must be in good academic standing (3.0 GPA).

You must have the endorsement of the Director of Composition and the English MA Program Coordinator.

Responsibilities

You must assume all responsibilities associated with the planning and teaching of one or two sections of Freshman Composition per semester. These include the design of the syllabus and lesson plans for each class session, teaching and the management of class time, and all grading and evaluation of assignments.

You must participate in an active teaching cell with at least two other TAs in addition to continuing to work with a faculty mentor for pedagogy.

You must cooperate with the MA Coordinator and the Director of Composition to set up classroom observations within the first four weeks of class in both the Fall and Spring semesters.

You must perform all duties at an acceptable level in order to maintain your assistantship and to have it continued for the full academic year.

Stipend and Tuition Waiver

You will receive a stipend of $3,100 per course per semester, which will be spread over 9 pay periods.

You may receive a tuition waiver for up to 6 credit hours per semester. This waiver covers all matriculation fees, but you are still responsible for approximately $600 in other fees per semester.

Your tuition waiver and stipend are guaranteed only for one semester. If you fulfill all responsibilities listed above satisfactorily, your teaching assistantship may be extended into the Spring semester. If you remain in good standing, you may also receive a tuition waiver in the Spring semester. Your contract will be discontinued and the stipend will be prorated if you do not maintain the responsibilities of this contract.

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Procedures for Becoming a TA

Submit a brief (one page) Curriculum Vitae (CV), or academic résumé, to the department’s Executive Secretary (Mr. José Rivas). The CV should include your contact information and sections for all of the following: your education, including the expected date of your MA; work experience, including any GA-ship and Writing Center tutorial work; relevant graduate coursework (ENC 6745 should top the list); any publications and/or conference presentations you might have; and areas of teaching/research interest. You may include awards and references as well.

Arrange to have official transcripts sent to the department’s Executive Secretary (Mr. José Rivas).