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grad_com An
electronic newsletter from the BSU School of Graduate Studies |
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Vol. 3, No. 2 |
July 2006 |
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The
Process Registration: Grad classes Starting the count of seven years to complete a
degree Form 1:
Applying for admission to graduate studies Completing 13-16 graduate credits after
admission Form 2:
Applying for candidacy in a graduate degree program Taking the written exam at the end of course
work Form 3:
Proposing a research
paper or thesis Doing the work and writing the results Form 4:
Applying for graduation Submitting the research paper or thesis for
review Form 5:
Scheduling the oral examination Defending your graduate work Diploma
Q&A:
Question of the month? Most
Common question in the English Department Q: What are the comprehensive exams? From
Susan Hauser Chair, Dept of
English THROUGHOUT
THIS – USE EXAMS PLURAL A: The
Comprehensive exam is the written exam portion of a student’s final
preparation for graduation. Students are asked to select the areas of study in which
they wish to be examined and work with three faculty members in taking their
comprehensive exam. The Process: 1. The exam is
in three (3) parts. 2. All parts must be taken in one (1) semester. 3. Students should take the exams during their last
semester of study. 4. The oral defense cannot be scheduled until the
comprehensive exam has been passed. 5. Students are responsible for scheduling the
comprehensive exam and should arrange for them prior to their last semester
of study. 6. Students should work closely with advisors in
selecting exam areas and determining the dates, times, and procedures for
each section. (See “Comprehensive Exam
Details” for further information.) Great advise from the
Department Chair: Consult
your advisor early and often. This
will help assure your timely graduation. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact either the School of Graduate
Studies Mark Christensen Graduate Director, 218-755-3356 Prof.
Susan Hauser Chair,
English Dept. 218-755-3355 shauser@bemidjistate.edu |
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This month . . . ·
NEW! – Ins and Outs:
Investigating Grad Programs
This month: The English Program ·
Q&A: Straight from
the English Department… |
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Ins and Outs of the
English Program |
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There are two degrees offered at the Graduate level for English: ·
Master of Arts – For those who are interested in deepening their
knowledge of literature and writing, wish to go on to doctoral work, desire
to pursue professional training, or want to engage in other creative
activities. ·
Master of Science – Intended for certified teachers who desire
to further develop their interest in literature and writing while enhancing
their skills in teaching English. This
degree is helpful for secondary and middle school educators, for those
interested in teaching at the community college level, or for those who wish
to undertake doctoral studies. Competency
Requirements Master of Arts – A reading knowledge of a foreign
language, a grade of 3.00 (B) in a final second-year course, or a “Pass” on a
standardized reading test, second-year level, is required. (See “Competency MA”
for details) Master of Science – There are two possibilities. ·
A
reading knowledge of a foreign language, a grade of 3.00 (B) in a final
second-year course, or a “Pass” on a standardized reading test, second-year
level (See “Competency MS”
for details) Or… ·
A
proficiency in a graduate-level course in the computer application of
statistics with a grade of 3.00 (B) or a “Pass” on a proficiency
examination. (See “Competency MS”
for details) |
Preparation Both degrees require an undergraduate
degree in English, a liberal arts background, or a teacher education
degree. Those pursuing a Graduate degree in
English should have undergraduate work in English and American literature and
Shakespeare.
The
Thesis/Research Paper… Master of Arts – There are two possibilities; both
options require previous approval by the department’s graduate committee: ·
Scholarly
Thesis – An extensive and detailed analysis of an approved topic presented in
a form suitable for publication (see “MA Thesis
Requirements” for details).
Or… ·
Creative
Thesis – A creative project of the student’s own work with an artist’s
statement that places the work in a critical context (see “MA Thesis
Requirements” for details). Master of Science – There are two possibilities;
both options require previous approval by the department’s graduate committee: ·
Scholarly
Thesis – An extensive and detailed analysis of an approved topic presented in
a form suitable for publication (see “MA Thesis
Requirements” for details).
Or… ·
Research
Paper – A research paper is required of any MS student who chooses not to
complete a thesis (see “MS Thesis
Requirements” for details). Thesis Reminder: Options MUST ((should)) be discussed with
your advisor. Discussion should start by
the second semester of the first year. |
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Important Differences of the English
program |
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· Students interested in pursuing a graduate
degree in English must apply to
both the Graduate Studies Office and the English Department. · The English department requires
three (3) letters of recommendation rather than the two (2) required be the -
Students
applying for a Graduate Assistantship should ask their references to address
their potential as a teacher -
students
may use the same references for applying to the |
·
The English Department employs 11 Graduate Assistants and are usually
offered one (1) renewal of contract: ·
10 – Teaching Graduate Assistants (teach College Writing
courses) ·
1 –Graduate Assistantship in literary publishing (works with Dust and Fire and New Voices, as well as other
publishing projects) ·
English Graduate students are also eligible to apply for
graduate assistantships in other areas, including Criminal Justice, Mass
Communication, the library, and the ·
The English department is the only department that contains a
Master of Arts Degree (MA) ·
Unlike the other programs which use APA formatting for thesis and
research papers, the English Department uses MLA formatting
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For more information, contact English
Department Graduate Director Mark Christensen by mchristensen@bemidjistate.edu,
218-755-3356, or Department Chair Susan Hauser by shauser@bemidjistate.edu, 218-755-3355
or visit the English Department
website. |
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We want to make grad_com
useful for you. Let us know what you would like to see on these pages by
contacting the School of Graduate Studies, Decker Hall 110, 218-755-2027
(toll-free: 1-888-386-8464), Grad@bemidjistate.edu |
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