Western Carolina University
College of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Studies in English
Program Assessment Plan for 2006-2007
Contact
James C. Addison, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of English
Director of Graduate Studies
Department Mission Statement
The Department of English, in the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Carolina University,
exists to provide instruction in First-Year Composition, Literature, English Education,
Professional Writing, and Journalism to the university's undergraduate and graduate students.
Particularly in the areas of literature and writing, the department aspires to teach students to think
critically, to communicate effectively, to use information and technology responsibly, and to
appreciate the creative and performing arts.
The department's primary goal is excellent teaching in several areas: Liberal Studies courses in
writing and literature, undergraduate major courses, and graduate courses. These teaching
activities should be supported by appropriate scholarly research (especially by the graduate
faculty), by relevant professional and creative activity, and by associated service both on and off
campus (through the University Writing Center, aiding in the improvement of English Education
instruction in the region's pre-baccalaureate schools, acting as professional writing consultants to
the business, technical, and professional community and as advisors to students in community
internships and co-ops, and functioning as a literary cultural resource for the region).
The department is committed to helping its undergraduate majors and graduate candidates to
become proficient in the intellectual and technical skills needed for the study of literature and for
those careers that demand an appreciation of and sensitivity to language.
Graduate Studies in English
Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences
The English Department offers four different graduate degrees: the M.A., the M.A.-TESOL
(new), the M.A. Ed., and the M.A.T. There are various concentrations and tracks within these.
For example, within the M.A. in English, the student can concentrate in Literature, Professional
Writing, ESL/TESOL, or Rhetoric and Composition (new). Within the M.A. Ed., the student can
select the Two-Year College Teaching track or the Comprehensive Education—Secondary
English track. There are also specialized M.A.T.-TESOL and M.A. Ed.-TESOL degree
programs (new). All M.A. Ed. and M.A.T. degree programs are jointly administered with the
College of Education.
The various concentrations and tracks allow the student to tailor his degree program to his or her
needs and goals. They allow, for example, the student interested primarily in creative writing to
concentrate in one of the two major foci of the Professional Writing Concentration—creative
writing. They allow the student who is more interested in the pragmatic and technical side of
things to concentrate in that. Similarly, the student in ESL/TESOL has a number of choices
depending on his or her goals—entry into a Ph.D. program, a teaching position in a technical or
community college, credentialing to allow teaching in the North Carolina public schools, and so
forth.
The student may elect to write a thesis or portfolio within several of the graduate programs:
namely, the M.A. with concentration in Literature, Professional Writing, or Rhetoric and
Composition, and the new M.A.-TESOL. With this choice, the student can better address his or
her needs and goals, and tailor the degree specifically to these. If the student chooses to do a
thesis, he gains excellent preparation for entry into a Ph.D. program in English. Doing the thesis
also prepares him or her to successfully land a full-time teaching position at a technical or
community college. If the student elects the non-thesis option, then he or she gains from taking
the extra course work in his primary concentration, and so is better prepared for the world of
work or for further study.
Program Outcome Objectives for the Graduate Program in English:
1. M.A. in English students will demonstrate a sophisticated knowledge of literature,
professional writing, ESL/TESOL, or rhetoric and composition, depending on their
concentration.
2. M.A.-TESOL, M.A., Ed.-TESOL, and M.A.T.-TESOL students will demonstrate a
mastery of the principles of such areas as sociolinguistics, foundations and
methodology, curriculum development, and grammar.
3. M.A., Ed. and M.A.T. students in English will demonstrate high-level knowledge of
educational principles, practices, and pedagogy, in addition to a knowledge of their
subject area—whether English methods, language and literature, or ESL/TESOL.
4. M.A.in English and M.A.-TESOL students who elect to write a thesis or put
together a portfolio will demonstrate expertise in in-depth library research, the
organization of a large document, and a high-level of writing.
5. M.A. students, with concentration in Literature, Professional Writing, or Rhetoric
and Composition will demonstrate basic competency in a modern foreign language.
Measures for Outcome Objectives
1. Outcomes # 1 and 2 will be measured or assessed by the required M.A.
Comprehensive Examination relevant to the student's concentration: Literature,
Professional Writing, ESL/TESOL, or Rhetoric and Composition. These
examinations are prepared by the teaching faculty in the specific concentrations or
degree areas and are evaluated by them.
2. Outcome # 3 will be measured or assessed by demonstrated excellence in course
work and, for M.A., Ed. and M.A., Ed.-TESOL and M.A.T.-TESOL students by
required M.A. Comprehensive Examinations in English. M.A.T students, not in
TESOL, will be measured or assessed by required Professional Teaching
Examinations or Portfolios (prepared and administered through the College of
Education).
3. Outcome # 4 will be measured or assessed by successful completion of the M.A
in English or M.A.-TESOL thesis and by the student's successful oral defense of
the thesis.
4. Outcome # 5 will be measured or assessed by the student's demonstration of (1)
sufficient foreign language study (through the intermediate level), (2) successful
completion of the MFL Graduate Reading Examination, or by successful
completion of MFL 999 with a grade of "B" or better.
The Director of Graduate Studies in English will consult with the Department Head concerning
both program outcomes and outcome measures, and incorporate these data into the assessment
report.