Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences
East Carolina University  2201 Bate Building  Greenville, NC 27858-4353
252-328-6041 office  252-328-4889 fax
www.ecu.edu/english
To:
Rose Allen, Chair
Graduate Curriculum Committee
From:
Michelle F. Eble, Director of Graduate Studies in English
Date:
September 12, 2011
Re:
Changes in MA in English, Concentration in Multicultural and Transnational
Literatures (MTL) Program Requirements
The MA in English, concentration in Multicultural and Transnational Literatures (MTL) are
requesting changes to their program requirements.
1.) Change in MA, MTL concentration requirements
The Graduate Faculty in the Department of English have voted to remove “a reading knowledge
of a language other than English (FORL 6000 satisfies this requirement)” from the MTL
concentration requirements.
1) The MTL concentration would like to be more consistent with the rest of the department in
its requirements (all other areas have dropped the language requirement, and those faculty
members are no longer available to provide language instruction).
2) Spanish is normally the only language offered by FORL, and our students have studied or
would like to study others. Because we have been unable to hire, MTL does not have the staff
or resources to offer alternatives.
3) The focus of our program is very different from programs in Comparative Literature, where
language study is crucial. Our focus is theoretical, on critical multiculturalism and
transnationalism as they appear in works written in English.
Background
Last fall, the English Department Graduate Faculty voted overwhelmingly to remove the
research skills requirement of “[a] reading knowledge of a language other than English” or a
computer skills portfolio from the MA in English program requirements. One concentration,
MTL, kept it for the time being.
The following is the justification used last fall to remove the requirement.
East Carolina University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
The historical background for this requirement is that at one point, much of the research done
in literary studies was published in German or French. This has not been the case for fifty years
or more. A review of the requirements at our peer institutions reveals that fully one-half do not
require reading knowledge of a language other than English with no discernible pattern about
the type of institution or program concerning who has retained the requirement and who has
not.
Additionally, students considering going on for the PhD will be encouraged to get background in
a language other than English if they do not already have that skill.
Removing the research skills requirement does not significantly diminish the research focus of
the MA degree. Students in all concentrations are still required to take a research methods
class, and most if not all coursework in all of the concentrations requires research of some sort.
The effect on FORL 6000, one of the ways that this requirement has been met, should be
minimal. Over the past three semesters, 11 out of 59 seats in the course (less than 10%) have
been taken by students who would no longer be required to take the class, but who could if
they wish.
2.) Course Additions to MA in English,
Concentration in Multicultural and Transnational Literatures Program Requirements
The additions of ENGL 7070, 7080, and 7465 to the list of courses that can be used to fulfill the
elective MTL courses for the concentration in MTL are several courses that have been
developed in MTL since the original concentrations were approved. The Graduate Faculty in
English have overwhelmingly approved these changes.