Assessment 2: Degree Audit in Adolescent English Education (Graduate)
A brief description of the assessment and its use in the program (one sentence may be sufficient)
The degree audit of graduate coursework in English and education, conducted by the Department of English, the Office of Educational Services, and the Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit
Division, ensures that candidates who complete the program in Adolescent English Education are proficient in content and pedagogy.
This is a new key assessment that addresses NCTE’s suggestion to use a transcript analysis to ensure sufficient content preparation, in particular in literature preparation. While the graduation degree audit is standard procedure, it was implemented as a key assessment in fall 2008, following the July 2008 results of our SPA report.
A description of how this assessment specifically aligns with the standards
NCTE Standards Assessed
3.1 Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and skills in the use of, the English language.
3.4 Candidates demonstrate knowledge of different composing processes.
3.5 Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and uses for, an extensive range of literature.
The key assessment aligns with the standards in the following ways:
Key Assessment Task
Degree audit approval for successful completion of course work in:
ENGL 607 Linguistics-the Structure of Modern Language (3 credits)
Alignment with
Standard
3.1
ENGL 615 Rhetoric and Composition (3 credits)
SEDC 711 Young Adult Literature (3 credits)
3.4
3.5
Shakespeare (3 credits)
American Literature (3-6 credits)
Multicultural Literature (3 credits)
The assessment tool or description of the assignment
To ensure that candidates who apply for graduation meet all program requirements in English and education, candidates complete a degree audit application that is reviewed by and must be approved by the Chairperson of English Department in the School of Arts and Science, the
Coordinator of Educational Services in the School of Education, and the Hunter College Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit Division. The English department reviews the candidates’ transcript to check for successful completion of content courses in English and for a passing score on the English department's comprehensive examination (an exit requirement). Upon approval by the English department, the degree audit is forwarded to the School of Education’s
Office of Educational Services for review of successful completion of education courses, a second review of the English coursework, verification that the candidate met any admission conditions, and successful completion of the professional teaching portfolio (an exit requirement). Upon approval by both the Department of English and the School of Education, the degree audit application is forwarded to the Hunter College Office of the Registrar’s Degree
Audit Division for a final check that all course requirements, GPA requirements, exit requirements, and admissions conditions are met.
The degree audit approval of successful completion of the following courses represents that candidates demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge, skill, and use of the English language

( Standard 3.1
), different composing processes ( Standard 3.4
), and an extensive range of literature ( Standard 3.5
).
ENGL 607 English Linguistics ( Standard 3.1
)
ENGL 615 Rhetoric and Composition ( Standard 3.4
)
SEDC 711 Advanced Study of Young Adult Literature ( Standard 3.5
)
3 credits in Shakespeare ( Standard 3.5
)
3-6 credits in American Literature ( Standard 3.5
)
3 credits in Multicultural Literature ( Standard 3.5
)
Course Descriptions
ENGL 607 English Linguistics ( Standard 3.1
)
Structure of Modern English, with emphasis on analytical method and pedagogical implications.
Survey of phonology, morphology, syntax, and dialectal variation.
ENGL 615 Rhetoric and Composition ( Standard 3.4
)
Rhetorical theory; analysis of selected master pieces of prose; practice in writing a variety of prose forms.
SEDC 711 Advanced Study of Young Adult Literature of Our Diverse Society ( Standard 3.5
)
Familiarizes prospective teachers with a wide-variety of literature for or about young adults.
Books discussed and dramatized during each session reflect diverse cultures, varying learning styles, and special needs of young adults. The English Language Arts standards are addressed as delineated in city and state regulations. Literacy and comprehension skills are explored as well.
3 CREDITS IN SHAKESPEARE ( Standard 3.5
)
Courses include:
ENGL 713 Shakespeare: Comedy ( Standard 3.5
)
Detailed study of selected plays with special consideration of a variety of critical techniques and approaches.
ENGL 714 Shakespeare: Tragedy ( Standard 3.5
)
Detailed study of selected plays with special consideration of a variety of critical techniques and approaches.
ENGL 715 Shakespeare ( Standard 3.5
)
Selected works by William Shakespeare in relation to a special theme, technique, genre, theoretical issue, or cultural consideration.
ENGL 716 Renaissance Drama Exclusive of Shakespeare ( Standard 3.5
)
The predecessors, contemporaries, and successors of Shakespeare up to the closing of the public theaters in 1642.
3 CREDITS AMERICAN LITERATURE ( Standard 3.5
)
Courses include:
ENGL 749 American Prose to 1860 ( Standard 3.5
)

Selected works by such authors as Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Poe and Melville. ENGL 750
American Prose, 1860-1914 ( Standard 3.5
) Study of selected works by such authors as Howells,
Twain, James, Crane, Dreiser and Adams.
ENGL 751 American Prose, 1914 to the Present ( Standard 3.5
)
Writers ranging from Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Faulkner to the contemporaries.
ENGL 752 American Poets of the 19th Century ( Standard 3.5
)
Studies in a selected number of representative poets, among them Poe, Emerson,
Whitman and Dickinson.
ENGL 753 American Poets of the 20th Century ( Standard 3.5
)
Studies in a selected number of major poets, including Frost, Eliot and Stevens.
ENGL 754 Selected Studies in Work of Major American Writers ( Standard 3.5
)
Subject will vary from semester to semester.
3 CREDITS MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE ( Standard 3.5
)
ENGL 776 Selected Studies in Multicultural/Minority Literature ( Standard 3.5
)
Subject will vary from semester to semester.

(b) the scoring guide for the assessment
Grading Scale
Above Standard = A+, A
At Standard = A-, B+, B
Developing/Below Standard = B- and below