Students applying to the master’s degree program in English must include a graded
English paper. Students must also write a paper on literary analysis during a 90 minute
period scheduled at Chicago State University. The date of the scheduled writing period
can be obtained from the Department of English (773) 995-2189. Graduate applicants
are not required to complete the English Qualifying exam.
Depending on the assessment of the graded English paper, the assessment of the paper
on literary analysis, and whether students have fulfilled general requirement #2,
students could be: (1) denied admission; (2) conditionally admitted; (3) fully admitted.
Students conditionally admitted will be assigned to Eng 2280 and to other courses
deemed necessary. Conditionally admitted students must successfully complete Eng 2280
or other courses deemed necessary for full admission into the master’s degree program.
Fully admitted students who do not produce an acceptable paper on literary analysis
will be assigned to Eng 5427.
For successful completion of the graduate program in English, students must:
- be able to write coherent, well-organized exposition in several rhetorical modes using
edited American English competently.
- understand and be able to use effectively a variety of rhetorical forms and strategies
of informative writing and write for a variety of audiences.
- be familiar with the literature and major developments and writers of Great Britain
and America.
- be familiar with a significant body of literature by American writers of color.
- be able to analyze works of literature, understand a variety of critical approaches,
and demonstrate an awareness of the characteristic elements and techniques of the
various genres.
- understand basic elements of language and of language development, history, dialects,
and language acquisition.
- be able to think critically about issues and articulate varying points of view.
- be adept in solving problems involved in research and communication.
- be competent in operating word processing programs.
- be familiar with professional journals in the discipline.
- be familiar with professional organizations and become a participating member of at
least one.
- be willing and able to identify their own strengths and weaknesses and outline a plan
of self-improvement.