Welcome to the Graduate Program

Illinois State University 's graduate program embraces an English Studies model that explores the interactions among rhetoric, literature and cultural studies, linguistics, critical theory, writing, and pedagogy. We offer three advanced degrees: the Ph.D. in English Studies, the Master's in English, and the Master's in Writing. The program includes more than 40 graduate faculty and 120 students.

During a period in which many new Ph.D. graduates have had difficulty in the job market, more than 90% of our Ph.D. graduates have found full-time positions in higher education or secondary education. Graduates enjoy such success because of our program's integrated focus on pedagogical theory and our commitment to preparing college and university teachers with a broad background in all facets of English Studies.

Students enrolled in the Master's in English can choose to concentrate in one of the following areas: English Studies, Children's Literature, Teaching English as a Second Language, Creative Writing, or Literary and Cultural Studies.

The Master's in Writing includes sequences in the Teaching of Writing and in Professional Writing and Rhetorics. Graduates of the Professional Writing sequence typically find employment in technical writing or editing positions; students in the Teaching of Writing sequence are trained to teach at the post-secondary level.

The department also offers two Graduate Certificates. The Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing in High School/Middle School is designed for certified middle and high school teachers of any subject who are interested in pursuing study of current theory and practice in composition in an atmosphere emphasizing the special needs of the high school/middle school teacher. The Certificate in TESOL is designed as a dual-enrollment program. Students enrolled in another graduate program at ISU may enroll in the TESOL certificate to gain credentials in teaching English to non-native speakers.

For more information : english_graduate@ilstu.edu

www.english.ilstu.edu

Summer 2009 Graduate Course Offerings

Fall 2009 Graduate Course Offerings

Roberta Seelinger Trites, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
seeling@ilstu.edu
409 Stevenson Hall
Department of English 4240
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4240
(309) 438-3651
fax: (309) 438-5414