Admission to Graduate Study

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to Candidacy

Associateships and Scholarships

Courses Acceptable on the Master's Degree Programs in Creative Writing and English

Faculty

General Information

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Specific Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing

Faculty

Associateships and Scholarships

Graduate teaching associateships in English are available to a limited number of qualified students. Application blanks and additional information may be secured from the graduate director.

General Information

The Department of English and Comparative Literature offers graduate study leading to a Master of Arts in English and the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. The M.A. student can choose one of four areas of specialization: American literature, British literature, comparative literature, or rhetoric and writing. The M.A. is a 30-unit degree program particularly well-suited for students who anticipate further graduate work in a literature or rhetoric Ph.D. program or who intend to teach English in a community college or a secondary school (after obtaining a credential). The M.F.A. in creative writing is a 54-unit program which offers study in poetry or fiction with a balance between studio and academic, traditional and experimental, commercial and aesthetic approaches. The program has two stages - graduate seminars followed by intensive study with one or more professors in tutorials and thesis preparation. The M.F.A. is a professional program intended for full-time students who wish to receive a terminal degree in creative writing. Each year, in addition to the resident faculty, the department invites approximately twenty writers and editors to the campus for readings and residencies.

The department offers a wide range of courses and approaches to the study of literature and writing, many of which are outlined in English 600, Introduction to Graduate Study, required of all entering M.A. students. Faculty publications in literature and rhetoric are similarly diverse. They include major literary biographies, historical studies, critical analysis from various current perspectives, reviews of and interviews with contemporary writers, as well as a broad spectrum of original poetry and fiction. The department also sponsors the literary periodicals Fiction International, Poetry International, and The Pacific Review.

Master of Arts Degree in English

Admission to Graduate Study

Students will be admitted in both the fall and spring semesters. Submit applications by October 1 for the spring and by April 1 for the fall.

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin. Students may be admitted to the master's program in English in one of two categories:

1. Classified Graduate Standing
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following minimal requirements:

a. 24 units of upper division work in English. (Students choosing the comparative literature specialization may substitute foreign language literature or comparative literature courses.)

b. 2.75 overall on a 4.0 Grade Point Scale.

c. 3.0 grade point average in the English major. (Students choosing the comparative literature specialization in either foreign language literature or comparative literature courses must possess a 3.0 grade point average.)

d. The applicant normally must achieve a minimum score of 1050 on the Graduate Record Examination, with a minimum of 550 on the verbal section.

2. Conditional Classified Graduate Standing

a. Conditional acceptance may be granted if there is a deficiency in any of the above requirements. A student accepted conditionally must customarily achieve an average of 3.25 in nine units of English or comparative literature courses with no grade less than B- before proceeding to further study and is limited to 12 units. Any units taken above this quota will not count toward the 30 units for the master's degree in English.

b. English major unit deficiencies. Students who lack 24 units of credit in upper division courses in English or in foreign language literature or comparative literature courses will be considered for conditional standing if they meet the requirements of 2.75 overall and achieve a minimum score of 1050 on the Graduate Record Examination, with a minimum of 550 on the verbal section. After the completion of 24 units for the undergraduate major, students will be considered for classified graduate standing if they meet the other requirements. Students choosing a comparative literature specialization may substitute 24 units of upper division coursework in foreign language literature or comparative literature courses for part of this requirement.

Applicants are required to submit a 750-1000 word statement of purpose and a 10-page writing sample from a previous literature course, preferably an analytical essay involving research. These materials, along with three letters of recommendation, should be sent directly to the Department of English and Comparative Literature.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, including the foreign language requirement, as stated in Part Two of this bulletin. Each candidate, with the approval of the graduate director, may fulfill the foreign language requirement in one of several ways: (1) by passing a local examination administered by one of the University's foreign language departments, (2) by completing one three-unit upper division foreign language literature course with readings in the original language with a grade of C (2.0) or better, or (3) by passing an examination to be determined by the graduate adviser if the chosen language is one not taught in a department at San Diego State University.

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

(Major Code: 15011)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete a graduate program, approved by the department's director of graduate studies, which includes a major consisting of 30 units, with at least 21 units of 600- and 700-numbered courses. The major includes a specialization in one of four program areas: American literature, British literature, comparative literature, or rhetoric and writing. Students specializing in literature may choose Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (written examination). Students specializing in rhetoric and writing may only select the thesis option (Plan A).

Specialization in American Literature

Core Courses (9 units):

English 600 Introduction to Graduate Study (3)
English 601 Literary Study in a Multicultural World (3)
English 602 Literary Theory and Critical Practice (3)

American Literature Research Focus. With prior approval by the graduate adviser, a student will select nine units from the following:

English 604A American Literary Period or Movement (3)
English 606A American Literary Type (3)
English 625 American Literature (3)
English 700 Seminar: A Major Author or Authors (3)
English 725 Seminar: Issues in American Literature (3)

(With the consent of the graduate adviser, English 798, with appropriate content, may be substituted for one of the above courses.)
Electives: Diversification in Literary and Writing Research. With the approval of the graduate adviser, nine units selected from other English and comparative literature departmental graduate offerings. A maximum of six units of courses acceptable for graduate credit in other departments (when appropriate) may be used toward satisfying this requirement.
Culminating Experience:

Plan A: (Thesis or Project) - 799A (3 units)
Plan B: (Comprehensive Examination) - Additional
3 units of 700-level coursework in English.

Specialization in British Literature

Core Courses (9 units):

English 600 Introduction to Graduate Study (3)
English 601 Literary Study in a Multicultural World (3)
English 602 Literary Theory and Critical Practice (3)

British Literature Research Focus. With prior approval by the graduate adviser, a student will select nine units from the following:

English 604B British Literary Period or Movement (3)
English 606B British Literary Type (3)
English 624 British Literature (3)
English 700 Seminar: A Major Author or Authors (3)
English 724 Seminar: Issues in British Literature (3)

(With the consent of the graduate adviser, English 798, with appropriate content, may be substituted for one of the above courses.)
Electives: Diversification in Literary and Writing Research. With the approval of the graduate adviser, nine units selected from other English and comparative literature departmental graduate offerings. A maximum of six units of courses acceptable for graduate credit in other departments (when appropriate) may be used toward satisfying this requirement.
Culminating Experience:

Plan A: (Thesis or Project) - 799A (3 units)
Plan B: (Comprehensive Examination) - Additional
3 units of 700-level coursework in English.

Specialization in Comparative Literature

Core Courses (9 units):

English 600 Introduction to Graduate Study (3)
English 601 Literary Study in a Multicultural World (3)
English 602 Literary Theory and Critical Practice (3)

Comparative Literature Research Focus. With prior approval by the graduate adviser, a student will select nine units from the following:
Three units acceptable for graduate credit, in a foreign language literature read in the original language.
Six units from the following:

English 604C Comparative Literature Literary Period or Movement (3)
English 606C Comparative Literature Literary Type (3)
English 626 Comparative Literature (3)
English 700 Seminar: A Major Author or Authors (3)
English 726 Seminar: Issues in Comparative Literature (3)

(With the consent of the graduate adviser, English 798, with appropriate content, may be substituted for one of the above courses.)
Electives: Diversification in Literary and Writing Research. With the approval of the graduate adviser, nine units selected from other English and comparative literature departmental graduate offerings. A maximum of six units of courses acceptable for graduate credit in other departments (when appropriate) may be used toward satisfying this requirement.
Culminating Experience:

Plan A: (Thesis or Project) - 799A (3 units)
Plan B: (Comprehensive Examination) - Additional 3 units of 700-level coursework in English.

Specialization in Rhetoric and Writing

Core Courses (9 units):

English 600 Introduction to Graduate Study (3)
English 601 Literary Study in a Multicultural World (3)
English 602 Literary Theory and Critical Practice (3)

Rhetoric and Writing Research Focus (9 units):

RWS 741 Seminar in Classical Rhetoric and Composition (3)
RWS 742 Seminar in Modern Rhetoric and Composition (3)

Three units selected from:

RWS 744 Seminar: Issues in Rhetorical Theory and Practice (3)
RWS 745 Advanced Seminar: Research Methods in
Rhetoric and Writing (3)

Electives: Diversification in Literary and Writing Research. With the approval of the graduate adviser, nine units selected from other English and comparative literature -departmental graduate offerings. A maximum of six units of courses acceptable for graduate credit in other departments (when appropriate) may be used toward satisfying this requirement.
Culminating Experience:

Plan A: (Thesis or Project) - 799A (3 units)

Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing

Admission to Graduate Study

STUDENTS WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE M.F.A. IN -CREATIVE WRITING ONLY IN THE FALL SEMESTER AND -COMPLETE APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1.

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to San Diego State University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin, a student must satisfy the following requirements before being recommended for classified graduate standing.

1. The applicant must submit a sample of creative work (15 poems or 30 pages of prose) and three letters of recommendation, to enable the creative writing faculty to assess the candidate's suitability to pursue an M.F.A. in creative writing. The sample of creative writing and the letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to the director of the creative writing program, Department of English and Comparative Literature, San Diego State University.

2. The applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree in creative writing, or in English with a focus in creative writing, or an approved affiliated field, with a grade point average of not less than 3.0 overall in the last 60 units of study attempted, with a 3.25 undergraduate grade point average in the major, and a 3.5 average in those courses considered prerequisite for the M.F.A. focus the student elects. The applicant should send all transcript information directly to the Office of Admissions and Records, San Diego State University.

3. If deficient, the applicant must complete undergraduate requirements commensurate with the proposed focus in the M.F.A. program.

4. The applicant normally must achieve a minimum score of 1050 on the Graduate Record Examination, with a minimum of 550 on the verbal section. The results of the GRE should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records, San Diego State University.

Students who submit especially compelling samples of creative work, but who have not met certain criteria or who demonstrate deficiencies in undergraduate preparation or basic skill development may be granted conditional classified admission to the program. The graduate coordinator shall specify the conditions for such admission with the proviso that any prerequisite coursework assigned must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and no grade less than a B-.

A student holding an M.A. degree in English with a specialization in creative writing from San Diego State University, or any other acceptable accredited institution of higher learning, must formally apply for admission to the M.F.A. program. Applicants holding an M.A. or pursuing an M.F.A. at an acceptable accredited institution may transfer up to 18 units upon review and recommendation by the creative writing faculty in the area of focus and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate Division. Students unable to satisfy the requirements for the M.F.A. degree will not automatically be considered for an M.A. degree.

Students already accepted into the M.F.A. program at San Diego State University who request a change of focus (poetry or fiction) at a later date will be required to reapply to the creative writing committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must meet the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as described in Part Two of this bulletin. Candidates for the M.F.A. degree must have completed 30 units within their official program of study, including transfer credit, with a minimum grade point average of 3.25 and have no grade less than B-. Students will be permitted to repeat only one course to achieve these levels.

In addition, the M.F.A. graduate committee must have recommended appointment of a thesis adviser from the student's area of focus (poetry, fiction) and the creative writing committee must have approved a thesis topic. Applicants for advancement should submit a portfolio of their creative work to the creative writing committee for a recommendation for advancement. Aspects to be reviewed include artistic achievement, ability to function in situations that writers and teachers usually encounter, and demonstration of skills in the focus area.

After advancement to candidacy, a student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 24 units from the official program to include English 789, 797, and 799A.

Specific Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing

(Major Code: 15071)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing, candidates for the M.F.A. in creative writing must complete a 54-unit graduate program, 39 of which must be in courses numbered 600 and above as follows:

1. Core Requirements.
English 689 Advanced Tutorial in Creative Writing (3)
This course must be taken prior to advancement to candidacy.
English 789 Directed Writing for M.F.A. Students (3)
This core course must be taken after advancement to candidacy.

2. Creative Writing Research Focus. Student to select one 18-unit research focus as follows:

A. Poetry
English 680 Seminar: Poetry Writing (6)
English 780 M.F.A. Seminar: Poetry (6)
Six units of electives in another creative writing research focus with the approval of the M.F.A. adviser.

B. Fiction
English 681 Seminar: Fiction Writing (6) and six units to be selected from
English 781 M.F.A. Seminar: Fiction (3-6)
English 783 M.F.A. Seminar: Novel (3-6)
Six units of electives in another creative writing research focus with the approval of the M.F.A. adviser.

3. Literature Research. An 18-unit literature research component divided as follows:

A. Three units selected from the following:
English 630 Form and Theory of Poetry (3)
English 631 Form and Theory of Fiction (3)

B. Nine units in American, British, or comparative literature, or an appropriate modern language literature selected with the approval of the M.F.A. adviser.

C. Six units selected from the following:
English 700 Seminar: A Major Author or Authors (3)
English 724 Seminar: Issues in British Literature (3)
English 725 Seminar: Issues in American Literature (3)
English 726 Seminar: Issues in Comparative
Literature (3)
English 730 Seminar: Perspectives in Critical Analysis (3)
RWS 741 Seminar in Classical Rhetoric and Composition (3)
RWS 742 Seminar in Modern Rhetoric and Composition (3)
RWS 744 Seminar: Issues in Rhetorical Theory and
Practice (3)
RWS 745 Advanced Seminar: Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing (3)

4. Correlative Study in Another Discipline. Six units in a correlative study related to the student's interest and selected with the approval of the M.F.A. adviser.

5. Thesis. Six units in preparation of the thesis; a book-length creative work.
English 797 Thesis Research (3)
English 799A Thesis (3)

Courses Acceptable on the Master's Degree Programs in Creative Writing and English

UPPER DIVISION COURSES IN ENGLISH

Prerequisite for all 500-level courses: Six lower division units in courses in literature and/or creative writing.

501. Literature for Children (3) I, II

Critical analysis of literature intended for children. Study of texts and illustrations.

502. Adolescence in Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Six units in literature.

Works centrally concerned with an adolescent protagonist. Includes both traditional novels of development (Bildungsroman) and contemporary young adult novels.

508W. The Writing of Criticism (3) I, II

Prerequisites: Satisfies University Upper Division Writing requirement for students who have completed 60 units, fulfilled the Writing Competency requirement, and completed the General Education requirement in Communication and Critical Thinking. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.

Theory and practice of literary criticism. Emphasis on the work of important critics and on development of student's own critical writing.

510. Teaching Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Six units in 500-level literature courses.

Theory and practice of teaching literature in high schools, colleges, and universities; various critical approaches (such as feminist, new historical, deconstruction, reader response) to literature and their implications for teaching and developing teaching styles.

519. American Ethnic Literatures (3) I, II

Prerequisite: Six units in literature.

Works from American ethnic literatures, with emphasis on formerly excluded traditions as African-American, Hispanic and Chicano, Asian-American, and American Indian.

520. African-American Literary Tradition (3)

Prerequisite: Six units in literature.

African-American literature from its eighteenth-century beginnings to the present. Early political and social concerns and concomitant utilitarian forms; aesthetic concerns and forms in nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

522. American Literature, 1800-1860 (3) I, II

Representative works by American writers from 1800 to 1860; likely to include works by Emerson, Hawthorne, Melville, Poe, Stowe, Thoreau, Whitman, and others.

523. American Literature, 1860-1920 (3) I, II

Representative works by American writers from 1860 to 1920; likely to include works by Charles Chesnutt, Kate Chopin, Stephen Crane, Emily Dickinson, Henry James, Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and others.

524. American Literature, 1920-1950 (3) I, II

Representative works by American writers from 1920 to 1950; likely to include works by Willa Cather, T. S. Eliot, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Zora Neale Hurston, Eugene O'Neill, Katherine Anne Porter, Ezra Pound, John Steinbeck, and others.

525. American Literature, 1950 to Present (3) I, II

American writers from 1950 to the present; likely to include works by Edward Albee, Saul Bellow, Allen Ginsberg, Joseph Heller, Maxine Hong Kingston, Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Kurt Vonnegut, Eudora Welty, and others.

526. Topics in American Literature (3)

Topics in American literature to include the literature of the South, Black writers in America, the frontier and American literature, the outcast in American literature, the immigrant experience in American literature. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

527. Genre Studies in American Literature (3)

Study of a specific literary genre: overview of the genre's development in American literature (the American novel, the American short story, American poetry) or focus on a narrower period (the modern American novel, the contemporary American novel, American autobiographies, others). May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

528. Individual American Authors (3)

Works of a major American author or, if useful comparisons and juxtapositions warrant it, the works of two or three authors: Melville, Twain, James, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Cather, Morrison; or Pound and Eliot, Emerson and Thoreau, Vonnegut and Barth, Rich and Levertov, and others. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new title and content. Maximum credit six units.

530. Chaucer (3)

Chaucer's works, with emphasis on The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde.

531. Renaissance Literature (3)

English poetry and prose from 1485 to 1603.

533. Shakespeare (3) I, II

An introduction to the writings of Shakespeare. This course cannot be used in place of English 302 to satisfy General Education requirements.

534. Study of Shakespeare (3)

Prerequisite: English 533.

Advanced study of Shakespeare's achievement as a poet and playwright.

536. Seventeenth Century Literature (3)

English poetry and prose from 1603 to 1660.

537. Milton (3)

Milton's writings, with emphasis on Paradise Lost.

538A-538B. Restoration and Eighteenth Century Literature (3-3)

English literature in the neoclassical era. Semester I: Dryden, Swift, Pope, and their contemporaries. Semester II: Writers of the middle and late eighteenth century.

540A-540B. English Fiction (3-3)

The development of English fiction from its beginnings to the end of the nineteenth century. Semester I: The eighteenth century. Semester II: The nineteenth century.

541A-541B. English Drama (3-3)

English dramatic literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century. Semester I: The period from the beginning to 1642. Semester II: The period following reopening of the theatres in 1660.

542. Romantic Literature (3)

Representative British works from the 1790s to the 1830s by such writers as Wollstonecraft, Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats, Austen, and Scott.

543. Victorian Literature (3)

Representative British works from 1837 to 1890 by such writers as Carlyle, Tennyson, Ruskin, Browning, Dickens, Arnold, Eliot, and Pater.

544. British Literature, 1890-1918 (3)

Representative British works from 1890 to 1918 by such writers as Hardy, Gissing, Shaw, Conrad, Yeats, Wells, Forster, Mansfield, and the World War I poets.

547. British Literature, 1918-1950 (3)

Representative British works from 1918 to 1950 by such writers as Joyce, Woolf, Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Mansfield, Huxley, Bowen, Greene, Auden, Orwell, and Thomas.

548. British Literature, 1950 to Present (3)

Representative British works from 1950 to the present by such writers as Golding, Amis, Murdoch, Lessing, Pinter, Hughes, Fowles, Stoppard, Drabble, and Ishiguro.

549. Topics in English Literature (3)

The works of Spenser, the metaphysical school of poetry, the English satirists, major movements in contemporary English fiction, and the like. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

560A. British Literature, Beginnings Through the Eighteenth Century (3) I, II

Survey of major British writers, with emphasis on reading of complete works. From the beginnings to the neoclassical period. Especially appropriate for those who will teach British literature, and for those proceeding on to graduate study.

560B. British Literature, Romanticism to the Present (3) I, II

Survey of major British writers, with emphasis on reading of complete works. Begins with the Romantic writers. Especially appropriate for those who will teach British literature, and for those proceeding on to graduate study.

570. Techniques of Poetry (3)

Prerequisite: English 280.

Techniques of poetry from the creative writer's point of view. Introduction to critical and theoretical literature on poetry. Includes a creative writing workshop.

571. Techniques of the Short Story (3)

Prerequisite: English 280.

Techniques of the short story from the writer's point of view. Introduction to critical and theoretical literature on the short story. Includes a creative writing workshop.

573. Techniques of the Novel (3)

Prerequisite: English 280.

Techniques of the novel from the writer's point of view. Introduction to critical and theoretical literature on the novel. Includes a creative writing workshop.

576. Literary Editing and Publishing (3)

Prerequisite: English 280.

Principles and practices of editing and literary publishing. Workshop on small press publishing. Includes editing and publishing workshop.

577. Techniques of Screenwriting (3)

Prerequisite: English 280 or Television, Film, and New Media 110 or 410 for television, film, and new media majors.

Techniques of screenwriting. Introduction to critical and theoretical literature on screenwriting. Includes a creative writing workshop.

579. Topics in Creative Writing (3)

Prerequisite: English 280.

Techniques of creative writing focusing on a specialized genre such as comedy, science fiction, and biography. Study of the critical and theoretical literature on the genre. Includes a creative writing workshop. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

580. Writing of Poetry (3) I, II

Prerequisite: English 570.

A creative writing workshop in poetry. Continuation of English 570. Maximum credit six units.

581W. Writing of Fiction (3) I, II

Prerequisites: English 280. Satisfies University Upper Division Writing requirement for students who have completed 60 units, fulfilled the Writing Competency requirement, and completed the General Education requirement in Communication and Critical Thinking. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.

A creative writing workshop in fiction. Continuation of English 571. Maximum credit six units.

583. Writing Long Narrative (3)

Prerequisite: English 573.

A creative writing workshop in long narrative, especially the novella or novel. Continuation of English 573. Maximum credit six units.

584W. Writing Informal Essays (3) I, II

Prerequisites: English 280. Satisfies University Upper Division Writing requirement for students who have completed 60 units, fulfilled the Writing Competency requirement, and completed the General Education requirement in Communication and Critical Thinking. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.

A creative writing workshop in nonfiction, especially the essay as an art form. Maximum credit six units.

587. Writing the Screenplay (3)

Prerequisite: English 577 or Television, Film, and New Media 110 or 410 for television, film, and new media majors.

A creative writing workshop in screenwriting with emphasis on the feature film. Continuation of English 577. Includes playwriting and revising a television script or short film. Maximum credit six units.

596. Selected Topics in English (1-3)

Selected topics in English. May be repeated with new content and approval of instructor. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596 applicable to a bachelor's or master's degree. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.

UPPER DIVISION COURSES
IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Prerequisite for all 500-level courses: Six units in literature or three units in literature and three units in a related area appropriate to the course in question.

511. Continental Renaissance (3)

Representative selections from authors of the Renaissance period in continental Europe.

512. Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century European Literature (3)

Selected works by European writers prior to 1800.

513. Nineteenth Century European Literature (3)

Selected works by European writers between 1800 and 1900.

514. Modern European Literature (3)

Selected works by European writers of the twentieth century.

530. Topics in Asian Literature (3)

Specialized study of a selected topic in Asian literature. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

561. Fiction (3)

A comparative approach to themes and forms in fiction (novel and short story). Focus of course to be set by instructor. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

562. Drama (3)

Forms and themes in drama. Focus of course to be set by instructor. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

563. Poetry (3)

A comparative approach to themes and forms in poetry. Focus of course to be set by instructor. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

571. Literary Use of Legend (3)

Literary treatment of such legendary figures as Don Juan, Faust, and Ulysses, in a wide range of literature and genres. See Class Schedule for specific content.

577. Major Individual Authors (3)

In-depth study of the works of a major author, such as Dante, Murasaki, or Dostoyevsky. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

580. Concepts in Comparative Studies (3)

Basic concepts in comparative studies in literature (e.g., influence, movement, figure, genre, etc.); their validity, usefulness, and limitations. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

582. Contemporary Literary Theory (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division units in literature.

Comparative study of literary theory since Russian formalism and Anglo-American "New Criticism." Emphasis on current developments in Europe and North America.

594. Topics in Literature and the Arts (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division units in literature or any of the other arts.

Comparative study of literature and other arts such as painting, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, and film. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit six units applicable to the M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

595. Literature and Aesthetics (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division units in literature or any of the other arts.

Theoretical and experiential investigation of relationships between literature and the other arts; literary works in context of an inquiry into aesthetics.

596. Topics in Comparative Literature (3)

An intensive study of a topic to be selected by the instructor. May be repeated with new title and content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units.

GRADUATE COURSES IN ENGLISH

600. Introduction to Graduate Study (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English.

Introduction to research methods and critical approaches common in the graduate study of literature and expository writing, with attention to basic reference works, bibliographical techniques, analytical strategies, scholarly frames of reference, and pedagogy. Recommended for first-semester graduate students.

601. Literary Study in a Multicultural World (3)

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in English 600.

Relationship of literature to gender, race, class, and nationality. Changing conceptions of literary canons. Exploration, through literary texts, of values in literature and the constituents of literary value.

602. Literary Theory and Critical Practice (3)

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in English 600.

Major issues in the history of literary criticism as well as contemporary approaches. Study of criticism and theory accompanied by writing practicum. Students will write in several critical modes and build graduate level proficiency in analyzing literary issues. Prerequisite to 700-level seminars.

604. A Literary Period or Movement (3)

Prerequisites: An appropriate upper division or graduate level background course; credit or concurrent registration in English 600.

Advanced study, through its literature, of a literary period such as the Renaissance, or a movement such as American modernism. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

A. American Literature
B. British Literature
C. Comparative Literature

606. A Literary Type (3)

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in English 600.

Advanced study of a specific literary genre, such as the novel, tragic drama, lyric poetry, the personal essay, autobiography. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

A. American Literature
B. British Literature
C. Comparative Literature

624. British Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English.

Selected works of an author, period, or subject in English literature. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

625. American Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English, with courses in American literature strongly recommended.

Selected works of an author, period, or subject in American literature. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

626. Comparative Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English, comparative literature, or a foreign language literature.

Comparative approaches to literature: study of a theme, geographical region, external relationship, or of selected authors. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

630. Form and Theory of Poetry (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English.

Poetry as a literary form. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to an M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

631. Form and Theory of Fiction (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English.

Fiction as a literary form. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to an M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

680. Seminar: Poetry Writing (3)

Prerequisites: English 580 and at least 12 units in upper division and graduate English courses. Strongly recommended: English 570 and/or 630.

Writing original poetry; guided practice in various forms and techniques. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

681. Seminar: Fiction Writing (3)

Prerequisites: English 581W and at least 12 units in upper division and graduate English courses. Strongly recommended: English 571, 631.

Writing original fiction. Students may emphasize short story, novel, or a combination. Guided practice in narrative techniques. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

689. Advanced Tutorial in Creative Writing (3)

Prerequisite: English 680 or 681.

Class sessions and individual consultations in creative writing. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

696. Special Topics (3)

Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in English.

Intensive study in specific areas of English. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree. Maximum combined credit of six units of 526, 549, or 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.

700. Seminar: A Major Author or Authors (3)

Prerequisites: English 600 and 602.

Critical study of a major author or authors such as -Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Edith Wharton, Marcel Proust, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and others. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

724. Seminar: Issues in British Literature (3)

Prerequisites: English 600 and 602.

Advanced study of issues within the development of the novel in Great Britain, colonial literatures in English, the British lyrical tradition and others. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

725. Seminar: Issues in American Literature (3)

Prerequisites: English 600 and 602.

Advanced study of such issues as regionalism, ethnicity, the urban experience, gender, the political novel in American literature. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

726. Seminar: Issues in Comparative Literature (3)

Prerequisites: At least two courses selected from English 600, 601, and 602.

Advanced study of an issue such as translation, negritude, poetic language, or literature and censorship. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.

730. Seminar: Perspectives in Critical Analysis (3)

Prerequisites: English 600 and 602.

Advanced study of analytical perspectives such as contemporary literary theory, feminist poetics, canon and exclusion, literature and other arts, literature and other disciplines.

780. M.F.A. Seminar: Poetry (3)

Prerequisite: English 680; open only to students admitted to M.F.A. in creative writing.

Advanced poetry writing for M.F.A. candidates. Students will be expected to do considerable work on a collection of poems in progress, as well as to participate in critiques of others' work. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to the M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

781. M.F.A. Seminar: Fiction (3)

Prerequisite: English 681; open only to students admitted to M.F.A. in creative writing.

Fiction writing for M.F.A. candidates. Emphasis on forms of short fiction. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to the M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

783. M.F.A. Seminar: Novel (3)

Prerequisites: English 583 and 681; open only to students admitted to the M.F.A. in creative writing.

Novel writing for M.F.A. candidates. Students will be expected to do considerable work on a novel in progress, as well as participate in critiques of others' work. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to the M.F.A. in creative writing.

789. Directed Writing for M.F.A. Students (3)

Prerequisite: English 780, or 781, or 783 and advancement to candidacy for the M.F.A. in creative writing.

Directed, individual practice in a particular genre or problem in writing with emphasis on critical evaluations and revision within problem areas of the student's work.

796. Internship (3) Cr/NC

Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree in English and comparative literature or admission to the Master of Fine Arts program and consent of the graduate adviser and supervising professor.

Work experience with a practicing professional or company in the community, such as working as editorial assistant or teacher intern.

797. Thesis Research (3)

Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy in the M.F.A. degree in creative writing.

Independent work in general field of candidate's thesis project.

798. Special Study (1-3) Cr/NC/SP

Prerequisite: Consent of staff; to be arranged with department chair and instructor.

Individual study. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

799A. Thesis (3) Cr/NC/SP

Prerequisites: An officially appointed thesis committee and advancement to candidacy.

Preparation of a project or thesis for the master's degree.

799B. Thesis Extension (0) Cr/NC

Prerequisite: Prior registration in Thesis 799A with an assigned grade symbol of SP.

Registration required in any semester or term following assignment of SP in Course 799A in which the student expects to use the facilities and resources of the university; also student must be registered in the course when the completed thesis is granted final approval.