Concentration in English

          "I wish I could find a program that I could complete during my free time."                    "I want a graduate education that I can readily apply to my workplace."                    "I want to enjoy my next degree and not feel pressured to compete with other students."                    "I don't have time to come to campus every week for classes, so my classes have to be designed for the distance learner."     

Program Description

Expand your knowledge of literature and abilities in critical writing through courses in the English Department. Earning a Humanities transcript notation, this concentration involves at least eighteen hours (six courses) in English, followed by the Culminating Experience Project. The required course for this concentration is English 812, “Studies in Literary Theory and Application,” a lively course offered every spring semester that provides training in contemporary theoretical approaches to literature so that even a student without an undergraduate English degree can succeed in literary studies. Near the end of the program, the learner takes English 874, the Culminating Experience Project in English, a rigorous one-semester exploration of a literary or pedagogical subject under the guidance of the Coordinator of the English Concentration. For the other coursework, students select from a variety of options that rotate and change often. All of the courses for this concentration are online, enabling distance learners to complete their degree.

Admittance Requirements

Most students in the MLS concentration in English have a Bachelor of Arts in English. However, if an applicant has at least twelve hours in English or English-related courses (not counting basic composition courses), and the applicant meets the admittance requirements of the MLS program, then the applicant is likely to be admitted. A person seeking admittance to this concentration can take additional coursework at FHSU or elsewhere to build eligibility for application to admission to the concentration. Admittance decisions are made by the MLS Coordinator in English, the English Department Chair, the Director of the MLS program, and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Program Curriculum

Syllabi for all courses are made available to program members in advance through the Blackboard site dedicated to the English courses in the Master of Liberal Studies program. The English Department is currently offering the following courses for the MLS program:

• Literature and the Environment
• Nineteenth Century Women Writers
• Literary Visions
• The British Novel
• The American Novel
• The European Novel
• Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century British Novel
• The Classics and You: Part I
• The Classics and You: Part II
• The Novella
• Ethnic American Literature
• Classics in Detective Fiction
• Film and Literature
• World Drama
• Modern American Poetry
• The Short Story.

Students completing their MLS program in this concentration will have the following notation on their transcripts: “Liberal Studies (Humanities).”

Program Contact

Inquiries about this innovative program may be sent to Dr. Amy Cummins acummins@fhsu.edu. Or call 785.628.4243 to speak with Dr. Cummins, the Coordinator of this Concentration. Once you have been admitted to this concentration, please follow the MLS Checklist and carefully read The MLS Student Handbook. We look forward to hearing from you.