Mar 29, 2024  
2021/2022 University Catalog 
    
2021/2022 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

English


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OFFICE: Arts and Letters 226
TELEPHONE: 619-594-5307 / FAX: 619-594-4998
E-MAIL: EandCL@sdsu.edu
WEBSITE: http://literature.sdsu.edu

Faculty

Chair: Phillip R. Serrato, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)


Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Sandra B. Alcosser, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, M.F.A. Program Director (M.F.A.)

Michael K. Borgstrom, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Joanna Brooks, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Faculty Advancement (Ph.D.)

Laurie Champion, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Laurie D. Edson, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Peter C. Herman, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Darlene Emily Hicks, Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Chicana and Chicano Studies (B.A., Ph.D., University of California, San Diego)

Stephen-Paul Martin, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (M.F.A. Program Director) (Ph.D.)

William A. Nericcio, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Jessica Pressman-Lupien, Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Jeanette Shumaker, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, SDSU Imperial Valley (Ph.D.)

Joseph T. Thomas, Jr., Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Quentin J. Bailey, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Graduate Director) (Ph.D.)

Clare E. Colquitt, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Blas G. Falconer, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D)

Yetta Howard, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Phillip R. Serrato, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)

Barry G. Stampfl, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, SDSU Imperial Valley (Ph.D.)

Diana M. Leong, Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Ph.D.)


Emeritus:

Adams

Allison

Benson

Boe

Brashear

Bumpus

Butler

Chin

Davis

Farber

Gervais

Gregory

Griswold

Jaffe

Kehler

Koolish

Matlin

McCaffery

McLeod

Monteverde

Nelson

Neumeyer

Polkinhorn

M. Redding

R. Redding

Rogers

Rother

Savvas

Scott

Sheres

Shojai

Vanderbilt

Wall

Widmer
 

Undergraduate Information

The Major

The study of English today encompasses a wide range of materials and approaches to ways in which both students and established writers - past and present - may use language to express feelings, convey ideas, and give aesthetic pleasure. As one of the largest English departments in California, SDSU’s can offer not only historical, analytical, sociopolitical and other approaches to literature and literary theory, but a variety of creative and expository writing classes as well.

English majors take 15 units of lower division preparatory work designed to develop writing potential and analytical reading skills. More specialized upper division study focuses on particular areas: British literature before 1800; British literature after 1800; American literature; modern literature; literary types, theory, and criticism; creative writing; or expository writing. Six units in upper division comparative literature are required.

Students preparing to obtain the single subject credential in English take a “language arts” program in which courses in communication, journalism, linguistics, and theatre supplement major concentration in English.

The English minor requires twelve units of upper division study that can be tailored to individual requirements.

Teaching is one of the many career opportunities available to English graduates; English studies are also good preparation for radio and television broadcasting, editing, writing, politics, film and library work, journalism, criticism, advertising, public information, public relations, and technical writing.

A study by the Modern Language Association, “English: The Pre-Professional Major,” shows that training in English and literature is valuable preparation for futures in law, medicine, business, and federal service.

SDSU Career Services has found that liberal arts graduates in general have profited both in terms of job availability and compensation in the shift from manufacturing to service in the United States economy.

English Major Honors

(Standard Major)

The English honors program offers excellent students a variation of the major designed to engage them in work commensurate with their abilities. Honors students in the standard English major will take two additional upper division courses appropriate for their field of interest, in which they must maintain an A- grade point average, and successfully complete an Honors Thesis (ENGL 498  or ENGL 499  or C LT 499 ). Generally, students will apply to this program in their junior year after they have completed at least nine units of lower division preparation for the major and nine units of upper division major requirements with an A- (3.7 GPA) and overall 3.5 GPA. Applicants must also submit an appropriate sample of their critical or creative work. Successful completion of the English honors program will be recognized at graduation.

English Major Honors

In preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts
With the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

The English honors program offers excellent students a variation of the major designed to engage them in work commensurate with their abilities. Honors students in the English major in preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts will convert nine [of the twelve units] of electives into two honors courses, in which they must maintain an A- grade point average, and successfully complete an Honors Thesis (ENGL 498  or ENGL 499  or C LT 499 ). Generally, students will apply to this program in their junior year after they have completed at least nine units of lower division preparation for the major and nine units of upper division major requirements with an A- (3.7 GPA) and overall 3.5 GPA. Applicants must also submit an appropriate sample of their critical or creative work. Successful completion of the English honors program will be recognized at graduation.

Impacted Programs

The majors in English and English in Preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts are impacted programs. To be admitted to the major in English or English in Preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts, refer to the program description for specific impacted criteria.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.


Graduate Information

Associateships and Scholarships

Graduate teaching associateships and graduate assistantships are available to a limited number of qualified students. Teaching associates teaching English 100 and 200 must have completed Rhetoric and Writing Studies 609, attend Rhetoric and Writing Studies 796A during the first semester of their associateship, and have the consent of the RWS GTA program director. Applications and additional information are available from the graduate director and from the department office.

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 five areas of specialization: American literature, British literature, children’s 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, after obtaining a credential, in a secondary school. 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 manuscript 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.

Admission to Graduate Study

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of English and Comparative Literature.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

  1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;

    NOTE:
    • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
    • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
  3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).
Master of Arts Degree in English

The following materials should be submitted by February 1 for the fall semester to:

Department of English and Comparative Literature
(Attention: M.A. Program)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6020

  1. Three letters of recommendation (in sealed and signed envelopes) from persons in a position to judge academic ability;
  2. A 750-1000 word statement of purpose;
  3. A 10-page writing sample from a previous literature course, preferably an analytical essay involving research.

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of English and Comparative Literature.

Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing

The following materials should be submitted by February 1 for the fall semester to:

Department of English and Comparative Literature
(Attention: M.F.A. Program)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6020

  1. A sample of creative work (15 poems or 30 pages of prose) to enable the creative writing faculty to assess the candidate’s suitability to pursue an M.F.A. in creative writing;
  2. A 750-1000 word statement of purpose;
  3. Three letters of recommendation.

Imperial Valley Information

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Programs

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