Assessment
The Department of English and Philosophy is committed to the routine assessment and continuous improvement of all of our programs to ensure that we are meeting our mission and outcomes. On this page, you can learn more about the outcomes for the undergraduate and graduate programs in English, find a "curriculum map" aligning specific courses to those outcomes, and link to a page with a list of outcomes for courses offered in the coming semester.
Program Outcomes
English Undergraduate Program Outcomes
All graduates with English majors and minors will be able to:
- Produce writing that thoughtfully addresses multiple audiences, perspectives, genres, and disciplinary conventions, and makes effective use of research.
- Analyze and interpret complex texts by reading critically, with close attention to language and ideas.
- Demonstrate an understanding of common linguistic principles, and the historical, social, cultural, and dialectal backgrounds of English.
Graduates from the English Literary Option will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in literary analysis by analyzing written, oral, and visual texts critically and applying the approaches of major theoretical schools.
- Analyze the historical and literary trends of specific periods and cultural identities.
- Describe multimodal forms and genres, and their origins, evolution, and aesthetic effects.
Graduates from the English Creative Writing Option will be able to:
- Develop writing in multiple genres that acknowledges both traditional and innovative prosody and narrative techniques.
- Productively critique their own and their classmates’ creative efforts by analyzing literary works from a craft perspective.
- Characterize the literary elements of diverse genres across various historical periods and cultures.
Graduates from the English Professional Writing Option will be able to:
- Create clear, concise documents that help audiences accomplish specific tasks, solve problems, and understand complex and technical information.
- Make effective and ethical choices about style, organization, content, and design.
- Produce a variety of print and digital media using words, images, and other modes.
English Graduate Program Outcomes
MA in English
- M.A. students will be able to explain and analyze major English-language literary or cultural traditions from a variety of time periods.
- M.A. students will be able to explain and analyze how literary or cultural works are shaped by and participate in broad historical trends.
- M.A. students will be able to apply important theoretical approaches to the study of literature and culture.
- M.A. students will be able to analyze and synthesize ongoing scholarly conversations in English studies and situate their arguments in relation to these conversations.
- M.A. students will be able to apply foundational elements of linguistics and composition to their studies or teaching.
- M.A. students will be able to explain and perform ethical professional behavior in research and writing.
PhD in English and the Teaching of English
- Ph.D. students will be able to explain and analyze major English-language literary or cultural traditions from a variety of time periods.
- Ph.D. students will be able to explain and analyze how literary or cultural works are shaped by and participate in broad historical trends.
- Ph.D. students will be able to apply important theoretical approaches to the study of literature and culture.
- Ph.D. students will design and develop a significant research project within English studies and be prepared to conduct research independently once they graduate.
- Ph.D. students will be able to apply foundational elements of linguistics and composition to their research and teaching.
- Ph.D. students will be able to evaluate significant theories of college-level English teaching and will be able to effectively apply these theories to their own pedagogical practice.
- Ph.D. students will be able to explain and perform ethical professional behavior in research, writing, and teaching.
TESOL Certificate
- Certificate students will gain a broad understanding of the various areas of study in the field of linguistics.
- Certificate students will gain an understanding of, and be able to apply, the major theoretical approaches to second language acquisition.
- Certificate students will learn to develop effective curricula, courses, and activities for teaching English as a second or foreign language.
- Certificate students will demonstrate mastery of their knowledge and skills in a classroom setting.
Course Outcomes
Please follow this link to find outcomes for courses offered in the near future.