English

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Degrees:

Master of Arts, Plan A and B
Doctor of Philosophy

Areas of Specialization:

M.A. 
Literature
Creative Writing
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Ph.D. 
Literary Studies: Critical
Literary Studies: Creative

Department Chairperson: Associate Professor Emily Haddad
Graduate Director: Associate Professor John Dudley

Program Description

The Master of Arts in English covers the major periods and concepts in British and American literatures since their inception. The degree offers excellent preparation for further graduate study or for employment in any field that values critical thinking, strong writing skills, and research experience. Students design their own course of study. The three options available are: M.A. plan A (thesis); M.A. plan B (non–thesis); and J.D./M.A., in conjunction with the School of Law. Students following Plan A may choose to specialize in either Literature or Creative Writing. The non–thesis options are specializations in Literature and in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

The Ph.D. program is built around the English Department’s seminar offerings, supplemented by independent study courses. The program focuses on literature from 1800 to the present. The available options are Literary Studies: Critical and Literary Studies: Creative.

Graduate Faculty

Edward Allen, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Ohio University. Specialization: Creative Writing (Fiction) and Contemporary Literature.

James Balakier, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Ohio University. Specialization: Renaissance and 18th-Century British Literature.

Brian Bedard, Professor, Ph.D., University of Utah. Specialization: 20th-Century American Literature and Creative Writing (Fiction).

John Dudley, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Tulane University. Specialization: 19th- and 20th-Century American Literature and Culture, Realism and Naturalism, Gender Studies, and African American Literature.

Amanda Emerson, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Brown University. Specialization: Colonial British-American Literature, 18th- and 19th-Century American Literary and Cultural Studies, and Women’s Studies.

Christopher Ervin, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Louisville. Specialization: Composition and Writing Center Theory, Eco-rhetoric, and Beat Generation/San Francisco Renaissance Literature.

Emily Haddad, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Harvard University. Specialization: 19th-Century British Literature, Modernism, Postcolonial Literature.

Lee Ann Roripaugh, Associate Professor, M.F.A., Indiana University. Specialization: Creative Writing (Poetry), 20th-Century American Literature, Asian-American Literature, and Contemporary Poetry.

Dennis Sjolie, Associate Professor, Ed.D, University of South Dakota. Specialization: ESL, TESOL, Multicultural Communication, and Curriculum Development.

Laura Szanto, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara. Specialization: 20th-Century American Literature and Culture, American Indian Literatures, Mixed Race Studies, Creative Nonfiction.

Clyde “Skip” Willman, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Indiana University. Specialization: Critical Theory and 20th-Century American Literature.

Susan Wolfe, Professor, Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook. Specialization: Linguistics, Gender Studies, and Lesbian and Gay Studies.

Admission Requirements

Master of Arts

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree in English or its equivalent.
• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better based on 4.0 scale is required for full admission.
• Required for international students, except those whose primary language is English or who have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in which English is the language of instruction: a TOEFL score of at least 620 (paper test) or 260 (computer test) or an IELTS score of at least 7.0. There are additional requirements for international students.
• A 10-15 page sample of critical writing on literature or a related topic is required. Applicants for the creative specialization should also submit a brief sample of creative writing. Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate the ability to excel in critical thinking and writing.
• A statement of purpose is required.
• Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Completion of a Master’s degree in English or its equivalent.
• An undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.0 or better based on 4.0 scale is required for full admission.
• The GRE General test is required. There is no minimum score required; the score is considered along with the other application materials.
• Required for international students, except those whose primary language is English or who have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in which English is the language of instruction: a TOEFL score of at least 620 (paper test) or 260 (computer test) or an IELTS score of at least 7.0. There are additional requirements for international students.
• A 15-20 page sample of critical writing on literature or a related topic is required. Applicants for the creative specialization should also submit a substantial sample of creative writing. Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate the ability to excel in critical thinking and writing.
• A statement of purpose is required.

For Additional Information

The University of South Dakota
Department of English c/o Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Dakota Hall, Room 212
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, South Dakota 57069 2390
Phone 605-677-5229
http://www.usd.edu/english

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