Degree – Master of Science in Secondary Education, MSEd
Concentration: English

 

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSEd) degree program offers endorsements in 14 areas. Graduates are prepared for advanced preparation to serve as teachers or practitioners in various educational capacities. The endorsement in English seeks to provide individuals with advanced skills and tools in the areas of language, literature, and criticism by enhancing mastery of the English language, developing skills and technique for effective writing, broadening the base of literary knowledge, refining literary skills in analysis, improving research skills, and enhancing teaching skills.

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquire skills to demonstrate knowledge of American and British Literature
  • Apply techniques to demonstrate proficiency in writing
  • Provide opportunities for teaching majors to participate in to showcase communication/writing skills, cultural history, and literature in the field

Admission Requirements:

Students applying for entrance to the Master of Science in Secondary Education in English are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).

  • Educator License
  • two letters of recommendation
  • official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Immunization record

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the Department of English, Languages, and Mass Communication admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Credentials:

A Standard Educator License in a teaching area is required for admission to programs in the Master of Science in Secondary Education with the exception of certificate programs.

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Secondary Education in English requires 33 credit hours of coursework and passing required exit exams for degree completion. Students complete 12 hours of required core credits, and 15 hours of required course credits, and 6 hours of electives.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Successfully pass the Core Exit Exam
  • Successfully pass the Area Exit Exam according to content area
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.

See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.

Academic Track: Exit Exams

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Secondary Education must pass a Core Examination and Area Examination to exit.

Master Degree Audit:

Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.

Time to Degree Completion

Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the English education program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.

See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements

Degree Plan and Course Sequence

Core Education Courses (21 Hours)
ED 512 Foundations of American Research
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
ED 533 Curriculum Development
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology

Required Courses (12 Hours)
EN 501 Theory and Practice of Composition
EN 502 Methods and Principles of Literary Analysis
EN 511 Seminar in English Literature or
EN 512 Seminar in American Literature
EN 521 Literary History of England or
EN 522 Literary History of the U. S.
EN 585 Methods of Teaching English

Electives (6 Hours)
EN 503 The Structure of Modern English
EN 511 or EN 512 (whichever was not taken above)
EN 521 or EN 522 (whichever was not taken above)
EN 560 Problems in English
EN 561 Special Topics in Literature or
EN 562 Special Topics in Teaching English

 

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Anne-Marie Obilade ▪ 601.877.6401 ▪ [email protected] (Department of English, Languages, and Mass Communication)