MLitt Programs at Central Queensland

This might be a new one for those of you interested in masters-level humanities programs. Interesting concentrations or "streams" include Literature, Literary and Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, Visual Culture, Media Studies, History etc.:

http://www.ahs.cqu.edu.au/humanities/mlitt/index.html

Offered by Central Queensland University in Australia, entirely by distance learning. Fees for Australian students for the whole program total $4000. I've emailed the international office for overseas fees.

John

 

very cool...

I've been looking for alternatives to UNISA, University of New England, and Deakin U. for MA programs in Literature. UNISA is fine, I just don't want to get a degree from SA. UNE is fine too, but they only currently offer one course in "English" apparently, and the rest are communication courses. Also, the Deakin program looks good for this area.

Another MA program in English that is American is University of Southern Washington's "MA in English teaching" entirely by distance. But this program does not offer more than one course per semester, stretching it out for four or five years.

Chris

 

English programs

Chris,
Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I've been scouring the web for graduate English/literature/folklore programs (bugging my eyes out in the process) and almost decided to go the coursework MA route through UNISA. I nearly resolved to begin the UNISA 4-page critical essay required for admissions, after staring at it for over a month. Deakin's program seemed a bit too pricey last time I checked (over $10,000?) and the 4-5 years for Southern Washington's program is longer than I'd like to spend. Fort Hayes MLS is really affordable and nicely organized but I'd have to wait until the summer to begin.

So, this CQU program might be my ticket, if the cost is manageable. At a full-time pace, I think it's possible to do the whole thing in a year. Lord knows I've got the time.

Good luck and best wishes to you,
John

 

John

Do you know of any other programs?

I can't do FHSU because it still wouldnt' qualify me @ English teacher in CA. the Summer MA English program would, though. But one must move to Hays for 8 wks.

So would Indiana University of PA's program, U of Maines prog., and UCI's program. I may be able to do UCI being so close, but it's a difficult call.

thank you for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you made my day!

Chris

 

Strathclyde

U. of Strathclyde has an MLitt via DL in cultural studies with some courses in literature too:

http://www.strath.ac.uk/Other/culturalstudies/

I haven't checked to verify this school yet.

Chris

 

cf. CQU on this ranking of Aussie U's, still above USQ and Edith Cowan. These rankings may be too artificial to be helpful, though.

http://www.cyberway.com.sg/~aitnet01/ranking.htm

 

Nice find!

Chris,
Thanks for those links. It's interesting to see these M.Litts popping up. That Strythclyde M.Litt. looks good, but appears to require a winter and summer period of residence in Glasgow. Most of the other universities I've been looking at for masters degrees in literature or English, or in Liberal studies with concentrations in either, are well-known on the forum i.e. CSUDH HUX, FHSU, Athabasca's MAIS, Excelsior's MALS, Deakin's Writing and Literature, UNISA's MA English by research or coursework, then of course the various creative writing MFAs, to name a few. At this point, I'm still planning to try and get into a B&M doctorate program somewhere down the line, so the utility of the DL masters degree for teaching or employment is not so much an issue for me as is its usefulness for getting accepted into another school.

Is the Indiana U. of Penn program the one that meets a few summers in a row? I'll have to have a look at that. Also, could you give me a few details on UMaine? I didn't know that had anything with DL and Literature/English. I'll let you know if I come across anything else that might be useful,

Best,

John

 

More DL Literature Possibilities

The University of Birmingham seems to offer some of these Shakespeare-related programs through DL, but the details aren't very complete:

http://www.shakespeare.bham.ac.uk/ma.htm

 

Have you guys contacted Eastern Carolina University. I have heard that they are in the process of offering an online M.A. of English. Thought that would help.


drew

 

If my memory serves me well, I think you'll find that those overseas fees are substantial. Once you add it all up you may start wondering if the difference is worth all the explaining you'll have to do..."So, why is it Mr. Ryan, that you felt the need to go all the way to Australia to earn this degree when the equivalent was available here in the USA?" Start preparing your answer now.
Jack

 

By the way....

My best English MA research:

I was going to commute to Holy Names College, but I found out after calling that the program on their site had been discontinued. But I have resolved firmly that I will not do an "individualized curriculum."

The East Carolina U. "English" program is mostly in communication studies, similarly, U. of New England (Au). So it's not a genuine "English" program, like one would find through summer residency, say, at FHSU.

The Indiana U. of PA has a doctoral program that Dr. Bear describes as "rigorous" in the 14th guide. Apparently, recently they have adopted an MA in English, ESL and Literature that are all available thru summer residency. If anyone else has info on this I would love it. As far as I can tell, by looking at the info they sent me, one could only realistically complete the MA in Lit. through the "summers only" residency. The options for completing the MA in "English" (which is specifically designed for community college teachers) just aren't there.

There is a similar program, I think, at the U. of Maine. I'm pretty sure it's ad is available on the site. However, if my memory serves correct, it is another 4 year program.

I have looked at the Shakespeare course(s) @ Birmingham, but in CA there is a strict list of options for fitting into the teaching straightjacket here. Shakespeare would, of course, be very disappointed with the Davis State.

The only programs I can recommend for a "teaching credential" so far are the summer residency at FHSU, and the 4 year Washington State U. degree. FHSU, even after adding the cost of living in Hays for 8 weeks out of the summer, is still much cheaper than WSU. If I understand right, also, WSU has some residency requirement. It says in one place "entirely online." Another place it says "with some required residency." Get your act together guys!!!!!! They can't be working hard to reel people in.

Keey your eye on, I think, Northern Arizona University. If I remember right, they offer one grad course in English Lit. online every semester but have no developed program yet. I don't see why not, they aren't going any slower than WSU.

I also think Jack Tracey is correct. People don't like the lack of familiarity. The Australian degree will, perhaps, impress some with an aura of difference. That will fade quickly. Then, questions will abound afterwards. The CQU program looks adequate to get into a PhD program, though. If I were you, and teaching were not a concern, I would go for it on this one. It's a rare find with respect to options for courses, availability, cost and specificity of prearranged curriculum.

Chris

 

The Interrogation:

Mr. Sal O. D'Parmenchair: "So, why is it Mr. Ryan, that you felt the need to go all the way to Australia to earn this degree when the equivalent was available here in the USA?"

Mr. Ryan: "Cultural diversity, sir. I hear that's big nowadays."

Mr. D'Parmenchair: "Yes, of course it is. But don't you feel guilty funneling U.S. dollars to foreign organizations when those greenbacks could better serve our own tipsy economy? Who gave you such an idea?"

Mr. Ryan: "The White House, sir. And how dare you use the word tipsy."

Mr. D'Parmenchair: "Mr. Ryan, are you in any way trying to distract me, obfuscate or conceal something from me with these suspect foreign credentials?"

Mr. Ryan: "Not at all, sir. I'm as limpid as the Caribbean Sea."

Mr. D'Parmenchair: "So, what did you think of Australia, anyway?"

Mr. Ryan: "Not much different from New Jersey, sir. Mate, I mean."

Mr. D'Parmenchair: "Yeah, I was once in Australia...covered the whole country in two days by train. The Alps were disappointing though, I thought. And I never did get a picture of one of them dingies or wallababies."

Mr. Ryan: "My thoughts much the same, sir."

 

more interrogation

Mr. D'Parmenchair: Mr. Ryan, as far as I can tell, this is one of those distance learning, "buy your degree and don't even come to class deals!!!"

Mr. Ryan: No, sir~~ I mean, uh, well... I just thought I was incredibly clever to find the only workable DL English program there is. In fact, you should hire me just because I'm that clever. Yes, that's right!!!

Mr. D'Parmenchair: Hmmmmmm.... well, mate, we might just give you a try. But first, you get to try some of the special stuff we call "Veggiemite" down under. Just spread it on your bagel, and here you go!!!

Mr. Ryan: "NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!"

The end.

 

just got this one from bear's guide

the new guide gives us another tip. Utah's MS in English. This may be a more valid teaching credential for junior colleges for those who seek it.

http://techcomm.usu.edu/techcomm/index.htm

33 credits, allows graduation in approx 2 years, under 7k$, totally online.

Chris

 

Thanks Chris

I haven't checked this thread in some time. The Utah program looks like a fair combination of technical and non-technical English writing. Here's another one for you, this time from Nottingham University, UK:

MA Literary Linguistics (entirely online):

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/postgraduate/elils_ma.htm

What do you think? A nice blend of literature and linguistics, with some courses in teaching English too...not bad.

John

 

definitely a good program

What I like about this kind of program--Nottingham--is that the likes are not really available in the US w/o the GRE or GMAT requirement.

The core course in linguistics, probably the most technical "core" course states:
"Descriptive Linguistic Analysis
a 30 credit core module which will give you a good foundation in your knowledge of language, and the skills to explore the rest of the course. This starting point means that you can take this MA with little or no previous experience of linguistics."

So any 'ol joe can get on this stuff and do okay.

I think this is the most valid "English" teaching credential I have seen for a junior college. I wouldn't expect the austrailian "inquisition" we described above would happen with a British degree.

I will definitely consider this one after I finish my Exc. degree and the credential. The State of CA has a very stringent requirement for what is allowable when it comes to a teaching masters. The degree would probably be classified in terms of linguistics, which would mean, for me, I would have to supplement it with a BA in English Lit.

Chris