Overview
Programs of Study
The Department of English at Seton Hall University offers a Master of Arts degree program with three options: literature, writing, and creative writing. The program requires 30 credits, with at least 6 credits at the 7000 level. All students are required to take the 12 credit "hub," which includes ENGL 6010: Introduction to Literary Research; two literature electives (one American, one British); and ENGL 7011: Studies in Criticism. Students then follow a "spoke" of 18 credits (in literature, writing, or creative writing); students in the literature spoke generally write a thesis.
Recent courses include the African-American Literary Experience, Studies in Medieval Literature, the English Novel, American Literature 1900-1945, Shakespeare, Studies in Victorian Literature, Modern Rhetoric and Writing, Art and Craft of Writing, Modern British Drama, the American Renaissance, Renaissance Literature, and Composition Workshop.
The master's program requires all students to pass a foreign language translation exam (demonstrating reading knowledge) and a comprehensive exam, generally taken in the student's last semester.
The literature spoke provides a good basis for students interested in continuing in a doctoral program. Students have recently gone on to Ph.D. programs at the University of Tulsa; the University of California, Riverside; Temple; Michigan State; Fordham; Drew; Lehigh; and the University of Edinburgh. The literature spoke is also well suited to secondary-school English teachers.
The writing spoke is particularly attractive to secondary school teachers and students who are interested in teaching at two-year colleges; many students who seek careers in editing and publishing also select this option. Students pursuing this spoke have gone on to careers in medical editing, public relations, educational publishing, and teaching.
The creative writing spoke is designed for students interested in becoming writers, teaching creative writing, or hoping to pursue an M.F.A or Ph.D. in creative writing. Students have recently gone on to programs at The New School and CUNY.
Further information is available online at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artci/ma-english/index.cfm.
Research Facilities
Students have access to the Seton Hall Library as well as libraries at area colleges and the many important research facilities in New York City. Seton Hall's Walsh Library is a pioneer in electronic research facilities, making numerous online databases and resources available both on and off campus.
The Language Resource Center (LRC) in the College of Arts and Sciences houses the theater-style Screening Room and a state-of-the-art computer workstation area. All computers have keyboards installed in a number of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese, and have Internet access, video recording and editing software, and connections to a VCR/DVD combo for viewing. The LRC provides DVDs, videos, and other media in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and other languages and offers self-paced language learning materials for Seton Hall community members who wish to study a language on their own.
Financial Aid
The teaching assistantship program allows Master of Arts students to teach freshman English courses. Teaching assistants receive extensive training during the summer. They then teach two sections of First-Year Writing each semester. The teaching assistantships cover tuition (but not fees) and provide an additional stipend of $8500 for the academic year. Teaching assistants are also given an IBM laptop computer and participate in Seton Hall's Mobile Computing program, which brings information technology into the classroom. Students should contact the Department of English for information about applying for one of these positions.
Graduate assistantships are also available through the Office of Graduate Programs (http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/grad-finaid.cfm). Graduate assistants work in a variety of campus positions and receive tuition remission and a stipend.
Cost of Study
In 2009-10, tuition is $901 per credit. Full-time students pay $305 per semester in University and technology fees; part-time students pay $185.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs in South Orange and surrounding towns are comparable to most suburban cities, with studio and one-bedroom apartments renting for $750 to $1000 per month.
Student Group
The master's program enrolls approximately 30 students. Eight students receive teaching assistantships, which cover tuition and provide a stipend of $8500 per year. About half of the program's students are enrolled part-time. Entering classes consist of 12 to 18 students.
Location
Seton Hall University is located in the Village of South Orange, New Jersey, only 14 miles (or a 30-minute direct train ride) from New York City. The University's proximity to New York City allows students to take advantage of all the city has to offer while living in a charming suburban area.
The University and The Department
Seton Hall is New Jersey's only Catholic university. The University's diverse academic program is characterized by a strong teaching faculty and a wide range of academic choices. Students benefit from the personal attention generated by small classes and a low student-faculty ratio. At Seton Hall, students find people who are willing to listen, offer support, and help them get the most out of their education.
The Department of English's faculty members are distinguished by their scholarship and their love of teaching. Senior faculty members contribute their years of commitment to excellent teaching, while the junior faculty members--a growing number from eminent graduate programs across the country--bring energy, enthusiasm, and new areas of expertise to their classes. Faculty members regularly publish articles and books and take part in local, regional, and international conferences. Students are encouraged to join faculty members at conferences and to participate in them, as well. The Department is active in its graduate students' professional development, sponsoring seminars for students who are interested in continuing their study in doctoral programs; publishing their work, both creative and scholarly; or exploring the academic job market.
Applying
Students who have completed 18 credits or more of undergraduate study in English (at least six semester-long courses) are eligible to apply to this program, which seeks to provide them with a comprehensive background in English and literature. For applications, students should visit http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/apply-graduate.cfm.
Students must submit the general Seton Hall University Graduate Application, which includes three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement. All applicants must take the GRE General Test before an admissions decision can be made. Candidates applying for a teaching assistantship should also submit the TA application, a statement of interest in the position, and a writing sample by March 15 of their application year. The Graduate Application should be returned to the Office of Graduate Programs or submitted online; however, the TA application should be sent directly to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of English, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey 07079.
THE GRADUATE FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH
Mary McAleer Balkun, Ph.D., NYU. Early American literature, African American literature, women's studies.
Martha C. Carpentier, Ph.D., Fordham. Modern British literature, feminist theory.
Jonathan Farina, Ph.D., NYU. Nineteenth-century literature, the novel.
Karen Bloom Gevirtz, Ph.D., Emory. Eighteenth-century literature, women's studies, the rise of the novel.
Jeffrey Gray, Ph.D., California, Riverside. Modern and contemporary poetry, post-colonial literature, literary theory.
Chrysanthy M. Grieco, Ph.D., Drew. Shakespeare, drama, nineteenth-century literature.
Edmund Jones, Ph.D., NYU. Composition theory.
James R. Lindroth, Ph.D., NYU. American literature, 1900-present; film studies.
Nathan Oates, PhD., Missouri-Columbia. Fiction, American literature.
Kelly Shea, Ph.D., Penn State. Creative nonfiction, composition theory.
Mark Svenvold, M.F.A., Iowa. Poetry, creative non-fiction.
John Wargacki, Ph.D., NYU. Hart Crane, American poetry and literature in spirituality.
Angela Jane Weisl, Ph.D., Columbia. Chaucer, medieval literature, women's studies.
Leigh Winser, Ph.D., Columbia. Milton, Renaissance nondramatic literature, Shakespeare.
Correspondence and Information
Seton Hall University
Dr. Angela Weisl, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences
Fahy Hall, Room 362
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07042
Telephone: 973-275-5889
Fax: 973-761-9453
Email: angela.weisl@shu.edu
