Tag Archives: masters program

General

Graduate Opportunities at Millersville

The Department of English and World Languages has many versatile options for students who want to continue their education after completing an undergraduate degree. Each of these programs are developed to meet the shifting needs of students providing adaptable skills to promote life-long learning.

There are currently two Master’s Programs tracks available as well as an array of Graduate Certificates and a 4+1 Program with an Accelerated degree completion option.

Pursuing a Graduate degree at MU means you can continue to learn with the professors you love, exploring new avenues of ENWL and building competitive skills to elevate your life and career. Keep reading for more information about each program and where to find perspectives from recent graduate students.

Master of Arts in English (MA)

The MA in English program is designed to strengthen professional skills for all fields and prepare students for continuing graduate study. The English MA enhances students’ intellectual and aesthetic life through the intense study of literature, writing studies, literary theory, film studies and linguistics. The MA degree program can be completed fully online, with options for both synchronous and asynchronous class meetings. Strategic faculty advising is available to tailor programs to meet your needs through independent study, flexible degree completion options, and consultation for opportunities outside the classroom (conferences, publications).

MA Highlights

  • 30 Credit hours with multiple timelines to complete degree
  • Areas of Study
    • Narrative Studies: Literature and Film
    • Writing Studies: Rhetoric, Composition, and Creative Writing
  • Degree Completion Options (Capstone Project)
    • Thesis Options
      • Thesis
      • Creative Thesis 
      • Curricular Artifact 
    • Digital Portfolio Class

Master of Education in English (MEd)

The Master of Education in English combines courses in language and literature with educational psychology and pedagogy. This program is designed to engage both current and future teachers by building skills that will help in your classrooms and beyond. An interdepartmental team of faculty and staff will work with you to meet your goals by creating independent studies, providing guidance through your capstone project, and connecting you with opportunities outside the classroom (conferences, publishing).

MEd Highlights

  • 33 credit hours with multiple timelines for completing degree
  • Areas of Study
    • Narrative Studies: Literature and Film
    • Writing Studies: Rhetoric, Composition, and Creative Writing
    • Education: Classroom Research and Pedagogy
  • Degree Completion Options (Capstone Projects)
    • Digital Portfolio Class

4+1 Accelerated English Program

This program is designed to allow current undergraduates to be admitted to our MA Graduate Studies program at an accelerated pace. Students enrolled in this program count graduate courses toward their undergraduate degree, saving time and money.

Here are some highlights of our 4+1 Program

  • Accelerated program allows for completion of an advanced degree in one additional academic year
  • Can start taking Graduate level courses in your Junior year
  • Opportunity for Early Acceptance into MA 
  • A portion of the Accelerated English program is billed at a lower tuition rate (for 12 credits that fulfill both undergraduate and graduate requirements)

Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program

Millersville University’s Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program is designed for those applicants who already have a bachelor’s degree and would like to be certified to teach in the State of Pennsylvania.  It is not necessary to complete a second degree in order to be certified.

Post-Bacc Highlights

  • Credit hours vary by individual student needs
  • Certification is available for
    • English (7-12)
    • Spanish (K-12)

Graduate Certificate

Millersville University’s Writing Certificate is a highly flexible accreditation that highlights writing skill growth and development

  • 18 credit hours (15 are able to be shared in MA/Med)
  • Opportunity to specifically demonstrate expanded writing skills

Most programs have rolling admissions but deadlines may vary by program so please communicate directly with our graduate coordinator Dr. A. Nicole Pfannenstiel (ambernicole.pfannenstiel@millersville.edu ) for the most up to date information. For more information check out our  Graduate Degrees section on our website and for inside perspectives from current grad students check out our Grad Blog.

 

Grad Students

Having and Presenting a Research Regimen in Graduate School

Graduate student William Artz discusses how to utilize a research regimen in graduate school. Read more about his experiences below! 

If one is going to graduate school, especially in the humanities, it is never too early to begin thinking about, and developing, a research regimen. What does that mean? What does that entail? It is really less intimidating than one might, at first blush, think. There are two key points that I would like to make, and ideas that I have followed for some time. Those are: never follow a recipe; and never be condescended to. These have served me well.

All scholars in post-secondary educational institutions have a particular emphasis in their given field of study. This sounds very pedantic, elitist, and just plain scary. It really is not, because if you are in graduate school, you are one of those very scholars. Use every opportunity available to you, to talk with faculty about their academic work, and you will soon realize, not only the true nature of knowledge acquisition, but also, just how addictive advanced research can be.

Though I am currently working on the Master of Art’s degree in English, given my interests, and my thesis research, I align with comparative literature and cultural studies, more than any other aspect in the field of study known as English. At the graduate level, one is able to start focusing in on specific interests, in a particular discipline. To be a bit more explanatory, in English studies there are any number of subfields, from literature, composition and rhetoric, to creative writing, film, and digital media.

Always remember to never allow yourself to be underestimated. If there is anything about which you do not understand, ask. Aside from the vacuous platitude about no dumb questions, there are no dumb questions. You should never feel at all intimidated by any institution of learning. Should not be at all scary or off-putting. If it is, determine why, and then talk with faculty; trust me, they love to talk, especially about their academic work. As you advance in your own academic career and life, it will become second-nature to use every waking moment thinking about ideas for either research articles, or professional academic conferences. At the post-doctoral level, that shifts a bit, in that one adds in the need to write monographs, i.e. scholarly books. All of this is just part of the process, and no matter what your level, there are always any number of support systems available to you. Yet again, none of this information is beyond one’s level of aptitude.

This type of scholarly endeavor should, in essence, lead to either the thesis, or dissertation; guidance and advice from faculty, however, is not only a necessity, but a must. It sounds like I am repeating myself, but is worth repeating: Aside from one’s graduate adviser, any faculty member is interested in talking about their own research interests, as well as, finding ways of optimal navigation through the maze of academic scholarship. It is a process with which to become familiar, and to use to your advantage.

The other aspect of academic scholarship, is presenting that work to others, on campus through colloquia, workshops, roundtables, and Chautauqua-like discussions, as merely examples. It is never too early to start presenting one’s research endeavors, as responses, both good and bad, are all constructive, present as often as reasonable, until you complete the program. If you have an interest in doctoral work, believe me, you will quickly come to realize the value in this endeavor.

-William Artz

Newsletter Articles

Professor Profile: Andie Petrillo

Read more about the professors in Millersville’s English department in this Professor Profiles series!

Professor Andie Petrillo

Professor Andie Petrillo is one of the new professors to join the English department this semester. She is currently teaching ENGL 110, Section 28.

Professor Petrillo’s education journey began at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD where she received her Bachelor of Arts. “While I was there, I was a member of the French Club and starred in two plays: The Eumenides (as a Fury) and Clybourne Park (Bev/Kathy)”

After her undergrad program, Professor Petrillo attended Millersville University as a graduate student in the Master of Arts in English Program. While at MU, Professor Petrillo worked in the English office as a graduate assistant, participated in University Theatre’s Fall Musical 2018 Production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and published two of her graduate essays in MUsings: The Graduate Student Journal, and much more. Her graduate essays focus on the “New Woman” in Victorian England and the success of multi-platforms like Pemberley Digital’s “Emma Approved,” respectively.

Elsa the guinea pig visits the English department office.

Professor Petrillo is especially passionate about British Literature (“Jane Austen & James Joyce are amongst my favorite authors”) and American Literature (“F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway are some other faves”). In the future, she hopes to earn her Ph.D. in British Literature and teach British Lit as a tenured professor.

When asked about her favorite aspects of the English major, Professor Petrillo said she loves how the English major creates opportunities for reading different genres of literature and writing creatively. If she could meet any writer, past or present, Professor Petrillo thinks “it would be a tie between Jane Austen (I wrote my grad thesis on Pride and Prejudice), James Joyce (just to pick his brain), or Ernest Hemingway (because he had such a colorful life/interesting personality).” Besides English, Professor Petrillo is interested in history and foreign languages. “Growing up I had an obsession with learning about the Civil War and the Holocaust, so I was pretty interested in history too. I’m also fluent in French so foreign languages interest me too.”

Some of Professor Petrillo’s favorite past-times include reading, watching Netflix, and snuggling with her two guinea pigs named Peanut and Elsa.