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English, M.A. Student Learning Outcomes

College Liberal Arts and Sciences
Major English
Degree M.A.
Date Revised October 2014

Student Learning Outcomes and Proposed Methods for Collecting Data (from Assessment Plan)

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. In all areas of study, students will be able to employ the basic research tools and the standard reference and resource materials, both print and electronic.
  2. Students with teaching goals will have developed and be able to demonstrate pedagogical skill, including skill in web-based curricula and electronic environments.
  3. The English M.A. has seven possible areas of concentration, or subplans. Each of these areas has a distinctive body of content knowledge and particular methodologies that students are called upon to master, with distinctive learning outcomes as follows:
    • 3.1 British and American Literature: a) Students will be able to construct or recognize the significance of specific works in the context of British and American literary history and criticism, and b) they will be able to produce detailed written analyses of a variety of authors, works, and genres, using literary theory as appropriate.
    • 3.2 Education in English Language Arts: a) Students will be able to demonstrate content knowledge within the field of English, broadly defined; b) demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge in the teaching of English language arts; c) demonstrate experience in and knowledge of contemporary best practices; and d) demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and reflective practice.
    • 3.3 Film and Literature: a) Students will be able to identify the formal and cultural issues in the adaptation of literature to film, and b) they will be able to produce detailed written analyses of the comparative differences between the conventions of literary and cinematic discourse.
    • 3.4 Linguistics: a) Students will be able to define the forms and procedures of the field and to produce linguistic analyses, and b) they will be able to employ the tools of standard linguistic analysis at all levels of language.
    • 3.5 Literature and Rhetoric/Composition: a) Students will be able to distinguish between and employ classical and modern rhetorical theory, and b) they will be able to produce detailed written analyses of the nature and use of rhetorical devices; c) they will also be able to construct or recognize the significance of specific works of literature in the context of British and American literary history and criticism, and d) they will be able to produce detailed written analyses of a variety of authors, works, and genres, using literary theory as appropriate
    • 3.6 Rhetoric and Professional Writing: a) Students will be able to recognize and analyze the rhetorical modes of professional writing, and b) they will be able to demonstrate the skills of technical editing and writing.
    • 3.7 Teaching English as a Second Language: a) Students will be able to define the basic features of languages and b) to identify the major theoretical models of language learning and pedagogical models of English Second Language teaching.

Methods of Assessment

  • M.A. Comprehensive Examination (3)
  • M.A. Thesis Defense (1,3)
  • Survey of Student-Teacher Perceptions (2)
  • Student Evaluation of Teaching Assistants (2)
  • Department Survey of Alumni (1,2,3)
  • NIU Alumni Survey (1,2,3)

Last Updated

AAE updated October 2022

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