English/Language Arts Certificate

The English/Language Arts Certificate is available for those who are not currently pursuing a Master’s degree but would like recognition of their accomplishment. Thus, it provides a “goal” for students who seek additional credentials (such as endorsement or coursework to support job applications for faculty development) but already have a Master’s degree.

Our primary goal is to produce graduates qualified (as appropriate) with English/Language Arts Endorsement; credentials to instruct college-level courses in writing, language, and literature; and/or preparation to gain admission to terminal degree programs in English or related fields. In order to do so, graduates must develop the following knowledge, skills, and dispositions:

1. Understand the history, development, and structure of the English language and know how English language theory relates in practice to the teaching and learning of language, both spoken and written
2. Be aware of contemporary approaches to the composition process and be able to demonstrate that knowledge in a variety of genres, as well as connect that knowledge and those skills to the pedagogy of writing
3. Know and appreciate the diversity of voices in both Anglo-American and global literature, as well as be able to apply classical and contemporary critical approaches to illuminate texts for colleagues and students
4. Demonstrate strong research, writing, and presentation skills through the production of works suitable for presentation and publication as appropriate to the student’s concentration, including the master’s thesis”