MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE (MAEL)
New Program
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
MA in English Language at TSU is an advanced program with a unique fusion of theory and practice in English language. It has two course structures that include 18-unit core courses and 12-unit cognate courses of master’s level coursework that extends students’ breadth and depth of knowledge in English. Students will be given a wider and firmer foundation on the theories of English and will be empowered to explore the English language through practice and research. Specific areas of focus include linguistic systems and structures, discourse, world Englishes, rhetoric, textual analysis, translation, literacy development, and management of language programs. Likewise, students will gain skills and knowledge to conduct research and facility with digital resources, develop analytical and presentation skills through colloquiums, appreciate special topics in language and context, and recognize contemporary issues and problems in the English language. Completion of the program requires students to write a well-written thesis and to pass a reading comprehension test in a foreign language.
B. PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Graduates of this program should be able to:
- articulate and discuss the system and structure, theories, and latest developments of the English language;
- use appropriate theories and methodologies critically and creatively in explaining issues in language and context;
- apply analytical and interpretive skills in the study of texts;
- produce well-written texts for various professional purposes;
- demonstrate acquisition of archival research skills and facility with digital resources;
- develop the ability to participate in various types of communicative situations especially in public discourses in response to the needs of the communities one serves; and
read and comprehend a text written in a foreign language.
C. CURRICULUM
C.1. Distribution of Subjects
| Core Courses | Units | |
| MEL 501 | Description and Analysis of the English Language | 3 |
| MEL 502 | Grammatical Analysis | 3 |
| MEL 503 | Advanced Semantics | 3 |
| MEL 504 | Critical Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| MEL 512 | Field Methods in English Language Studies | 3 |
| MEL 513 |
Colloquium: Contemporary Issues and Problems in the English Language |
3 |
| TOTAL | 18 |
| Cognate Courses | Units | |
| MEL 505 | World English | 3 |
| MEL 506 | The Study of Rhetoric | 3 |
| MEL 507 | Textual Analysis | 3 |
| MEL 508 | Problems and Issues in Translation | 3 |
| MEL 509 | Special Topics in Language and Context | 3 |
| MEL 510 |
Management of Language Programs in the Philippine Setting |
3 |
| MEL 511 |
Seminar in Literacy Development |
3 |
| TOTAL | 12 |
| MEL 520 | Thesis Writing and Oral Defense | 6 |
| Grand Total | 36 |
Foreign Language
NB: Students must pass a reading comprehension test in a foreign language.
C.2. Summary of Units
| Core Courses | 18 units |
| Cognate Courses | 12 units |
| Thesis | 6 units |
|
Foreign Language |
|
|
Total |
36 units |
C.3 Course Descriptions
MEL 501 Description and Analysis of the English Language
This course develops the students’ ability to use the metalanguage of grammar with ease and explain the form, meaning, and use of the elements of grammar. The overarching goal of this course is to encourage students to think about language in new ways. Students will have active involvement with the English language. They will use the analytical methods of linguists as they investigate the various aspects of language structure and language use, while learning and practicing the tools linguists use to describe and analyze the English language.
MEL 502 Grammatical Analysis
This course involves the major grammatical theories in English (i.e., Traditional Grammar, Structural Grammar, Transformational Generative Grammar, Systemic Functional Grammar). Students will be using tools for analysis such as, Syntactic Structural Analysis, Immediate Constituent Analysis, Transformational Generative Analysis, and Systemic Functional Grammar Analysis.
MEL 503 Advanced Semantics
This course teaches students techniques for developing semantically interpreted grammars – how to associate syntactic structures compositionally with semantic interpretations, and how to use such grammars to study sophisticated semantic phenomena.
MEL 504 Critical Discourse Analysis
This course advances linguistic and psychosocial approaches in analyzing data from a critical stance. These analyses examine the dominant and subordinate discourses in society and explores notions of resistance and appropriation of discourses among various social actors. Hence, it will not only capture something important about the social world, but also plays a key ethical and political role in showing how social phenomena are discursively constituted.
MEL 505 World Englishes
The purpose of this course is to investigate the spread of English as an international language: its historical development, socio-cultural diversity and linguistic variation. In addition to numerous readings on native and non-native varieties of English which can be found throughout the world (e.g. Indian English, Singaporean English, Philippine English), topics related to phonological, lexical, and syntactic divergences within a World Englishes background will also be addressed in order to better understand common pedagogical problems and concerns related to the English language teaching profession.
MEL 506 The Study of Rhetoric
This course focuses on the patterns and structures of thought organizations in students’ composition writing in English. It will provide better insights on the art of writing academically and professionally. Critical survey of different literary and non-literary texts features will be presented and discussed in class.
MEL 507 Textual Analysis
This course points to the importance of context, genre and modality, uses excellent examples drawn from popular culture, and provides students with a solid grounding on many of the important concepts underlying media and cultural studies.
MEL 508 Problems and Issues in Translation
An interdisciplinary approach to understanding issues in relation to the translation process. Students will experience translating different texts, determine the problems associated with translation as well as offer solutions to solve such problems.
MEL 509 Special Topics in Language and Context
This is a classroom-based seminar course that covers recent topics in language such as, language of law, media, film, and literature. It includes recent information regarding how language works in context as it affects the language of the speech community.
MEL 510 Management of Language Programs in the Philippine Setting
This course provides the investigation of language planning theories and language planning models as bases for a management plan for language programs in the Philippine setting. It also provides an extensive information on the past language program issues and concerns. It also delves on the issues and concerns of current educational changes, thrusts and political policies regarding language programs. In this course, the students are equipped with knowledge and skills in the preparation of a management plan for a language program that could be used in their organization/s.
MEL 511 Seminar in Literacy Development
This course concerns on the nature of literacy and diverse literacy approaches and materials that are appropriate for today’s children. It also focuses on the development of literacy skills among learners for whom English is a second language. It examines the learners’ language development with emphasis on how children learn to read and write in English. Students will develop guided observation skills and acquire practical knowledge of the design and management of literacy instruction and the classroom environment through organizing or attending to seminars on literacy development.
MEL 512 Field Methods in English Language Studies
It aims to provide students’ knowledge and experience in collecting, managing, analyzing, and presenting data (quantitative and qualitative) about human thought and/or human behavior in the natural setting.
MEL 513 Colloquium: Contemporary Issues and Problems in the English Language
This course will enable students to discuss recent or contemporary issues and problems in the English language. It will create a platform for discussion and sharing of knowledge which will provide inputs for students to do critical research in the future.
MEL 520 Thesis Writing and Oral Defense
This course is the final step in the undergraduate thesis writing process. It is the second of a two-step process, towards the application of the theoretical knowledge of students under the MA English Language program. In this course, the students will be guided in writing a full research in a specific field of study that the students have chosen in the proposal stage. In this course, the students will be able to apply the skills they have learned and developed in the process of research writing.
Foreign Language
A foreign language (FL) is required for students to take as their requirement for program completion. The department has a tenured faculty member in French and a native speaker of Korean who will teach the foreign languages. For the first five years of the program, the two FLs will be offered while the department continues to improve and advance its capacity to offer other FLs (i.e., Chinese, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish). Hence, students who graduated in college with a FL elective will be exempted to enroll it; however, they must pass the reading comprehension test that will be administered by the department. On the other hand, those who do not have any FL course must enroll it in the undergraduate program and pass the same test.