Welcome Back!

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Ex Libris! This not only marks the revival of the M.A. newsletter, it also marks the newsletter's move into the 21st Century and the World Wide Web. Look to Ex Libris for updates on what is new, exciting, fun and interesting in the MA programs, as well as news you can use as a member of the DePaul Community.

Important: Check out the new and revised Academic Policies

Alternative Classes: Internships,
Independent Studies, and Thesis Research

Guidelines for Internships, Independent Studies, and Thesis Research:
Planning your electives? Both MA programs provide opportunities for students to pursue independent research and professional applications for graduate work in English. After consultation with MA Program Directors, students may choose to substitute an independent study, an internship, and/or thesis research for conventional elective courses. When deciding to undertake one of the following alternative courses, students should keep in mind that independent work requires extra effort, time, and self-discipline. Consult with your MA Program Director as you decide whether one of the following options is for you.

Internships (ENG 500 or MWR 498) For many MA students, internships can serve as ideal alternative courses and can even lead to full-time positions. Current internships introduce students to careers in community college teaching; publishing, writing and editing; translation; and other humanities-based professions. Please note that students must complete at least three courses in the MA before pursuing an internship. Community college teaching requires students to be nearly finished with their degrees.

Depending on the nature of the work, internships may also require the successful completion of relevant coursework. For example, student planning to pursue internships in college teaching should first take “Teaching Literature,” “Teaching Writing,” “Composition Theory,” and/or “Writing Center Theory and Pedagogy.” Students who seek internships in publishing should prepare themselves by taking “Editing,” “Writing for Magazines” and/or “Literary Non-Fiction.” Candidates for internships in technical writing should take “Online Documentation,” “Writing and Technology,” and/or related courses.

Prospective interns should also keep in mind that because internships require ten to fifteen hours of work per week at the job site during the internship period, those people with full-time jobs or other responsibilities during normal business hours will likely have only limited internship opportunities. Internship opportunities will be announced by the Program Directors and posted prominently in the English Department Office.

Independent Study (ENG 500) The Independent Study fulfills elective credit in both Master's programs. This option allows students to undertake intensive and advanced study of a topic, which culminates in a major research paper or project. The Independent Study should not be used to fill requirements in the MA programs except in special circumstances to be approved by the Program Directors. Instead, students should pursue an Independent Study to focus more intensively on an idea or a skill developed in their regular coursework. Some recent MA in English Independent Study topics include women and courtly love in medieval English romances, psychoanalytic theory, and gender and power in selected Shakespeare plays. An Independent Study may also serve as a gateway to the writing of an MA Thesis: as preparation for taking Thesis Research (ENG 501) students may generate, in consultation with a faculty advisor, an extensive annotated bibliography and prospectus for a thesis. Students interested in undertaking an Independent Study must first discuss their plans with an MA Program Director and with the prospective supervising professor, under whose general areas of expertise the intended topic falls. Approval of an Independent Study requires completion of a short proposal detailing the scope and objectives of proposed research and describing the written work that the study will produce. Click here for independent study forms.

Thesis Research (ENG 501) Thesis Research involves research and writing of a substantial (40-50 pp.), original contribution to a particular area of scholarly inquiry. The thesis option is intended for those students who, at the end of their coursework, possess particular expertise in an area of literary, rhetorical, or composition-related study or in a creative writing project, and who demonstrate exceptional ability at independent research and writing. Ideally, a thesis will develop from a research paper or project completed for a graduate course. Students must assemble a Thesis Committee comprising one faculty director and one second reader.
Thesis projects typically take two or more academic terms to complete, and students in the MA programs may substitute four credit hours of Thesis Research for one elective. Further work on the thesis may be supported by taking “Candidacy Continuation” (ENG 502), which involves only a nominal registration fee and allows students to continue using the library and other university resources. Note that students electing to count thesis hours toward their MA degrees must complete the thesis in order to graduate. Writing a thesis does not exempt a student from taking the MA Exam. Click here for a sample title page and a thesis approval form. To discuss this option, see your Program Director.

New Positions - Faculty

Bill Fahrenbach, a Chicago native, earned his PhD in English from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on late medieval literacy, especially on the varieties of evidence in manuscripts of literate sensibilities in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century literature. He teaches courses in medieval drama, romance, and Chaucer. Dr. Fahrenbach tells us that he began teaching at DePaul when it was known as “the little school under the El.” This is his first year as department chair.

Jan Flood has been with DePaul for over five years. She received her MAW from Depaul in 1998 and soon after began teaching First Year Writing. She now acts as Assistant Director of the M.A. programs as well as teaching Teach Discover Chicago focusing on religious communities. She has five children, one of whom received his BA from DePaul in 1997. She also expresses her regret on the news of Ben and Jen's reconciliation.

Learn about other new faculty

Graduate Assistants

The M.A. programs welcome four new Graduate Assistants this fall. Kelly Fust, Meghan Bala, and Jenni Parrot join returning assistants, Tracy Townsend, Tom Truesdell, Emily Schafer, and Melissa Downing as consultants in the Writing Center where they each hold coordinator positions and oversee the daily running of the center. The team works with Director Julie Bokser, PhD. and Assistant Director Elizabeth Coughlin, M.A. Ceci O’Keefe, also a new G.A., is working in a new position in the English Department. The position is designed as a departmental assistantship for Web site development and upkeep and program development, as well as working on the department’s newsletter. She also spends a few hours a week in the Writing Center.

Meet the New GA's

Meghan Bala graduated from DePaul last year with a double major in Communications and Sociology and a minor in Creative Writing. Hailing from Fargo, ND, she plans to return for her wedding in September of next year. She loves eating deep-fried foods at the Minnesota State fair. Her favorites include, oreos, twinkies, macaroni and cheese on a stick, cheese curds, etc. And yes, she assures us that they are “all deep fried.”

Kelly Fust comes to us from Columbus, OH although she has lived in Cincinnati, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Indiana along the way. She earned her undergrad degree in English Literature and Political Science in 2002 from Butler University in Indianapolis. Kelly tells us: "I enjoy buying lots of cheap used books that I may never ever read and trying to visit all of my friends who are spread out all over the country. Once I get people in this program to hang out with me, that will also be my hobby.”

Jenni Parrot is in her second year as a student in the MA in English program, but her first year as a GA. She is from Stone Mountain, Georgia and earned her B.A. in English at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Despite growing up in the South, she claims that she does not have a southern accent, though some might beg to differ. Jen has recently picked up golf, surprising herself so much with her natural ability that her new love may lead her away from English Lit and into the LPGA Tour. Good luck Jen!

Ceci O'Keefe grew up on the South Side of Chicago, but spent her undergraduate years at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD where she earned her BA in English with a minor in Communications. She is excited to be back “home” where she can finally get to a Bears game. Though she was at one time eager to watch a game, recent evidence suggests that exploring the new stadium will be more interesting than the “football” on the field.