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The children's literature concentration is valuable for teachers of elementary and middle or junior high schools, librarians, reading specialists, editors, publishers, writers of children's books, and prospective Ph.D. students.The program includes:
LITR 511 Literary Theory
LITR 516 Major Genres in Children's Literature
LITR 517 Teaching Children's Literature
LITR 518 History of Children's Literature
LITR 519 20th Century Children's Literature
LITR 581 Critical Approaches to Mythology
LITR 582 Ballads, Legends and Tales
LITR 583 Literature for Early Childhood
LITR 584 Literature for Adolescents
LITR 592 Special Topics (Multiculturalism, Media Studies, Gender)
LITR 692 Thesis (Optional)
The English Department offers two different on-campus children's literature courses at the graduate level each fall and winter semester. Graduate courses are also sometimes offered during the spring/summer semesters and through Continuing Education. A semester course in abbreviated format is sometimes offered in summer semester especially for teachers.
Some 400-level courses in children's literature (e.g., ENGL 450 and ENGL 451) can be taken for graduate credit; however, you must check with your advisor before signing up for a 400-level course, and you must also complete the appropriate paperwork for the Graduate School. Up to 9 hours of undergraduate courses may be taken for graduate credit. These courses are often offered on-campus during fall and winter semesters; they are also sometimes offered online or in one-week formats in Gaylord or Traverse City.
Students in children's literature can also take up to 6 hours of independent studies. Those who wish to do this must first find a professor who is willing to supervise the independent study. The student must then propose and fill out the appropriate departmental forms for independent studies (see the appendix of this handbook) and then register for the independent study once it as been approved and once a course number has been assigned. Students can take independent studies during any academic semester. Recent independent studies have focused on children's films, art theory, children's picture books, and the holocaust.
The MA candidates in children's literature, in consultation with their advisors, design the culminating experience. Its purpose is to establish the candidates' abilities and capabilities. A letter is sent to all candidates, successful and unsuccessful, once they complete the culminating experience. Exceptional performances are noted.
All candidates must take a written examination consisting of three questions focusing on material from three different areas they have selected: history, illustration, folklore, mythology, film, etc. One of the questions will ask the student to apply literary theory to a book from a chosen area. The exam allows one hour per question. The exam is given at selected times of the year: early December, early April, and mid-July. Exams are ranked pass, pass with distinction, or not passed. If a candidate's response on any part of the examination is judged to be unsatisfactory, he or she will be asked to complete a re-examination on that part. A waiting period of at least thirty days is required. Students who fail the entire exam may retake it one time, but only after at least one semester of further preparation. Students on academic probation may not take the exam until they achieve satisfactory academic standing.
A student may replace one of the three questions with a portfolio (see below).
The children's literature faculty believes a written examination is only one measure of a candidate's abilities, though an important one. For this reason, other achievements are also recognized. In order to replace one of the three questions on the M.A. exam, a student must demonstrate a commitment to the study of children's literature. This credit may be earned by presenting papers at conferences (one at the national or two at the regional or state level), publishing an article in a refereed journal (The Lion and the Unicorn, Children's Literature, Children's Literature Quarterly, Children's Literature in Education, ALAN Review), or writing or illustrating a children's book published by a reputable press. The Children's Literature faculty must approve student contributions in order to waive one of the three M.A. examination questions. Students, therefore, can develop a portfolio that constitutes one-third of the culminating experience. The children's literature committee may, at its discretion, submit material to expert colleagues for evaluation.
As a third option for the culminating experience, students may choose to write a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in children's literature. The thesis should be a major research project that demonstrates the student's intimate knowledge of an aspect of children's literature. It should be approximately 100 pages in length and demonstrate familiarity with research methods and proper documentation. Students may earn three credit hours for writing a thesis. Upon completing the thesis, the student will make a presentation to the children's literature faculty. Students can complete theses in place of the written examination or portfolio.
Topics of some recent theses include the following: the history of multiculturalism in children's literature, the representation of culture in children's films and children's illustrated books, and Asian American children's books.
