Outcomes Data: Master of Arts/Sciences English
2024-2025 Outcomes Data
According to our Assessment Plan, reviewed and reestablished in the 2023-2024 academic year, we have four points of assessment. These are:
- All English graduates must complete a minimum of 30 credits from English offerings.
- All English graduate students must write and defend a thesis proposal (Plan A and Plan B)
- All English graduate students must write and defend a thesis (Plan A and Plan B)
- All English graduate students must fulfill a Program of Study for their chosen specialization, which will be reviewed by the department’s Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
1. Coursework
The extent to which our course offerings meet our stated learning objectives (listed in Section A of the Assessment Plan) was reviewed by the Creative Writing (CW) and Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC) committees and was determined to be accurate. Ongoing annual review will continue as our new specializations become more established and student’s course needs are further determined by point 4
2. Thesis Proposals and Proposal Defenses for 2024-2025
Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)
4 proposal defense
- L01 1 H, 3 M
- LO2 N/A
- LO3 4 H
Creative Writing (CS)
3 proposal defense
- LO1 2 H, 1 M
- LO2 3 N/A
- LO3 3 H
3. Theses and Thesis Defenses for 2024-2025
Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)
2 thesis defenses
- LO1 2 H
- LO2 2 H
- LO3 2 H
Creative Writing (CW)
3 thesis defenses
- LO1 3 H
- LO2 2 H, 1 M
- LO3 3H
4. Programs of Study
The GPC and DGS met with all CW and LCC students once each semester in the 2024-2025 school year. All students were progressing toward their degree completion. One LCC student was identified who had not yet defended their thesis proposal by the end of their second semester, and they were counseled to defend it as soon as possible at the start of the Fall 2025 semester.
Past Outcomes Data
2023-2024 Outcomes Data
According to our Assessment Plan, reviewed and reestablished in the 2023-2024 academic year, we have four points of assessment. These are:
- All English graduates must complete a minimum of 30 credits from English offerings.
- All English graduate students must write and defend a thesis proposal (Plan A and Plan B)
- All English graduate students must write and defend a thesis (Plan A and Plan B)
- All English graduate students must fulfill a Program of Study for their chosen specialization, which will be reviewed by the department’s Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
1. Coursework
The extent to which our course offerings meet our stated learning objectives (listed in Section A of the Assessment Plan) was reviewed by the Creative Writing (CW) and Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC) committees and was determined to be accurate. Ongoing annual review will continue as our new specializations become more established and student’s course needs are further determined by point 4.
2. Thesis Proposals and Proposal Defenses for 2023-2024
Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)
1 proposal defense:
- 1 pass
- LO1: 1 H
- LO2: 1 n/a
- LO3: 1 M
Creative Writing (CW)
NOTE: The CW program reconstructed their proposal defense records from 2018 to 2024.
17 proposal defenses:
- 11 pass, 6 pass with minor revisions
- LO1: 14 H, 3 M
- LO2: 17 H
- LO3: 16 H, 1 M
3. Theses and Thesis Defenses for 2023-2024
Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)
3 thesis defenses:
- 3 pass
- LO1: 3 H
- LO2: 3 H
- LO3: 3 H
Creative Writing (CW)
NOTE: The CW program reconstructed their thesis defense records from 2018 to 2024.
19 thesis defenses:
- 15 pass, 4 pass with minor revisions
- LO1: 19 H
- LO2: 19 H
- LO3: 19 H
4. Programs of Study
The GPC and DGS met with all CW and LCC students once each semester in the 2023-2024 school year. All students were progressing toward their degree completion. Three LCC students were identified who had not yet defensed their thesis proposals by the end of their second semesters, and all were counseled to defend them as soon as possible at the start of the Fall 2024 semester.
2018-2023
During this time period, the English MA/MS was undergoing a restructuring and that effort, in combination with the Covid-19 pandemic, meant that assessment data wasn’t being consistently gathered and analyzed. However, the restructuring of the program was itself a major response to data from the years prior. Through communications with major advisors and the department’s GPC and DGS, students were consistently reporting that the program felt unbalanced. Many non-creative writing students were leaving the English program for the MA/MS in American Studies and Folklore, which was building toward its own restructuring (documented in the Folklore MA/MS assessment materials).
2014-2018
We have data for the four assessment points below from Fall 2014-present. Our data only extends back to the semester that the new Director of Graduate Studies in English took on the appointment, and it will continue to be collected every year.
Our four assessment points for the program are:
- Coursework
- Thesis proposal and thesis proposal defense
- Thesis and thesis defense (Plan A and Plan B)
- Completed Program of Study
A. Student Mastery of Learning Objectives in English (Literature and Writing) Courses
As described in III.A. of the “Assessment Plan”, below is a table that records the assessment of student performance and mastery of the learning objectives in English courses from Fall 2014 to present. Students’ mastery is designated by H (high performance/mastery), M (medium performance/mastery), and L (low performance/mastery). Note that several courses under the 6800 rubric are counted in both the Master of Technical Communication and English master’s program offerings.
Summer 2016
L1: Acquire knowledge of research tools, methods, and techniques with the aim of applying these in research, creative writing, and/or pedagogy.
L2: Conduct, present, and defend a body of research and/or creative work conducted during their program.
L3: Develop the writing and presentation skills to communicate research findings and/or creative work to professional audiences.
| Course | Enrolled Students | Mastery of L1 | Mastery of L2 | Mastery of L3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 6890 McLaughlin | 9 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
B. Outcomes: Thesis Proposal Defense
As described above in the “Assessment Plan”, the thesis proposal is a written document produced by the student, revised under the guidance of the thesis advisor, and shared with the entire thesis committee. Students may be required by the advisor and/or entire committee to revise their thesis proposal multiple times before they are allowed to go to oral defense. The thesis proposal oral defense results in one of four decisions, which is voted on by the entire thesis committee.
Below is a table that records the results of students’ thesis proposal oral defense. Note that students are evaluated in their proposal and proposal defense on learning objectives one, two, and three.
Student Thesis Proposal Defense Results
| Year of graduation | Passed Without Revision | Passed With Minor Revisions | Passed With Major Revisions | Failed and needed to completely rewrite and re-sit defense | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2014-15 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Additional Comments | Demonstrated high mastery of L01, L02, and L03 | Demonstrated high mastery of both L01, L02, and L03, with minor modifications/corrections necessary) | Demonstrated medium mastery of L01, L02, and/or L03 | Demonstrated low mastery or L01, L02, and/or L03 |
C. Outcomes: Thesis Defense
As described above in the “Assessment Plan”, the thesis is a written document produced by the student and revised under the guidance of the thesis advisor and/or thesis committee. The thesis defense is an oral examination of the thesis. The thesis oral defense results in one of four decisions, which is voted on by the entire thesis committee. Note that thesis committee evaluates the thesis and oral defense on learning objectives two and three.
| Year of graduation | Passed Without Revision | Passed With Minor Revisions | Passed With Major Revisions | Failed and needed to completely rewrite and re-sit defense | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2014-15 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Additional Comments | Demonstrated high mastery of L01, L02, and L03 | Demonstrated high mastery of both L01, L02, and L03, with minor modifications/corrections necessary) | Demonstrated medium mastery of L01, L02, and/or L03 | Demonstrated low mastery or L01, L02, and/or L03 |
Note that all revisions are reviewed by the major thesis advisor and/or the entire committee. Plan A theses are then reviewed for style by the Graduate School.
Number of students who passed thesis defense but failed to submit final draft within grace period: 2
D. Outcomes: Data from Completed Programs of Study
As described in the “Assessment Plan”, English (Literature and Writing) students develop a Program of Study that draws from available classes in the English Department. Although there are no required courses, students are encouraged to take at least one course from each of the three “legs” of the program: Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Composition (including Pedagogy). The Director of Graduate Studies evaluates all English graduate students’ Programs of Study and then shares that information with the Department Head, the Graduate Advisory Committee, and Literature and Writing Graduate Committee.
For this data, the Director of Graduate Studies uses a matrix as follows. Note that the three “legs” of the program (Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Composition (including Pedagogy) are separated. Folklore and Technical Communication are also included in the table as they are part of the English Department. The table also records whether students write the Plan A (6 credits) or Plan B (3 credit) thesis/research project. This data is then used for data-based decisions.
Coursework for students graduating with English (Literature and Writing)
Graduated in 2015-16
| Student | Literature Courses | Creative Writing Courses | Rhet, Comp, & Pedagogy Courses | Folklore Courses | Tech Comm Courses | Other Courses | Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6330 6340 6360 |
6882 6883 6884 |
6820 | - | 6400 | HIST 6900 Bennion | Plan B |
| B | 6330 6340 |
6880 6882 6883 6884 |
6820 | 6770 | - | - | Plan A |
| C | 6330 6340 6350 |
6884 | 6820 |
6770 | 6430 6450 6470 |
- | Plan B |
| D | 6330 6340 6350 |
6883 |
6800 6820 |
6700 6740 |
6400 | - | Plan B |
| E | 6340 (2 x) 6350 6360 |
6880 6882 6883 |
6820 | - | 6430 | - | Plan B |
| F | 6350 6260 |
6882 6884 |
6820 6800 6830 |
- | 6470 | - | Plan C |
| G | 6350 | 6880 6883 |
6820 6890 |
- | 6400 6480 |
6600 6610 |
Plan B |
| H | 6360 | 6880 6882 (2x) 6883 6884 |
6810 6820 |
- | 6480 | 6900 intern-ship | Plan A |
| I | 6340 | - | 6820 6810 6890 6830 |
6770 (2x) | 6400 6430 6470 |
- | Plan B |
Graduated in 2014-15
| Student | Literature Courses | Creative Writing Courses | Rhet, Comp, & Pedagogy Courses | Folklore Courses | Tech Comm Courses | Other Courses | Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6340 6350 |
6880 6882 (2x) 6883 |
- | 6750 | 6400 6470 |
- | Plan B |
| B | 6350 | 6882 6883 6884 |
6820 | 6740 | - | 6920 (2x) | Plan A |
| C | 6350 (3 x) 6330 |
- | 6810 6820 |
6770 | 6400 | 6610 | Plan B |
| D | 6610 | 6883 | 6820 | 6700 6740 |
6400 6480 |
6610 6920 |
Plan A |
| E | 6330 6360 |
6880 6882 6883 |
6820 | 6750 | - | 6610 | Plan A |
| F | 6330 6340 (2x) 6350 |
- | 6800 6820 |
6740 6750 6770 |
- | - | Plan B |
| G | 6350 | 6880 6882 6883 |
6810 6890 |
6750 | 6400 6420 |
- | Plan B |
| H | - | - | 6800 6810 6820 6830 6860 |
- | 6470 6480 |
JCOMM 6500 Bennion SOC 6750 |
Plan B |
| I | 6350 (2x) |
6882 6884 |
6820 | 6750 | - | 6630 Film 6920 Directed study |
Plan A |
| J | 6340 | 6880 6882 6883 |
6820 | - | 6470 | 6900 (3x) intern-ship JCOMM 6550 Bennion |
Plan B |
Spring 2016
L1: Acquire knowledge of research tools, methods, and techniques with the aim of applying these in research, creative writing, and/or pedagogy.
L2: Conduct, present, and defend a body of research and/or creative work conducted during their program.
L3: Develop the writing and presentation skills to communicate research findings and/or creative work to professional audiences.
| Course | Mastery of L1 | Mastery of L2 | Mastery of L3 | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 6340 Cooper-Rompato | H=4 M=1 L=1 |
H=4 M=1 L=1 |
H=3 M=2 L=1 |
6 |
| ENGL 6350 Crumbley | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | 7 |
| ENGL 6800 Grant-Davie | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | 9 |
| ENGL 6883 Gunsberg | H=9 M=0 L=0 |
H=9 M=0 L=0 |
H=9 M=0 L=0 |
9 |
Fall 2015
L1: Acquire knowledge of research tools, methods, and techniques with the aim of applying these in research, creative writing, and/or pedagogy.
L2: Conduct, present, and defend a body of research and/or creative work conducted during their program.
L3: Develop the writing and presentation skills to communicate research findings and/or creative work to professional audiences.
| Course | Mastery of L1 | Mastery of L2 | Mastery of L3 | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 6340 Graulich | H=5 M=0 L=2 |
H=5 M=0 L=2 |
H=5 M=0 L=2 |
7 |
| ENGL 6360 Graham | H=4 M=4 L=1 |
H=3 M=6 L=0 |
H=4 M=5 L=0 |
9 |
| ENGL 6820 Dethier | H=0 M=0 L=11 |
H=11 M=0 L=0 |
H=11 M=0 L=0 |
11 |
| ENGL 6884 Sinor | H=5 M=6 L=5 |
H=5 M=6 L=5 |
H=5 M=6 L=5 |
16 |
Summer 2015
No English (Literature and Writing) classes offered.
Spring 2015
L1: Acquire knowledge of research tools, methods, and techniques with the aim of applying these in research, creative writing, and/or pedagogy.
L2: Conduct, present, and defend a body of research and/or creative work conducted during their program.
L3: Develop the writing and presentation skills to communicate research findings and/or creative work to professional audiences.
| Course | Mastery of L1 | Mastery of L2 | Mastery of L3 | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 6330 McCuskey | H=7 M=4 L=3 |
H=7 M=4 L=3 |
H=7 M=4 L=3 |
14 |
| ENGL 6350 Holt | H=7 M=2 L=0 |
H=6 M=3 L=0 |
H=5 M=3 L=1 |
9 |
| ENGL 6860 Walton | H=4 M=0 L=0 |
H=3 M=1 L=0 |
H=3 M=1 L=0 |
4 |
| ENGL 6882 Waugh | H=7 M=2 L=1 |
H=7 M=3 L=0 |
H=8 M=2 L=0 |
10 |
| ENGL 6890 Ray | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | 9 |
Fall 2014
L1: Acquire knowledge of research tools, methods, and techniques with the aim of applying these in research, creative writing, and/or pedagogy.
L2: Conduct, present, and defend a body of research and/or creative work conducted during their program.
L3: Develop the writing and presentation skills to communicate research findings and/or creative work to professional audiences.
| Courses | Mastery of L1 | Mastery of L2 | Mastery of L3 | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 6340 | H=2 M=0 L=0 |
H=2 M=0 L=0 |
H=2 M=0 L=0 |
2 |
| ENGL 6350 Funda |
Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | 10 |
| ENGL 6820 Dethier |
H=0 M=0 L=19 |
H=17 M=2 L=0 |
H=19 M=0 L=0 |
19 |
| ENGL 6830 Grant-Davie |
Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | 10 |
| ENGL 6880 Sowder | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | Data unavailable because instructor is on sabbatical | 12 |