Northern Illinois University

Department of English

Graduate Studies in Literature and Film

Description

The Department of English offers a Master of Arts degree with a special focus in Literature and Film-- a comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination of the relationships between traditional literary study and the cinema. The focus is designed for students from a wide variety of undergraduate degrees (Communication, Education, English, Film, Theater, etc.); for teachers in the broad range of language skills and art; and for professionals in the media. Its purpose is to study how the cinema engages, appropriates, and extends the forms, philosophies, and values of literature.

The degree requires no foreign language and requires that degree candidates pass an interdisciplinary master's examination.

Tracks

Track II: at least 36 hours required

Required Courses

All courses can be taken for three semester hours of credit unless otherwise indicated.

English Department (15-18 hrs.)

  • English 501   Bibliography and Methods of Research
  • English 504   Topics for the English Classroom: Teaching Film
  • English 590   Literature and Film
  • English 591   Topics in Literature and Film

Other Departments (3-9 hrs.)

  • Communication 454   Transnational Communication and Media
  • Communication 456C   History of Film before 1950
  • Communication 456D   History of Film after 1950
  • Communication 457   The Documentary Tradition
  • Communication 462   Film Theory and Criticism
  • Communication 466   Narrative Scriptwriting
  • Communication 549   Media and Culture in Ireland
  • Communication 556   Feminist Film Theory
  • Instructional Technology 430   Survey of Instructional Technology
  • Instructional Technology 455   Media Design Techniques
  • Instructional Technology 531   Visual Literacy
  • Philosophy 462   Philosophy of Culture
  • Philosophy 533   Aesthetics

Elective Courses

12-18 hrs.

With the faculty advisor's approval, students may choose electives from a wide variety of courses offered by the English department, such as courses in rhetoric, criticism, and literature.

For further information, contact:
Dr. Christoph Lindner
Department of English
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753-6642
clindner@niu.edu