The Humanities Department created an informal book group–a venue where we get together and talk about what we love–literature. Interested faculty suggested titles from Great Books, Classic Texts, or Pulitzer winners that we wish we had read but did not or that we read too quickly to savor because it was assigned or became a film before we read the print version. Titles with the most votes generated the year’s reading list. During 2008-2009 we will read The Kite Runner, Vanity Fair, and The Year of the Locust.
The Rules of Engagement ask only for an interest in the book, but completing the book is not a requirement for attending. There are no assigned leaders, no formal discussion structure, and no expectations for critical methodology. The book group provides an opportunity to gather informally and share our readings with each other. All are welcome!
“Borderlines: Reading, Writing, Performing Within American Spaces” is the theme for the Macon State College 2009 Arts Festival. Scheduled for March 3-5, the Arts Festival will feature Caribbean poets Lorna Goodison and Lillian Allen, African American novelist Tayari Jones, and Cuban American storyteller and children’s author Carmen Agra Deedy. All presentations will be on the Macon State College main campus in Macon or satellite campus in Warner Robins. All presentations are free and open to the public.
March 3, Tuesday
- Poet, Lillian Allen 5:30 pm in the H/SS Theatre; Caribbean poet
- Poet, Lorna Goodison Reading Performance, 11 H/SSTBD; Caribbean poet (Supported by Artists & Lecturers Committee)
March 4, Wednesday
- Novelist, Tayari Jones; Readings, 11 am H/SS Theatre, 7 pm WRC (Supported by the Black History Month Committee)
March 5, Thursday
Georgia Poetry Circuit
April 3, Friday
Poet, Kelly Cherry, 7:00 pm
Cherry will read as part of the first MSC undergraduate conference.
Supported by the Artists and Lecturers Committee.
What was once LitMUSE has become “MSC Humanities Online.”
I have installed the Moodle course management system on the upgraded Humanities server. I used to be on a separate server, but since updating our departmental Xserve to Leopard, I was able to finally get Moodle to run on the Mac. Other than a server relocation, nothing has changed about LitMUSE but the name. Therefore, current users will login in with their same credentials. You should have no problems.
You can login by clicking the large, square banner on the upper-right of our web site. If you want more information about Moodle, or are a faculty member who would like to use this system for your classes, let me know.
The transition from Drupal to Wordpress is now complete. The MSC Department of Humanities now has a squeaky clean new web site.
As you will notice, the first thing that’s changed is the design, incorporating a more dynamic layout that uses lots of photography and images. I have tried to make navigation as intuitive as possible. I invite you to look around. If something seems to be missing, try a search. If it is really missing, shoot me an email (gerald [dot] lucas [at] maconstate [dot] edu).
I have made all member of faculty and staff accounts on the web site. As I mentioned above, it’s built with Wordpress, so posting to the site is as easy as using a word processor. If you’re interested in contributing, email me for your user name and password. If we have enough interest, I can even hold a brief training seminar about the web site early next year.
I’d like to encourage everyone to use the site. Part of having a web presence is providing frequent updates. You might consider: instead of sending email to everyone about an upcoming meeting or event, post it to the web site. This will encourage interested folks to make frequent stops at our site. You can even subscribe to our RSS feed using your favorite syndication reader. The more folks that subscribe, the better our web presence and the more potential for growth in our programs. You might also consider making comments on various posts — another way to show how vibrant and engaged our academic community is.
So welcome. Leave any comments or suggestions below.
All declared English majors should join the English listserv to receive important information about advising and registration issues, as well as program updates, upcoming events, and opportunities relevant to English majors.
- To join the English listserv, go the MSC listserver
- Select the ENGLSTUDENTS list
- Select “Join”
- Enter your name and email address
- Click “Join”
- Reply to the confirmation email
Remember to check your e-mail regularly.
In order to stay abreast of changes within the field, current research, and to have opportunities to attend and present at conferences, students are encouraged to obtain membership in one or more professional organization, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), the Georgia Council of Teachers of English (GCTE), and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). All of these organizations offer student memberships at an affordable rate.
English 4900 has a prerequisite of at least a “C” in ENGL 3010 and 90 or more earned hours
This is a capstone course required of candidates in the English track of the B.A. in English. The course engages students in advanced critical analysis, leading to an original research project. Students produce an extended critical essay based on the research and make an oral presentation of their research.
What is a bachelor of arts in English?
The B.A. in English is a four-year course of study with a two-track program that either certifies students to teach English in high schools or graduates students with a traditional four-year English degree. In either track, students read literature and learn to write on topics generated by their reading experience. Good writers will become even stronger writers, and less experienced writers will soon become the strong writers that graduate schools and business desire. Some students will specialize in teaching English themselves.
Can I get my degree at either campus?
Macon State College students have an excellent campus in Warner Robins to begin any baccalaureate that the college offers, including the new English degree. Once the core curriculum is completed at WRC, students will be able to continue their junior and senior course work at the Macon Campus. Students should remember that they can get first-rate advising at either campus.
Will I be certified to teach English in a secondary school as soon as I graduate?
Almost. All students must take and pass the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators, GACE test which is Georgia’s test in English content that certifies graduates to teach in Georgia high schools.
Do I have to be a good writer to begin studying English?
It is important for all college students to be good writers, but it is especially important for English majors to work very hard on improving their writing skills as soon as they begin taking English courses. Students should value good writing and should always see writing as the most important life skill they gain from studying English.
Do I have to be very well read before I become an English major?
If you like to read, that’s a big plus, but you do not have to know everything before you begin. Our courses are designed to give students a wide knowledge of the many different kinds of literatures, the major authors from significant periods of literary history, and the important milestone texts of what your teachers will call the “canon” (books like The Canterbury Tales, Leaves of Grass, and To the Lighthouse).
If I start taking classes in the middle of the year or take only a few courses at a time, will it take too long to get my degree?
All degrees take time to finish, but many part-time students finish in five or six years. Remember that not all courses are offered at all locations each semester. What is most important is that students plan closely with their advisers, being certain to complete the required courses as they are scheduled.
What can I use an English degree for if I do not want to become a teacher?
Law schools have always valued the training in close reading, logic, and writing for which an English degree is excellent training. Along with a minor in business, an English degree additionally puts students in a strong position to get an MBA. Good writing skills are also essential to the ever-growing field of digital writing and communication.
Will I learn to use computers in my English classes?
For many years, Macon State College has stressed digital literacy as we train students to work in the contemporary economy. Many of your classes will require that you work on an e-learning platform like WebCT Vista, and senior-level classes will often have students making presentations from websites that students learned to construct in other classes. We also offer courses in both professional writing and writing for the Web. It’s also a really good idea for students to take a few IT courses or even get a minor in IT, since many jobs require both skills.
Will I have to take foreign language courses?
All students in English must take a certain number of classes in either French or Spanish (see program curriculum). Since the study of foreign language is essential to any thorough education in English, we encourage students to enjoy and value their exposure to a second language. Spanish, of course, is especially relevant as Georgia continues to add Spanish speakers to its businesses and classroom.
Can I transfer to Macon State College from a private college where I’m currently studying English?
Of course. There’s also a very good chance that most of your English courses will transfer. Students sometimes have to take a few core courses as prerequisites when they transfer, but since Macon State College is still the most affordable higher education choice for students in Middle Georgia; it is much less expensive getting a degree from MSC than from anywhere else in the region.
What makes an English degree at Macon State College so attractive?
We have the highest number of Ph.D.s of any division on our campus. Our faculty is exceptionally well trained, and we have many faculty members who regularly present at national conferences and publish in national publications. Two of the college’s most recent recipients for Excellence in Teaching are in our division. We also advise The Fall Line Review, The Matrix, and MSC-TV. Our division hosts the annual Spring Arts Festival and frequently sponsors screenings of digital films made by our students in production classes. In short, we have a young and energetic faculty.
Coordinator of English: Dr. Debra Holmes Matthews
Contact Information:
- Office Location: Humanities Division, 109
- Telephone/Voicemail: (478) 471-5775
- E-mail: debra.matthews@maconstate.edu
Advising hours may vary each semester; therefore, please contact me to schedule a time.
Note: During regular registration, English majors may also be advised by any academic advisor in English.
