Department of English
Graduate Certificate Programs
Graduate Certificates provide additional certified training after only 15 hours
of study. Graduate Certificate admission and completion forms can be found
on the Graduate Certificate web site.
The requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing are outlined below.
Use the navigation menu to the right to find information on the Department's Graduate
Certificate program in Comparative Literary Studies.
Graduate Certificate Program in Teaching Composition
Overview
The English department welcomes applications from students who wish to develop expertise
in the teaching of writing. The certificate program provides a structured learning
environment and supportive atmosphere for students who do not wish to pursue a traditional
graduate degree in English. The program is also open to USF students currently seeking
the M.A. and Ph.D. in English or related fields who wish to gain a documented concentration
in teaching composition.
The program is selective and enrollment is limited. Applications will be reviewed
by the Certificate Coordinator.
Credits earned during the completion of the certificate may later be applied to
a graduate degree program if the participants
- earned a B or higher in all courses; and
- are officially accepted into a graduate program in English.
It is not necessary to be enrolled in the M.A. or Ph.D. program in English in order
to be enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Composition.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for this certificate should have a B.A. in English or related field,
with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; submit a two- to three-page personal statement
clearly explaining their background in composition and the reasons why they wish
to pursue the certificate; and submit a graduate certificate department approval
form, which can be downloaded online from the
program page of the Graduate Certificates website.
Application Procedure
Applicants should send an official copy of their undergraduate or graduate transcripts,
their personal statement, and their graduate certificate departmental approval form
to:
Graduate Director
Department of English, CPR-107
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620-5550
Program Description and Courses
The program requires 15 hours (five courses) of course work for certification. This
includes nine hours (three courses) of a core curriculum, and six hours (two courses)
of electives:
Core Curriculum (required courses):
- ENC 6700 Studies in Composition Theory
- ENC 6720 Studies in Composition Research
- LAE 6375 Contemporary Composition Studies
Electives:
- ENC 6336 Rhetorical Dimensions of Composition
- ENC 6740 Theory and Development of Writing Programs
- ENG 6939 Graduate Seminar in English (with composition content)
- LAE 6392 Practice in Teaching Composition
- LIT 6934 Selected Topics (by permission of the Certificate Coordinator
Department Contact
To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Composition, contact:
Professor Debra Jacobs
Program Coordinator, Graduate Certificate in Teaching Composition
Phone: (813) 974-9473
Email: djacobs@cas.usf.edu