Department of English

Program

BECOMING AN ENGLISH MAJOR

Students should identify themselves as English majors at the earliest possible time--ideally, immediately upon admission to the University. Once students are identified as English majors in the University's computer system, the Department begins to include them in its regular mailings of instructions for advisement and registration.

GETTING ADVISEMENT

English majors are required to seek advisement on a regular basis, and they are routinely mailed instructions on how and when to do so in time for each registration cycle of the regular academic year. Note that in order to register for the fall and spring terms, students must first have a block removed from the registration system by a departmental adviser. No such block removal is necessary to register for summer terms, but students should nonetheless consult with the Department in selecting courses.

The chief departmental adviser is Dr. Marsha Robinson. Dr. Robinson is located in CAS 321; her phone number is 908-737-0396; her email address is mrobinso@kean.edu.

APPLYING FOR GRADUATION

Students must apply to the Registrar for graduation according to the timetables published in the course bulletins for each semester. The Resgistrar provides students with the appropriate forms that must be completed by the student and then approved by the Department. Students should seek these approvals from Dr. Robinsonin a timely way--i.e., no less than a week in advance of the deadlines by which they are due back at the Office of the Registrar. Students should leave their graduation applications for Dr.Robinson along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. He will then complete and return the assessments by mail as promptly as possible. In general, the assessments are completed and returned within a three to five day period.

CHALLENGING A GRADE

Students who believe they have received inaccurate or unfair final grades for English Department courses should bring their complaints first to their instructors. If resolution can not be achieved directly with an instructor, then a student may file a formal grade grievance with the Department.

To file a grade grievance, a student should submit to the Department chairperson a letter outlining the basis for the grievance and proposing a specific remedy for the grievance. The letter should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documents-i.e., copies of pertinent exams, papers, assignments, syllabi, etc. Upon receiving the grievance, the chairperson will assemble a grade grievance committee comprising himself or herself, one other member of the faculty, and a student of the chairperson's choice. The committee will then invite the instructor to submit a statement and supporting materials of his or her own. The deliberations of the committee usually take two weeks. After completing their deliberations, the committee will issue a recommendation to the instructor either to uphold or change the grade.The instructor is free to accept or reject the recommendation. Should the outcome of that decision remain disagreeable to the student, he or she may then appeal to the Dean of Liberal Arts, who holds the power to overturn the instructor's grade.

Submit a statement and supporting materials of his or her own. The deliberations of the committee usually take two weeks. After completing their deliberations, the committee will issue a recommendation to the instructor either to uphold or change the grade. The instructor is free to accept or reject the recommendation. Should the outcome outcome of that decision remain unacceptable to the student, he or she may then appeal to the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The Dean holds the power to overturn the instructor's grade.

Grievances are not permitted against grades for individual assignments. They are allowed only against final course grades.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OPTIONS

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STANDARD OPTION, NEW PLAN 2002
(mandatory for students admitted to the University for Fall 2002 & after; optional but recommended for students admitted previously)

STANDARD OPTION, NEW PLAN 1998
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 2002)

STANDARD OPTION, OLD PLAN
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 1998)

WRITING OPTION, NEW PLAN 2002
(mandatory for students admitted to the University for Fall 2002 & after; optional but recommended for students admitted previously)

WRITING OPTION, NEW PLAN 2000
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 2002)

WRITING OPTION, NEW PLAN 1998
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 2000)

WRITING OPTION, OLD PLAN
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 1998)

TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION, NEW PLAN 2002
(mandatory for students admitted to the University for Fall 2002 & after; optional but recommended for students admitted previously)

TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION, NEW PLAN 1998
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 2002)

TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION, OLD PLAN
(available only to students admitted to the University prior to Fall 1998)

DUAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION, K-12 ENGLISH and TEACHER OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
(available as of Fall 2005)

MINOR IN ENGLISH

Advisement Brochure for the Minor in English