Western Michigan University

Department/Program:
English

Institution address:
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo
MI
49008-5331
USA

Degree(s) Granted:
Ph.D. in English with an Emphasis in Children’s Literature

Faculty involved in the program:

Dr. Gwen Athene Tarbox, Associate Professor
gwen.tarbox@wmich.edu

Dr. Ilana Nash, Assistant Professor
ilana_nash@yahoo.com

Dr. Lance Weldy, Visiting Assistant Professor
lweldy@wmich.edu

Ms. Judith Rympa, Faculty Specialist
judith.rypma@wmich.edu

Ms. Elizabeth Amidon, Faculty Specialist
elizabeth.amidon@wmich.edu


Courses offered:
English 5820: Studies in Children's Literature
A study in depth of significant themes, movements, and types of children’s literature. Recent topics have included "Workshop in Writing Children's Literature," "Medievalism in Children's Literature," and "Folklore Adaptations."

English 5830: Multi-cultural Literature for Adolescents
Critical analyses of literature read by young adults, with special attention paid to American and world literatures that reflect the diversity of the increasingly global community.

English 5970: Studies in English: Variable Topics
Study of special topics in literature, film, English language, and writing. Recent offerings in
children's literature include a course entitled "Rowling's Harry Potter."

English 6100: Seminar
Study of a problem in literary history or criticism. May be repeated once with the permission of the graduate advisor. Topics in children's literature include "Nineteenth-Century American and British Children's Literature" and "Girls' Culture."


Doctoral candidates interested in specializing in children’s and adolescent literature must take 4 courses in children’s and adolescent literature at the 5000 or 6000 level; they must take a qualifying examination in children’s and adolescent literature; and they must write a dissertation that focuses on children’s and/or adolescent literature.

As part of their program, doctoral students teach a variety of undergraduate children’s literature courses, after receiving appropriate mentoring.

For more information:
http://www.wmich.edu/english