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MASTER OF ARTS IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Children's Literature is awarded on the completion of 30 credits of work, including 24 credits of course work and a six-credit thesis. The course work will be selected in consultation with the supervisory committee to support the multi-disciplinary nature of the program. Six credits of course work may be taken at the 300 or 400 level; the remainder must be at the 500 level.

Of the 24 credits of course work, nine are required including at least six at the 500 level:

  • Three credits (Historical Overview) from the following: LIBR 520, LIBR 521, ENGL 468A, LLED 441
  • Three credits (Contemporary Children's/Young Adult Literature) from the following: LLED 540, LLED 541, LIBR 520, LIBR 521, LIBR 526, LLED 442, LLED 449
  • Three credits (Research Methodology) from the following: EDUC 500, LIBR 505

The remaining 15 credits of course work may be chosen from the wide range of offerings available in the departments of English, French, Language and Literacy Education, Theatre, Film and Creative Writing, and the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies; from relevant courses, with the Chair's approval, offered elsewhere at UBC; and from approved courses offered by other institutions. Subjects can also be pursued under Directed Readings.

A maximum of 6 credits earned in courses germane to children's literature, no more than five years prior to entry into the program, may be transferred from another institution or another program at UBC. Transfer credit will not be accepted for a course that has been applied to another degree. The degree may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Students may begin the program in term one of the Winter Session (September).

Thesis

The supervisory committee will advise on, monitor, and evaluate the six-credit thesis.

Creative Writing Courses and Workshops

Those students accepted into the MACL program who wish to take Creative Writing courses may contact MACL faculty member Prof. Rhea Tregebov of the Creative Writing Program for permission to enrol in Creative Writing courses. Those students considering a creative project for their MACL thesis normally take the graduate level creative writing workshop in children’s literature in their first year of the program and then consult with Prof. Tregebov in term 2 of that year regarding the feasibility of pursuing a creative thesis.

Application Procedures for Creative Writing Workshops

Course Descriptions: For detailed information on SLAIS-based courses please use the "Courses" link to the left.

Children's Literature Courses: Core

A. An Historical Overview - at least 3 credits from:

Department of English, Faculty of Arts

  • ENGL 468A (3/6)d Children's Literature. A study of selected works from children's literature of the last three centuries; connections between children's literature and the adult cultural tradition. Emphasis differs with instructor and section.

Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education

  • LLED 441 (3) Introduction to Teaching Children's Literature. Methods of teaching literature to children. The appraisal of books and authors for children.

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Faculty of Arts

  • LIBR 520 (3): Survey of Literature and Other Materials for Children. An overview of children's literature, including historical development and contemporary trends; criteria for selection and evaluation; an examination of genres.
  • LIBR 521 (3): Contemporary Literature and Other Materials for Children. A study of children's literature from 1970 to the present; an analysis of trends and issues in contemporary children's books; an examination of audiovisual and electronic media for children.

B. Contemporary Children's / Young Adult Literature - at least 3 credits from:

Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education

  • LLED 442 (3) Trends and Issues in Teaching Children's Literature. Controversial issues and new directions in children's literature.
  • LLED 449 (3) Teaching Adolescents' Literature. Characteristics of literature written for and of special interest to adolescents, relevant research, and implications for instruction.
  • LLED 540 (3) Introduction to Research in the Teaching of Literature. Theory and research in teaching children's literature with application to elementary and secondary methodology and curriculum development. The place of children's literature in school curricula.
  • LLED 541 (3) Theories and Perspectives in Teaching Literature.

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Faculty of Arts

  • LIBR 520 (3): Survey of Literature and Other Materials for Children. An overview of children's literature, including historical development and contemporary trends; criteria for selection and evaluation; an examination of genres.
  • LIBR 521 (3): Contemporary Literature and Other Materials for Children. A study of children's literature from 1970 to the present; an analysis of trends and issues in contemporary children's books; an examination of audiovisual and electronic media for children.
  • LIBR 526 (3) Literature and Other Materials for Young Adults. Survey of materials of special appeal to adolescents; factors affecting reading interests and habits.

C. Research Methodology - 3 credits from:

Faculty of Education

  • EDUC 500 (3) Research Methodology in Education. Overview of methodological approaches to research in education.

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Faculty of Arts

  • LIBR 505 (3) Research Methods in Information Organizations. Principles and methods of research and investigation and their application to various situations in libraries and archives.

Children's Literature Courses: Electives: 15 Credits:

Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing, Faculty of Arts

  • CRWR 403/503 (6) Writing for Children. Techniques of writing for children in various genres. Limitations as to the children's age group and genres to be set by the instructor. Instruction given through workshop and individual tuition.

Department of English, Faculty of Arts

  • ENGL 468 (3/6)d Children's Literature

Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies, Faculty of Arts

  • FREN 420 (3) Topics in French Literature and Culture (This course may be taken only when the topic is Children's Literature of the French-Speaking World).

Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education

  • LLED 440 (3) Using Canadian Children's Literature in the Classroom. Canadian children's literature, both English and French (in translation), appropriate for use in schools; methods of using the cultural elements of such literature.
  • LLED 441 (3) Introduction to Teaching Children's Literature
  • LLED 442 (3) Trends and Issues in Teaching Children's Literature.
  • LLED 443 (3) Teaching Folklore in the Elementary Classroom. The role of folklore in language acquisition, psychological development, story patterning, imagination development, awareness of literary motifs, and appreciation of Canadian cultural heritage.
  • LLED 444 (3) Multicultural Children's Literature in the Elementary Classroom. Using children's literature of various cultures in Canadian schools; implications for instruction.
  • LLED 445 (3) Poetry in Education: Elementary and Middle Years. The educational role of poetry in the development of language and imagination. Implications for instruction.
  • LLED 446 (3) Teaching with Illustrated Materials: K-12. Various approaches to classroom use of visual representations of fiction and nonfiction for young people, K-12.
  • LLED 449 (3) Teaching Adolescents' Literature
  • LLED 535 (3) Theory and Research in Drama in Education.
  • LLED 540 (3) Introduction to Research in the Teaching of Literature
  • LLED 541 (3) Theories and Perspectives in Teaching Literature.
  • LLED 580 (3/12)c Problems in Education. Guided Independent Study

School of Library, Archival & Information Studies, Faculty of Arts

  • LIBR 520 (3): Survey of Literature and Other Materials for Children. An overview of children's literature, including historical development and contemporary trends; criteria for selection and evaluation; an examination of genres.
  • LIBR 521 (3): Contemporary Literature and Other Materials for Children. A study of children's literature from 1970 to the present; an analysis of trends and issues in contemporary children's books; an examination of audiovisual and electronic media for children.
  • LIBR 523 (3): Canadian Literature and Other Materials for Children.
  • LIBR 524 (3): Writing, Publishing and the Book Trade for Children.
  • LIBR 525 (3): Illustrated Literature and Other Materials for Children.
  • LIBR 526 (3) Literature and Other Materials for Young Adults
  • LIBR 592 (3) Directed Research Project
  • LIBR 594 (3) Directed Study

In addition, students may take courses from the following schools and departments for credit towards the M. A. in Children's Literature:

Faculty of Arts

  • Department of Anthropology and Sociology (ANTH)
  • Department of Psychology (PSYC)
  • The School of Social Work and Family Studies (FMST)

Faculty of Education

  • Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education (EPSE)
  • Department of Educational Studies (EDST)

UBC departments which do not offer courses, but have faculty who may be interested in consultation on theses or independent studies:

  • Theatre and Film -- members of faculty are knowledgeable about children's theatre and are involved with the annual Children's Theatre Festival in Vancouver
  • Asian Studies
  • Native Indian Teacher Education Program and Graduate Program
  • Departments of various languages for the study of non-English language children's literature
  • Comparative literature

Directed Readings or Directed Studies courses in the above departments can be arranged with the advisor.

Other relevant courses are offered at local educational institutions, such as Simon Fraser University.

Application Procedures: Use "Admissions" link to the left

Ronald Jobe Children's Literature Scholarship

The School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia is establishing the Ronald Jobe Children's Literature Scholarship for students in the Master of Arts in Children's Literature Program. Dr. Jobe, professor in the Language and Literacy Department, has been deeply involved in this interdisciplinary children's literature program jointly offered by the UBC departments of SLAIS, LLED, English and Creative Writing. Dr. Jobe established the Children's Literature Roundtables across Canada , co-ordinates the Serendipity conference, and has spent years promoting Canadian children's literature worldwide, through organizations such as the International Board on Books for Young People, of which he was the first non-European President.

To create an endowment of $20,000, which will generate a yearly scholarship of $1,000, we invite you to consider a tax-deductible donation. For further information, or to make a donation, please contact Andy Price, UBC Development Officer at 604-822-5345 andy.price@ubc.ca.