Michael Green at the Helm, English Bolsters Online Offerings

The Department of English’s highly rated online programs include a BA and MA in English, a BA in Film and Media Studies, and an MAS in American Media and Popular Culture. An online MTESOL degree is currently in the “ramping up” phase and is accepting applications for fall of 2017.

Michael Green, a Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Studies, took on a sizable project when he was appointed the Director of Online Programs for English this academic year. But Green comes to the role well-equipped; he has served as the online coordinator for Film and Media Studies for several years, where he worked with faculty to develop and deliver more than two dozen online courses.

In his new capacity, Green is overseeing an upgrade of the online BA in English degree, with an updated ENG 200: “Critical Reading and Writing about Literature” as well as new creative writing courses in the works. The greatest area of growth for the online BA degree involves designing and building more upper-division courses in order to meet the needs of its burgeoning student population.

For the English MA program, courses in Irish literature, critical theory, writing pedagogy, and Shakespeare are in development. New Film and Media Studies BA and MAS courses being built and/or piloted include sessions on videogame, TV, and webisode writing, as well as on horror films and musicals.

All this focus on online doesn’t mean students can’t have offline ASU experiences too. English still offers several options for studying abroad, and both online and on-campus students can take advantage. For the past two summers, Green himself has led a study abroad program in New Zealand that included two courses: one on the Lord of the Rings film franchise and the other on New Zealand culture. In addition to visiting film locations, Green and his students hiked and visited museums and landmarks. He is currently planning a new study abroad program focusing on the HBO series Game of Thrones that will visit many of the country locations involved in its production including, Ireland, Iceland, and Croatia.

Dana Tait

Image 1: Michael Green in New Zealand. Courtesy photo.

Image 2: Green stands outside "Bag End," home of the fictional Bilbo Baggins in Tolkien's Hobbiton. Green and his students visited the village's filming location during their study abroad tour of New Zealand. Photo coutesy of Green.