Dr. Marie Schein's Q&A

Teaching in the MLA since:				2017
Specialty/Area of Research:				Native American Literature French Studies
MLA Courses Taught:				Power & Authority in European Art Artists at the Movies Women & Creaivity Paris in Pop Culture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many years have you been teaching in the MLA program and what class or classes have you taught?

I started teaching in the MLA program in the summer of 2017.

I have taught American Literature and Composition at TCU, West Texas A & M, and Tarrant County College. I am Senior Instructor of French in the Department of Modern Language Studies.

 

Tell us a little bit about your specialty or area of research?

My research and publications have focused on Native American Literature but I am currently working on the literature written by First Nation authors in Quebec.

 

 

How does your background inform your teaching and scholarship?

I became interested in the subject of violence when I was in college, first in the form of ethical debates about just war theory and pacifism, and then transitioning to looking at social scientific approaches to understanding the psychology of violence. I am a very interdisciplinary thinker, drawing not only on religion and philosophy, but also history, political science, psychology, and literature.

 

How do you try to make the material in your class engaging considering most students complete their MLA degree 100% online?

I include opportunities for students to connect through online discussions and to co-construct meaning across collaborative activities.

 

What advantages do you think there are to getting a Master’s Degree in the Liberal Arts? How can it be helpful in the “real world”?

The MLA program offers students a great variety of courses across the disciplines of the Liberal Arts, thus developing knowledge of numerous areas and broadening their perspectives on the world. 

 

What do you hope students walk away from your class having learned or gained?

I hope students enjoy addressing big questions through multiple lenses

 

What are you currently working on that excites you? 

I am currently working on two new projects: the use of AR/VR technology in teaching foreign languages, and questions of identity in Naomi Fontaine’s novels, a First Nation writer in Quebec.

 

Why would you encourage students to pursue an MLA degree?

When I teach a class for the MLA program, I am always impressed by the level of commitment of the students and their enthusiasm in their pursuit of a new degree. The MLA program provides a unique and rewarding opportunity for returning students to reconnect with academic work and once more tap into their intellectual might.