English, (MA)

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MA in English Degree Program

Admission Requirements

An overall minimum grade point average of 3.00 at the undergraduate level is expected.

An official undergraduate and if applicable graduate transcript to Graduate Admissions.

A statement of purpose outlining the student’s proposed course of study and career goals

Two letters of recommendation, preferably from college/university professors of English or comparable disciplines.

Program Prerequisites

An undergraduate degree with a major in English. A student who does not have an undergraduate major in English or appropriate background may be required to complete a maximum of 12 upper division hours in English with a grade of B or higher in each course.

Program Requirements

All students must complete a total of 30 semester hours of course work plus a 3-hour thesis or portfolio, or a total of 33 semester hours of course work.
Each graduate teaching assistant in the Department of English must enroll in ENGL 7003 /ENGL 8003 before or concurrent with first teaching assignment.

Concentration Requirements

Writing and Rhetoric

Students in Writing and Rhetoric must complete 30 hours of course work plus a 3-hour thesis or portfolio. Degree requirements include a 12 hour core consisting of:

ENGL 7001 - Acad Genre and Sch Pub Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7350 - Rhetorical Theory Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7805 - Foundations of Writing Studies Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7806 - Resch Meth In Writing Credit Hours: (3)

Writing and Rhetoric - Additional Requirements

Three graduate courses (9 hours) in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication.
Three graduate elective courses from any department (9 hours) approved by the student’s advisor.
A thesis or professional portfolio (3 hours).
A written comprehensive exam.

Technical Communication

Students in Technical Communication must complete 30 hours of course work plus a 3-hour portfolio or thesis project. Degree requirements include an 12 hour core consisting of:

ENGL 6618 - Document Design ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 6619 - Web Design/Online Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7809 - Technical Editing ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7818 - Collaborative Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)

Technical Communication - Additional Requirements

Two graduate courses (6 hours) in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication and/or Applied Linguistics.
Four graduate elective courses from any department (12 hours) approved by the student’s advisor.
A thesis or professional portfolio (3 hours).

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Students in TESOL must complete 30 hours of course work plus a 3-hour thesis, or 33 hours of course work. Degree requirements include:

At least 18 hours of TESOL courses, including ENGL 7531
Two graduate courses (6 hours) in a concentration outside TESOL.
Two graduate elective courses (6 hours) and a thesis (3 hours); or three graduate elective courses (9 hours).
A written comprehensive exam.

Applied Linguistics

Students in Applied Linguistics must complete 30 hours of course work plus a 3-hour thesis, or 33 hours of course work. Degree requirements include:

At least 18 hours of Applied Linguistics courses, including ENGL 7511 or equivalent graduate introduction to linguistics approved by student’s advisor.
Two graduate courses (6 hours) in a concentration outside Applied Linguistics.
Two graduate elective courses (6 hours) and a thesis (3 hours); or three graduate elective courses (9 hours).
A written comprehensive exam.
Reading knowledge of a foreign language, which may be demonstrated in a variety of ways (inquire in English Graduate Office for options).

Literature

Students in Literature must complete 30 hours of course work plus a 3-hour thesis, or 33 hours of course work. Degree requirements include:

At least 18 hours of Literature courses including ENGL 7000 , which should be taken in the first year of graduate study. Students must take at least one literature course from before 1800 and one literature course from after 1800, and at least one Literary Theory class, which may be chosen from any designated theory class, including ENGL 7336 /ENGL 8336 , ENGL 7701 /ENGL 8701 , ENGL 7702 /ENGL 8702 , and ENGL 7480 /ENGL 8480 .
Four graduate elective courses (12 hours) and a thesis (3 hours); or five graduate elective courses (15 hours).
A written comprehensive exam.

Note:

Reading Knowledge of a Foreign Language

Reading knowledge of a foreign language, which may be demonstrated in a variety of ways (inquire in English Graduate Office for options). Students intending to pursue a PhD are advised to develop a reading competency in at least one of the following: French, German, Latin, or Greek.

Retention Requirements

Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Upon entering the MA program, a student chooses an advisor in his or her concentration. The advisor will monitor the student’s progress toward completion of the degree. Each semester the Graduate Studies Committee will examine the academic progress of all students for retention in the program.
If a student receives either two C’s, one D, or one F grade in any English graduate level course, that student will be subject to review and could be dismissed from the program. In order to remain in good standing, all graduate students must maintain a 3.0 average in English Department courses.