Graduate Programs
The Department of English offers a Master of Arts degree with three concentrations: Literary Study, Composition and Rhetoric Studies, and Creative Writing.
Literary
Study:
This concentration is designed
for those who wish to teach literature, to pursue doctoral work in literature, or to enter such
fields of employment as public relations, advertising, professional (e.g. technical, industrial,
magazine) writing, publishing, and the like.
This concentration provides three requirement options:
- 27 hours of coursework and a 6-hour thesis; or
- 30 hours of coursework and a 3-hour extended essay; or
- 33 hours of coursework.
Composition and Rhetorical Studies:
Emphasizing history and contemporary research in composition and rhetoric as well as
rhetorical criticism, this concentration is designed for those who wish to teach
writing and rhetoric, to pursue doctoral work in composition studies and rhetoric, or to enter
such fields as public relations, advertising, professional (e.g. technical, industrial,
magazine) writing, publishing, and the like.
This concentration provides three requirement options:
- 27 hours of coursework and a 6-hour thesis; or
- 30 hours of coursework and a 3-hour extended essay; or
- 33 hours of coursework.
Creative Writing:
This concentration emphasizes poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. The concentration
is designed for those who wish to further their skills in these arts, to publish their creative
work, to add a creative element to their writing in such firlds as advertising or public relations,
to work in the creative side of the publishing industry, or to prepare to teach or enhance their
present teaching of creative writing.
The concentration itself has two tracks (poetry and prose), and requires 27 hours of coursework, a 6-hour creative thesis, and an oral comprehensive examination.
The department also offers a Certificate Program in Writing and Rhetoric.
M.A. Program Objectives
- to increase the student's understanding of literature and of rhetoric, and of how literature and effective rhetoric are created
- to prepare the student in the methods and philosophy of research, original thinking, and bibliography
- to increase the student's ability in communication, including preparation for careers in business, industry, and writing
- to prepare future teachers with a solid academic background in literature, methodology, and literary criticism, or with a solid academic background in rhetorical studies, including the history of rhetoric, rhetorical theory, rhetorical analysis, and composition studies, including composition theory, the origins and history of writing, and the teaching of writing
- to enhance the skills of those teachers currently in service
- to provide a solid and broad foundation for those students wishing to purpsue doctoral work or the M.F.A.
Admission
Concentrations in Literary Study and Composition and Rehetoric Studies
In addition to meeting the standards for admission to The Graduate School, applicants for these concentrations should have (1) a score of 500 or more on the verbal section of the GRE; (2) a minimum of 18 hours in English beyond freshman composition, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for those hours, or a score above the 50th percentile on the Advanced GRE in literature. All applicants must submit a 500-word statement of intent. Any student seeking conditional admission must complete a proctored writing sample in addition to the letter of intent.
Concentration in Creative Writing
In addition to meeting the standards for admission to The Graduate School, applicants for the M.A. in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing must submit:
- a manuscript of 12-15 poems or 25 pages of creative prose; and
- a 1000-1500 word statement of purpose describing the applicant's intellectual and creative background, interests and goals.
It is also strongly suggested that the applicant have (1) a score of 500 or more on the verbal section of the GRE; (2) a minimum of 18 hours in English beyond freshman composition, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for those hours, or a score above the 50th percentile on the Advanced GRE in literature. Any student seeking conditional admission must also complete a proctored writing sample and an interview with a member of the creative writing faculty.
Requirements for Degree Concentrations
| M.A. in Literary Study | |
| English 500 - Methodology and Bibliography | 3 hours |
| English 527 - Critical Theory | 3 hours |
15 hours in literature courses chosen from each of the following areas:
|
|
6 hours to be chosen from the areas of:
|
6 hours |
| 6 hours in elective English courses [may include English 598 (Research) or 599 (Thesis)] |
6 hours |
| Written Comprehensive Examination | |
| Total | 33 hours |
| M.A. in Composition and Rhetorical Studies | |
| English 500 - Methodology and Bibliography | 3 hours |
| English 520 - Modern Rhetorical Theory | 3 hours |
| 15 hours in rhetoric and writing courses | 15 hours |
| 6 hours chosen from the area of literature | 6 hours |
| 6 hours in elective English courses [may include English 598 (Research) or 599 (Thesis)] |
6 hours |
| Written Comprehensive Examination | |
| Total | 33 hours |
| M.A. in Creative Writing: Poetry Track | |
| English 567 - Shakespeare: The Career | 3 hours | 3 hours to be chosen from the following:
|
3 hours |
| English 552r - Poetry Workshop | 12 hours |
3 hours to be chosen from the following:
|
3 hours |
| 6 hours in elective English courses | 6 hours |
| English 599 - Thesis (6 hours) | 6 hours | Oral Comprehensive Examination |
| Total | 33 hours |
| M.A. in Creative Writing: Prose Track | |
| English 567 - Shakespeare: The Career | 3 hours | 3 hours to be chosen from the following:
|
3 hours |
| English 549r - Fiction Writing and/or English 550r - Workshop: Writing |
12 hours |
| English 552r - Poetry Workshop | 3 hours |
| 6 hours in elective English courses | 6 hours |
| English 599 - Thesis (6 hours) | 6 hours | Oral Comprehensive Examination |
| Total | 33 hours |
Admission to Candidacy
Students admitted to the M.A. degree program in any of the three concentrations must file an application for admission to candidacy before completing more than 18 hours of graduate coursework for the degree. The application may be filed upon completion of 9 hours of approved graduate courses. Students in the literary or composition and rhetoric concentrations must have completed or be enrolled in ENGL 500 before filing for candidacy.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the Literary Study and Rhetoric and Composition Concentrations are required to pass a comprehensive written examination. Students in the Creative Writing Concentration are required to complete a 60-minute oral examination at the time the creative thesis is submitted. Students must have completed at least 24 hours of the required coursework before taking the comprehensive examination.
Certificate in Writing/Rhetoric
Admission Requirements: Applicants must meet the admission requirements for graduate work in English
Number of Hours: 18 Credit Hours
Required Courses:
English 521 - Rhetorical Analysis
English 523 - Composition Theory
English 553 - Writing Assessment Theory
English 556 - The Practice of Teaching Writing
Electives (Students will choose two courses from the following):
English 513 - Writing Essays for Publication
English 522 - Orality, Print, and Hypertext
English 549 - Fiction Writing
English 550 - Workshop: Writing
English 555 - Proposals and Prospectus Writing
English 558 - Composition Studies as Cultural Critique
Some Considerations: Students who in the course of pursuing the certificate in writing/rhetoric or who upon completing the certificate wish to earn an MA in English must apply for entrance into the MA program. They may count their certificate coursework toward fulfilling the requirements of the the MA in English with a concentration in rhetoric/writing. Those who wish to earn the MA in English with a concentration in literature must fulfill all the requirements of the literature track.
Students who have the MA in English may apply to take the certificate in rhetoric/writing.
