English (MA, Multiple Concentrations)
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in English, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in English or a minimum of 12 upper‐level undergraduate hours in English or related field.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).
- Writing sample, a written academic paper suitable for an upper-division course
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
After being admitted to the MA program, students must consult with the graduate advisor of the program they wish to pursue in order to formulate and sign a degree plan. This certifies that the student is enrolling in courses appropriate to that program.
Program Requirements
The MA in English offers concentrations in English Studies, Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies, and Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy. Each of these concentrations has a thesis and non- thesis option.
English Studies Concentration:
Required Courses - 18 Hours
Choose from Literature and Cultural Studies Graduate Courses (6 Credits)
Choose from Rhetoric, Composition and Literary Graduate Courses (6 Credits)
Choose from Linguistics Graduate Courses (6 Credits)
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Students must take one introduction/research methods course from any of the three disciplines within the first 9 hours of graduate study.
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Students must take one theory course from any of the three disciplines within the first 18 hours of graduate study.
Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option:
English Elective Coursework - 12 Hours
Choose from among the English graduate courses with advisor approval
Capstone Requirement - 6 Hours
Thesis
Non-Thesis Option:
English Elective Coursework - 18 Hours
Choose from among the English graduate courses with advisor approval
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Linguistics Concentration:
Thesis Option:
Required Courses - 24 Hours
| ENGL 6360 | Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics for Teachers | 3 |
| ENGL 6361 | Problems in Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL 6362 | Modern English Syntax | 3 |
| ENGL 6363 | Studies in English Phonology | 3 |
| ENGL 6365 | History of the English Language | 3 |
| ENGL 6375 | Studies in Language and Culture | 3 |
| | Choose from Literature and Cultural Studies Graduate Courses | 3 |
| | Choose from Rhetoric, Composition and Literary Graduate Courses | 3 |
English or Linguistics Coursework - 6 Hours
Choose from among the English and Linguistics graduate courses with advisor approval
Capstone Requirement - 6 Hours
Thesis
Non-Thesis Option
Required Courses - 21 Hours
| ENGL 6360 | Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics for Teachers | 3 |
| ENGL 6362 | Modern English Syntax | 3 |
| ENGL 6363 | Studies in English Phonology | 3 |
| ENGL 6365 | History of the English Language | 3 |
| ENGL 6375 | Studies in Language and Culture | 3 |
| | Choose from Literature and Cultural Studies Graduate Courses | 3 |
| | Choose from Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Courses | 3 |
English or Linguistics Coursework - 9 Hours
Choose from among the English and Linguistics graduate courses with advisor approval
Free Electives - 6 Hours
Open electives with advisor approval
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Literature and Cultural Studies Concentration:
Required Courses - 12 Hours
| ENGL 6300 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 6301 | Studies in Literary Theory | 3 |
| | Choose from Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Courses | 3 |
| | Choose from Linguistics Graduate Courses | 3 |
History/Period Courses - 6 Hours
Choose from the following:
Gender, Ethnic and Cultural Studies - 6 Hours
Choose from the following:
Transnational Literature - 3 Hours
Choose from the following:
Genre or Single Author Courses - 3 Hours
Chosen from the following:
Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option:
Capstone Requirement - 6 Hours
Thesis
Non-Thesis Option:
Literature/Cultural Studies Electives - 6 Hours
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Concentration:
Thesis Option:
Required Courses - 21 Hours
| ENGL 6320 | Introduction to Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 6321 | Research Methods in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 6322 | Theory in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 6323 | History of Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 6324 | Pedagogy in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| | Choose two from Literature & Cultural Studies Graduate Courses | 3 |
| | Choose from Linguistics Graduate Courses | 3 |
Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Coursework - 9 Hours
Choose from among the Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy graduate courses
Capstone Requirement - 6 Hours
Thesis
Non-Thesis Option:
Required Courses - 18 Hours
| ENGL 6320 | Introduction to Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 6322 | Theory in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 6323 | History of Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 6324 | Pedagogy in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy | 3 |
| | Choose from Literature and Cultural Studies Graduate Courses | 3 |
| | Choose from Linguistics Graduate Courses | 3 |
Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Coursework - 12 Hours
Choose from among the Rhetoric, Composition & Literacy graduate courses
English Electives - 6 Hours
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Academic Standing
Students seeking any graduate degree in English must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the graduate hours taken in the department of English of UT Rio Grande Valley. If a student’s GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester, the student will be placed on probation. If an overall 3.0 GPA is not recuperated during the following semester, the student will be placed on suspension.
Total Credit Hours: 36