English (MA, Multiple Concentrations)

CIP Code

23.0101.00

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
  3. 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).
  4. 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)

  • Students must take one introduction/research methods course from any of the three disciplines within the first 9 hours of graduate study.

  • 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
ENGL 7300Thesis I

3

ENGL 7301Thesis II

3

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 6360Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics for Teachers

3

ENGL 6361Problems in Linguistics

3

ENGL 6362Modern English Syntax

3

ENGL 6363Studies in English Phonology

3

ENGL 6365History of the English Language

3

ENGL 6375Studies 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
ENGL 7300Thesis I

3

ENGL 7301Thesis II

3

Thesis prospectus oral defense

Non-Thesis Option

Required Courses - 21 Hours

ENGL 6360Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics for Teachers

3

ENGL 6362Modern English Syntax

3

ENGL 6363Studies in English Phonology

3

ENGL 6365History of the English Language

3

ENGL 6375Studies 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 6300Introduction to Literary Studies

3

ENGL 6301Studies 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:

ENGL 6302Studies in Literary History

3

ENGL 6304Studies in British Literature

3

ENGL 6305Studies in American Literature

3

Gender, Ethnic and Cultural Studies - 6 Hours

Choose from the following:

ENGL 6308Studies in Mexican American Literature

3

ENGL 6309Studies in the Literatures of the Americas

3

ENGL 6310Studies in Ethnic Literature

3

ENGL 6311Studies in Gender and Literature

3

ENGL 6315Studies in Cultural Studies

3

Transnational Literature - 3 Hours

Choose from the following:

ENGL 6306Studies in Comparative Literature

3

ENGL 6313Studies in Post-Colonial Studies

3

Genre or Single Author Courses - 3 Hours

Chosen from the following:

ENGL 6303Studies in Genre

3

ENGL 6312Studies in Single Author

3

Choose one of the following options:

Thesis Option:

Capstone Requirement - 6 Hours
Thesis
ENGL 7300Thesis I

3

ENGL 7301Thesis II

3

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 6320Introduction to Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy

3

ENGL 6321Research Methods in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy

3

ENGL 6322Theory in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy

3

ENGL 6323History of Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies

3

ENGL 6324Pedagogy 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
ENGL 7300Thesis I

3

ENGL 7301Thesis II

3

Non-Thesis Option:

Required Courses - 18 Hours

ENGL 6320Introduction to Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy

3

ENGL 6322Theory in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy

3

ENGL 6323History of Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies

3

ENGL 6324Pedagogy 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