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English with a Concentration in Literature and Cultural Studies (MA)

CIP Code

23.0101.00

Overview

The Master of Arts in English cultivates scholarly and creative achievement through student literacy – specifically the abilities to read, write, and think critically, as well as an appreciation for the English language. Students in the concentration in Literature and Cultural Studies will work with an advisor to identify 12 to 18 hours of English course work to complete the concentration.

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. 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.

Academic Standing

Students seeking any graduate degree in English must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the graduate hours taken from the program in English at UTRGV. 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.

Program Requirements

Required Courses - 12 Hours

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6300Introduction to Literary Studies
ENGL 6301Studies in Literary Theory

Choose one Rhetoric/Composition Course:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6320Introduction to Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy
ENGL 6321Research Methods in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy
ENGL 6322Theory in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy
ENGL 6323History of Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies
ENGL 6324Pedagogy in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy
ENGL 6325Studies in Composition Techniques
ENGL 6326Professional Writing
ENGL 6328Special Topics in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies

Choose one Linguistics Course:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6360Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics for Teachers
ENGL 6361Problems in Linguistics
ENGL 6362Modern English Syntax
ENGL 6363Studies in English Phonology
ENGL 6365History of the English Language
ENGL 6366Special Topics in Linguistics
ENGL 6370Second Language Teaching Methods
ENGL 6371Special Topics in Second Language Teaching
ENGL 6372Practicum in English as a Second Language
ENGL 6373Second Language Assessments
ENGL 6374Studies in Second Language Acquisition
ENGL 6375Studies in Language and Culture
ENGL 6376Varieties of Present Day English

Concentration Courses - 18 Hours

History/Period Courses

Choose two from the following to total 6 hours:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6302Studies in Literary History
ENGL 6304Studies in British Literature
ENGL 6305Studies in American Literature

Gender, Ethnic and Cultural Studies Courses

Choose two from the following to total 6 hours:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6308Studies in Mexican American Literature
ENGL 6310Studies in Ethnic Literature
ENGL 6311Studies in Gender and Literature
ENGL 6315Studies in Cultural Studies

Transnational Literature Courses

Choose one from the following to total 3 hours:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6306Studies in Comparative Literature
ENGL 6313Studies in Post-Colonial Studies

Genre or Single Author Courses

Choose one from the following to total 3 hours:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6303Studies in Genre
ENGL 6312Studies in Single Author

Non-thesis Option

Literature/Cultural Studies Electives - 6 Hours

This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. Such courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only applied once.

Choose two from the following:

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 6300Introduction to Literary Studies
ENGL 6301Studies in Literary Theory
ENGL 6302Studies in Literary History
ENGL 6303Studies in Genre
ENGL 6304Studies in British Literature
ENGL 6305Studies in American Literature
ENGL 6306Studies in Comparative Literature
ENGL 6308Studies in Mexican American Literature
ENGL 6310Studies in Ethnic Literature
ENGL 6311Studies in Gender and Literature
ENGL 6312Studies in Single Author
ENGL 6313Studies in Post-Colonial Studies
ENGL 6315Studies in Cultural Studies
ENGL 6316Special Topics in Literature
ENGL 6355Literature for Secondary School Teachers
ENGL 6356Children's Literature
ENGL 6357Young Adult Literature

Capstone Requirement

Portfolio

Thesis Option

Thesis - 6 Hours

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 7300Thesis I
ENGL 7301Thesis II

Total Credit Hours: 36