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English with a Concentration in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy (MA)

CIP Code

23.0101.00

Overview

The Master’s degree 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. The concentration in rhetoric, composition, and literacy focuses on the engagement made possible through written and spoken language, as well as the social and educational impact of advanced study in these three interconnected fields, including training future teachers.

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

Non-thesis Option:

Required Courses - 21 Hours

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 6322, ENGL 6323, and ENGL 6324 may be repeated for additional credit. The second attempt of ENGL 6322, ENGL 6323, and ENGL 6324 will be applied in the Concentration section of the degree plan.

Choose one Literature & Cultural Studies Graduate Course:
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
Choose one Linguistics Graduate 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

Rhetoric and Composition Concentration Courses - 9 Hours

Choose three from the following:

CourseCourse Name
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
ENGL 6329Assessing & Responding to Student Writing

ENGL 6322, ENGL 6323, ENGL 6324, ENGL 6326, and ENGL 6328 may be repeated for additional credit when topic varies. Additional attempts of ENGL 6322, ENGL 6323, ENGL 6324, ENGL 6326, and ENGL 6328will be applied in this section.

Prescribed Electives - 6 Hours

Choose any two English courses.

Capstone Requirement

Portfolio

Thesis Option

Required Courses - 21 Hours

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 6322, ENGL 6323, and ENGL 6324 may be repeated for additional credit. Additional credit will apply in the Concentration section of the degree plan.

Choose one Literature & Cultural Studies Graduate Course:
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
Choose one Linguistics Graduate 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

Rhetoric and Composition Concentration Courses - 9 Hours

Choose three from the following:

CourseCourse Name
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
ENGL 6329Assessing & Responding to Student Writing

ENGL 6322, ENGL 6323, ENGL 6324, ENGL 6326, and ENGL 6328 may be repeated for additional credit. The additional attempts of ENGL 6322, ENGL 6323, ENGL 6324, ENGL 6326, and ENGL 6328 will be applied in this section.

Thesis - 6 Hours

CourseCourse Name
ENGL 7300Thesis I
ENGL 7301Thesis II

Total Credit Hours: 36