MA in Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics

DEADLINE

Jan. 15: MA application

The MA in Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics has the following degree requirements:

1. Six hours of coursework in English at the 600 level (this may include the required RWL elective mentioned below).
   
2. Twelve additional hours of coursework in English at the 500 to 600 level, to be divided as follows:
   • English 585.
   • English 586.
   • An elective course from the Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics curriculum.
   • Any elective course in English.
   • Two graduate English courses.
     Overall, students must take at least three courses in Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics. The remaining 15 credit hours may be selected from any English graduate courses. A student may apply only three hours of English 593 (Independent Study) toward the M.A. in English.
     
3. Six credit hours of English 500 (Thesis Hours). The thesis will analyze some aspect of writing or rhetorical theory, for which six credit hours are awarded. In addition to the project director, two other English department faculty members will supervise and approve the project.
   
4. Evidence of proficiency in one foreign language, to be fulfilled in one of the following ways:
   • Completion of a second year (or demonstration of competence on a waiver or proficiency examination) of a language at the college level with a grade of C or better.
   • Completion of French 302 or German 332 at UT with a grade of B or better.
   • Passing UT’s doctoral Ph.D. foreign language examination as currently administered.
     Note: Speakers for whom English is a second language may offer a native language for completion of the language requirement for the M.A. A masters student who cannot demonstrate proficiency in any approved language under any of the available options within three attempts must leave the program without a degree.
     
5. A ninety-minute oral examination. Thirty minutes of the exam will consist of questions about the thesis, and sixty minutes will consist of questions covering the texts on the MA Reading List for Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics. The reading list for this examination may be found here; hard copies of this list are available in the English Graduate Office.