Students in the M.A. with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Professional Communication program will develop individualized plans of study in consultation with their adviser. Students will complete at least 36 hours of graduate coursework, including:
- 12 credit hours in core courses
- 12 credit hours in courses in an area of specialization
- 3 credit hours in a methods course
- 6 credit hours in elective courses
- 3 credit hours in a capstone course
Core Courses (12 credit hours). Students take two core courses from their area of specialization. In addition, students take two core courses from any of the other three core areas.
Core Composition Courses
- ENGL 564: Composition History and Theory
- ENGL 570: Graduate Study in Approaches to Composition
- ENGL 571: Composition Pedagogy and Practicum (required for first-semester English Deptartment graduate assistants)
Note: Students may take either ENGL 570 or ENGL 571 as a core course. Taking a second course will count under the area of specialization.
Core Critical/Cultural Studies Courses
- ENGL 517: Graduate Study in Critical Theory
- ENGL 568: Rhetorical/Cultural Studies
Core Professional and Technical Communication Courses
- ENGL 512: Graduate Study in Writing in the Workplace
- ENGL 572: Technical & Professional Communication: Theory and Pedagogy
Core Rhetoric Courses
- ENGL 518: History of Rhetoric
- ENGL 519: Modern Rhetorical Theory
Specialized Courses (12 credit hours). Students take four additional courses in their area of specialization determined in consultation with their adviser. Students are encouraged to take ENGL 510: Proseminar in Rhetoric and Professional Communication early in their time as a graduate student. This course is appropriate for all areas of specialization. Appropriate courses for each specialization are suggested below:
Specialized Composition Courses
- ENGL 549: Graduate Study in Writing
- ENGL 550: Graduate Study in Literacy
- ENGL 561: Issues in Writing Program Administration
- ENGL 573: Assessment
- ENGL 579: Computers and Writing
Specialized Critical/Cultural Studies Courses
- ENGL 511: Theories of Discourse
- ENGL 549: Graduate Study in Writing
- ENGL 555: Graduate Study in Rhetoric of Scientific Literature
- ENGL 550: Graduate Study in Literacy
- ENGL 590: Master’s Seminar in Rhetoric
Specialized Professional and Technical Communication Courses
- ENGL 451: Grammar Practicum
- ENGL 478: Document Design
- ENGL 543: Multimedia Theory and Production
- ENGL 549: Graduate Study in Writing
- ENGL 562: Client Practicum
- ENGL 565: Intercultural Communication
- ENGL 577: Workshop: Advanced Technical and Professional Writing
- ENGL 578: Topics in Technical Communication
- ENGL 579: Computers and Writing
Specialized Rhetoric Courses
- ENGL 511: Theories of Discourse
- ENGL 530: Theories of Argument
- ENGL 549: Graduate Study in Writing
- ENGL 555: Graduate Study in Rhetoric of Scientific Literature
- ENGL 590: Master’s Seminar in Rhetoric
Methods course (3 credit hours). Students take one course in research methods. Appropriate courses include:
- ENGL 548: Graduate Study in Empirical Research
- ENGL 601: Qualitative Research
- ENGL 602: Quantitative Research
- ENGL 603: Rhetorical Criticism
- ENGL 604: Digital Research Methods
Elective coursework (6 credit hours). Students fulfill the elective coursework by one or more of the options below:
- 3 to 6 credit hours of elective coursework. These two adviser-approved courses can be taken in the English Department or in Departments such as Business, Computer Science, Education, and Language and Linguistics. For example, students with an emphasis in professional communication might take courses in computer science or students with an emphasis in composition and teaching might take courses in literature or creative writing.
- 3 to 6 credit hours of ENGL 597 and the completion of an internship. Students may fulfill this requirement by completing a paid or unpaid adviser-approved internship and enrolling in ENGL 597 for as many as six credit hours.
- 3 additional credit hours of ENGL 599. Students electing to complete a thesis as part of the degree requirements (in place of a portfolio or master’s essay) may partially fulfill this requirement by enrolling in ENGL 599 for an additional three hours (along with the three hours for the capstone requirement).
Master’s Capstone Requirement (3 credit hours). As part of their degree, students either write a thesis, develop a portfolio, or revise an essay for publication. All students fulfill the capstone requirement through enrollment in ENGL 585: Advanced Writing Workshop: RPC Capstone. Students writing a Master Essay or Master’s Thesis may enroll in the following courses for an additional three credit hours in a semester prior to taking ENGL 585:
- ENGL 598: Master Essay
- ENGL 599: Master’s Thesis
