Master of Arts in English - Composition and Rhetoric

Graduate students specializing in rhetoric and composition take core courses in composition theory, rhetorical theory, literacy studies, and research methodologies. These core courses are supplemented by a wide array of special topics courses on public discourse, genre theory, race and writing, gender and writing, and writing and emerging technologies, to name just a few. The English Department's extensive graduate-level course offerings in literary and cultural studies, creative writing, and American Studies allow graduate students further flexibility to define their own course of study and research projects.

Prior to their anticipated start date, applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association; or complete an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned. If you obtained your degree from a university outside the United States.Personal StatementRecommendations – Excellent recommendations by your professors (a minimum of two) are essential. You may want to provide your recommenders with copies of your college or university transcripts, papers you wrote for their course(s), and a brief résumé of your accomplishments, both academic and professional.GPA and Transcripts – We look carefully at your course preparation and GPA. Nearly all of the students we accept have an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or better. Students entering with a Master’s degree are expected to have attained a high GPA (3.75 or better) for their graduate work.