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English


	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Master of Arts in English

		Creative Writing Track

		English Literature Track

		Rhetoric and Composition Track

		Technical Writing Track

	Contact Info

Description

The Department of English offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with tracks in Creative Writing, Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, and Technical Writing. The department also houses the doctoral program in Texts and Technology.

Each part of the graduate program emphasizes the enhancement of critical thinking and writing skills useful for career development in academic and professional settings. The program is designed for students interested in intellectual and practical questions of aesthetics, critique, culture, text, and interpretation.

Degrees Offered

Creative Writing Track
English Literature Track
Rhetoric and Composition Track
Technical Writing Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

Official score of at least 1000 (combined) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which must have been taken within the last five years
GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 semester hours earned as an undergraduate
Evidence of an earned bachelor’s degree
Two letters of recommendation
Statement of background and goals
Resume
Creative writing applicants only: a portfolio of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction
Literature applicants only: a writing sample (documented critical essay)
Rhetoric and Composition applicants only: an academic essay, preferably from an English class, that demonstrates argument and analysis.
Technical writing applicants only: a piece of professional writing that is acceptable to the faculty
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Master of Arts in English Jan 15 Jun 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Creative Writing Track Jan 15 Jun 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

English Literature Track Jan 15 Jun 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Rhetoric and Composition Track Jan 15 Jun 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Technical Writing Track Jan 15 Jun 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

International Applicants

Program(s)

Fall Priority

Fall

Spring

Summer

Master of Arts in English

Jan 15

Feb 1

Jul 1

Creative Writing Track

Jan 15

Feb 1

Jul 1

English Literature Track

Jan 15

Feb 1

Jul 1

Rhetoric and Composition Track

Jan 15

Feb 1

Jul 1

Technical Writing Track

Jan 15

Feb 1

Jul 1

Master of Arts in English

A student with a baccalaureate degree in a subject other than English will be required to take graduate survey courses in British and American literature. Students must also prove proficiency in a foreign language at the first-year level prior to completing the degree program.

Students must select one of the tracks for their program of study: Creative Writing, Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, or Technical Writing. The M.A. degree requires completion of 33 credit hours minimum.

Creative Writing Track

Each student must complete at least 33 credit hours, including 6 credit hours of writing workshops. Near the end of the degree program, each candidate will write a creative thesis.

Required Creative Writing Courses—12 Credit Hours

CRW 5020 Graduate Writing Workshop (3 credit hours)
CRW 6025 Advanced Graduate Writing Workshop (3 credit hours)
CRW 5XXX Studies in Contemporary Poetry (3 credit hours)
CRW 5XXX Studies in Contemporary Fiction (3 credit hours)

Restricted Creative Writing Electives—6 Credit Hours

CRW 5020 Graduate Writing Workshop (3 credit hours) May be repeated for credit
CRW 5XXX Form and Theory (3 credit hours) May be repeated for credit
CRW 5932 Teaching Creative Writing (3 credit hours)
CRW 5937 Special Topics Seminar
CRW 6025 Advanced Graduate Writing Workshop (3 credit hours) May be repeated for credit

Literature Electives—6 Credit Hours

LIT 6009 Literary Genres (3 credit hours)
LIT 6105 World Literature (3 credit hours)
LIT 6246 Major Authors (3 credit hours)
LIT 6365 Movements in Literature (3 credit hours)

Electives—3 Credit Hours

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

CRW 6971 Thesis (6 credit hours)

The candidate will complete a book-length manuscript (fiction, poetry, or other genre) of publishable quality, written and revised in CRW 6971, Thesis, that will meet both departmental and university requirements for the thesis. There is no non-thesis option in Creative Writing.

Literature Track

Literature students are expected to be widely read in British and American literature, to be highly competent in writing, and to be familiar with the vocabularies of literary criticism and grammar. A student with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than English will be required to take graduate survey courses in British and American literature.

Each student must complete at least 33 credit hours, including one course in linguistics and six core courses. Near the end of the degree program, each candidate will write a comprehensive examination based on a prescribed reading list and (a) write a thesis or (b) complete 6 additional credit hours in 6000-level literature courses.

Required Courses—21 Credit Hours

ENG 5009 Methods of Bibliography and Research (3 credit hours)
ENG 5018 Literary Criticism (3 credit hours)
LIN 5137 Linguistics (or an equivalent) (3 credit hours; may be waived if student has completed a course in linguistics at the 4000 level or above with a grade of "A" or "B")
LIT 6009 Literary Genres (3 credit hours)
LIT 6105 World Literature (3 credit hours)
LIT 6246 Major Authors (3 credit hours)
LIT 6365 Movements in Literature (3 credit hours)

Electives—6 Credit Hours

Comprehensive Examination

A written comprehensive exam is required. More information is available in the English Departments’ "Graduate Student Handbook," available for download at www.english.ucf.edu.

Specialization

Choose A or B—6 Credit Hours

A. Thesis Option—The candidate will complete a formal thesis on a topic selected in consultation with an advisory committee and will meet both departmental and university requirements for the thesis. The student will also enroll in LIT 6971 Thesis for 6 credit hours.

B. Course Option—The candidate will also complete 6 additional hours in 6000-level literature courses.

Rhetoric and Composition Track

Each student must complete at least 33 credit hours, including four core classes. Near the end of the degree program, each candidate will write a comprehensive examination based on a prescribed reading list and (a) write a thesis or (b) complete a classroom-based research project.

Required Courses—12 Credit Hours

ENC 5335 Rhetorical Traditions
ENG 5009 Methods of Bibliograhpy and Research
ENC 5705 Theory and Practice in Composition
ENC 5XXX Studies in Literacy and Writing

Restricted Electives—12 credit hours

Students will choose courses in concert with an adviser from among the three concentration areas:

Rhetorical Foundations

ENC 5337 Modern Rhetorical Theory
ENC 5256 Gendered Rhetoric
ENC 5XXX Rhetoric of Science
ENC 6XXX Rhetorical Movements
ENC 6XXX Contemporary Rhetoric and Composition Theory

Rhetoric in Practice

ENC 5306 Persuasive Writing
ENC 5237 Writing for the Business Professional
ENC 6244 Teaching Technical Writing
CRW 5932 Teaching Creative Writing
ENC 5474 Teaching Practicum
ENC 6702 Issues in Writing Assessment

Studies in Literacy and Writing

LIN 5675 English Grammar and Usage
LIN 5137 Linguistics
ENC 5276 Writing/Consulting: Theory and Practice
ENC 5945 Community Literacy Practicum
ENC 5277 Teaching Writing with Computers
ENC 5338 The Rhetorics of Public Debate

Advised Electives—6 credit hours

Students will work with an adviser to choose two other graduate level English courses or approved courses outside the department.

Comprehensive Examination

A written exam, based on a book list, consisting of essay questions

Specialization

Choose A or B—3 credit hours

A. Classroom Research Project Option—The candidate will enroll in ENC 6918 Directed Research for 3 credit hours and complete a research project approved by an advisory committee. This project will consist of a pedagogical research project of direct applicability to the field of Rhetoric & Composition.

B. Thesis Option—The candidate will complete a formal thesis on a topic selected in consultation with an advisory committee and will meet both departmental and university requirements for the thesis. The student will also enroll in ENC 6971 Thesis for 3 credit hours.

Technical Writing Track

Technical writing students are expected to have strong writing skills; the faculty may require entering students to take ENC 3241 to improve their writing skills. Students must also have some minimum technical writing exposure, either from education or work; the faculty may require entering students to take ENC 4293 to prepare them for graduate work in technical writing.

Each student must complete at least 33 credit hours, as outlined below. Near the end of the degree program, each candidate will write a comprehensive examination and enroll in ENC 6971 or ENC 6918 (3 credit hours), completing a formal thesis or project approved by the faculty.

Required Courses—15 Credit Hours

ENC 5214 Production and Publication Methods (3 credit hours)
ENC 5337 Modern Rhetorical Theory (3 credit hours)
ENC 6217 Technical Writing (3 credit hours)
ENC 6261 Technical Writing: Theory and Practice (3 credit hours)
ENG 5009 Methods of Bibliography and Research (3 credit hours)

Restricted Electives—9 Credit Hours

ENC 5219 Graphics in Technical Writing (3 credit hours)
ENC 5306 Persuasive Writing (3 credit hours)
ENC 5344 Proposal Writing (3 credit hours)
ENC 6244 Teaching Technical Writing (3 credit hours)
ENC 6292 Project Management for Technical Writers (3 credit hours)
ENC 6296 Computer Documentation (3 credit hours)

Advised Electives—6 Credit Hours

Two courses from outside the Department of English or other graduate-level English courses.

Comprehensive Examination

A written exam based on four of the core courses (excluding ENG 5009) and two concentration areas designed by the student. More information is available in the English Departments’ "Graduate Student Handbook," available for download at www.english.ucf.edu.

Specialization

Choose A or B—3 Credit Hours

A. Thesis Option—The candidate will complete a formal thesis selected in consultation with an advisory committee and will meet both departmental and university requirements for the thesis. The student will enroll in ENC 6971 Thesis for 3 credit hours.

B. Special Project—The candidate will enroll in ENC 6918 Directed Research for 3 credit hours and complete a research project approved by an advisory committee. This project will be on a topic in technical communication and in a format other than that of a traditional thesis.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. To receive need-based fellowship awards, the student must have demonstrated need as determined by FAFSA. Merit fellowship awards are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application).
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.