Description
The Department of English offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with tracks in Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, and Technical Writing. The department also offers the doctoral program in Texts and Technology and the MFA in Creative Writing. The department no longer offers the MA in English, Creative Writing track.
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 OfferedMaster of Arts in English- 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 Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must 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 Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general exam scores, which must have been taken within the last five years
- Final official bachelor transcript with a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 semester hours earned as an undergraduate
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of background and goals addressing your reasons for pursuing graduate study in English
- Resume
- 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 of approximately ten pages (or an equivalent amount of web-based work)
- 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 233 (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 must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
| Master of Arts in English |
Jan 15 |
Mar 30 |
Nov 1 |
|
| English Literature Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 30 |
Nov 1 |
|
| Rhetoric and Composition Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 30 |
Nov 1 |
|
| Technical Writing Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 30 |
Nov 1 |
|
International Applicants
| Master of Arts in English |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
| English Literature Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
| Rhetoric and Composition Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
| Technical Writing Track |
Jan 15 |
Jan 15 |
Jul 1 |
|
International Transfer Applicants
| Master of Arts in English |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
| English Literature Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
| Rhetoric and Composition Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
| Technical Writing Track |
Jan 15 |
Mar 1 |
Sep 1 |
|
Master of Arts in English
A student with a baccalaureate degree in a subject other than English will generally be required to take graduate survey courses in British and American literature (AML 5076 and/or ENL 5006). 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: Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, or Technical Writing. The M.A. degree
requires completion of 33 credit hours minimum.
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 generally be required to take graduate survey courses in British and American literature (AML 5076 and/or ENL 5006).
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) complete 6 additional credit hours in 6000-level literature
courses or (b) write a thesis.
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; the requirement, not the 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. Course Option—The candidate will also complete 6
additional hours in 6000-level literature courses.
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 LIT 6971 Thesis for 6 credit hours.
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 (3 credit hours)
- ENG 5009 Methods of Bibliography and Research (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5705 Theory and Practice in Composition (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5712 Studies in Literacy and Writing (3 credit hours)
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 (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5256 Gendered Rhetoric (3 credit hours)
- LIT 5435 Rhetoric of Science (3 credit hours)
- ENC 6339 Rhetorical Movements (3 credit hours)
- ENC 6333 Contemporary Rhetoric and Composition Theory (3 credit hours)
Rhetoric in Practice
- ENC 5306 Persuasive Writing (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5237 Writing for the Business Professional (3 credit hours)
- ENC 6244 Teaching Technical Writing (3 credit hours)
- CRW 5932 Teaching Creative Writing (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5745 Teaching Practicum (3 credit hours)
- ENC 6702 Issues in Writing Assessment (3 credit hours)
Studies in Literacy and Writing
- LIN 5675 English Grammar and Usage (3 credit hours)
- LIN 5137 Linguistics (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5276 Writing/Consulting: Theory and Practice (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5945 Community Literacy Practicum (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5277 Teaching Writing with Computers (3 credit hours)
- ENC 5338 The Rhetorics of Public Debate (3 credit hours)
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
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. University graduate fellowships 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 university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.
Contact Info
Master of Arts in English
Beth Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5254
englgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu English Literature Track
Beth Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5254
englgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Rhetoric and Composition Track
Beth Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5254
englgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Technical Writing Track
Beth Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5254
englgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
|
Graduate Catalog
