The Master of Arts degree with a Rhetoric and Composition major requires 33 semester hours, and includes both thesis and portfolio options.  All students are required to take 12 hours of core courses in rhetoric and composition: ENG 5316 Topic: Composition Theory; ENG 5316 Topic: Composition Pedagogy; ENG 5383 Topic: Rhetorical Theory; and ENG 5313 Topic: Research Methods.  Students selecting the thesis option will take the 4 core courses listed above, 9 hours of prescribed electives, 6 thesis hours, and 6 hours in a related cognate area.  Students selecting the portfolio option will take the 4 core courses listed above, 12 hours of prescribed electives, 3 hours of independent study leading to development of a final portfolio, and 6 hours in a related cognate area. 

Course requirements for both thesis and portfolio options are distributed as follows:

I.    Core Courses in Rhetorical Theory, Composition Theory, Composition Pedagogy, and Research Methods (12 hours total)

________    ENG 5383 Rhetorical Theory
________    ENG 5316 Topic: Composition Theory
________    ENG 5316 Topic: Composition Pedagogy
________    ENG 5313 Topic: Research Methods

II.    Prescribed Elective Courses in Rhetoric, Composition, and Technical Communication (9-12 Hours) 

The number of prescribed elective course hours a student takes—from 9-12—depends on the student’s program choices:  whether or not they choose a thesis or non-thesis option, and whether or not they pursue a cognate or take elective courses outside of Rhetoric and Composition

_______    ENG 5300 Problems in a Multicultural Environment
_______    ENG 5310 Studies in English Language and Linguistics
_______    ENG 5313 Topic: Computers and Writing
_______    ENG 5313 Topic: Visual Rhetoric
_______    ENG 5314 Topic: Teaching Technical Communication
_______    ENG 5316 Foundations in Rhetoric and Composition (topics vary) (excludes ENG 5316, Topic:                                          Composition Theory and ENG 5316 Topic: Composition Pedagogy)
_______    ENG 5317 Specializations in Rhetoric and Composition (topics vary)

III.    Cognate or Elective Courses (6 hours)

_______    ________________________________________________________
_______    ________________________________________________________

IV.    Thesis or Portfolio (3-6 hours)

_______    ENG 5399 Thesis A (Prerequisite: 18 hours) AND
_______    ENG 5399 Thesis B (Prerequisite: Thesis A)

OR

_______    ENG 5390 Independent Study/Portfolio