Accelerated B.A. in English (Writing & Rhetoric)/M.A. in English (Writing & Rhetoric)

This program provides exceptional undergraduate English majors an avenue toward accelerated completion of a Master’s degree. Students in the program complete 12 semester credit hours (SCH) of graduate coursework during their final 30 SCH of undergraduate coursework that will count toward both their B.A. and M.A. degrees. Students may take no more than 6 SCH of graduate courses during a single semester while classified as an undergraduate student. During their first semester in the program, students may take only one graduate course.

This is a competitive program; no more than 10% of our undergraduate population will be accepted in any given year. Students planning to apply for this program should seek advising as soon as possible, preferably during their sophomore year of study. Once admitted to the program, students must meet with the program advisor at least one time each semester prior to registering for courses.  During the semester of graduation from the B.A. program, students should seek advising from the Graduate Program Coordinator to plan for the subsequent semesters of only graduate courses.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

B.A. in English (Writing and Rhetoric) 

1. Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media and technology.
2. Organize, synthesize, and evaluate the credibility of information, such as, but not limited to, a range of academic and non-academic sources, and use this knowledge to make ethical decisions.
3. ​Use effective research strategies to inform argument-driven projects.

M.A. in English

1. Effectively gather, interpret, and evaluate information from multiple sources.
2. Systematically interpret, evaluate, and critique language within various socially significant contexts.
3. Compose clear communication in a variety of rhetorically significant genres and modes.
4. Create compelling evidence-based arguments with supportive details.

Admissions

Program Coordinator

Dr. Ashley Bender
940-898-2334
abender@twu.edu 

Application Deadlines

• Fall - June 1^st
• Spring - October 1^st
• No summer admissions

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in English program, students must:

• Be currently enrolled in the B.A. in English Literature, or Writing and Rhetoric tracks at TWU. The program is not currently open to students in the Teacher Certification track.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. at the time of application.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all upper-division coursework.
• Have successfully completed a minimum of 72 but no more than 90 semester credit hours of coursework toward the B.A.
• Have a minimum of 12 hours remaining in English courses toward the major.

How to Apply to the Accelerated Program

Students interested in applying to this accelerated program are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator prior to applying. Writing samples and statements of purpose are of particular importance in the application process.

1. Complete the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in English online application.
2. Applicants must submit the following materials as PDFs in a single email to the Program Coordinator. Include the student’s name and TWU I.D. number with "BMAP Documents" in the subject line.
   • A statement of purpose.
   • An academic writing sample of 10-15 pages (double-spaced). Writing samples should demonstrate the ability to make well-researched arguments with effective proofs; to use clear, articulate prose; and to employ a standard style such as MLA or APA to document sources.
3. Three academic references should submit letters of recommendation as PDFs on institutional or organizational letterhead directly to the Program Coordinator. Recommenders should include the applicant's name and “BMAP in English” in the subject line.

Students accepted to the accelerated BA/MA in English program should apply to the Master of Arts in English during their final undergraduate semester. Documents (statement of purpose, writing sample, and three reference letters) provided as part of the application for the accelerated program will carry forward to the graduate application and do not need to be resubmitted.

Students must apply for graduate admission by March 1 if graduating in May or August, or October 1 if graduating in December.  Students interested in a graduate assistantship should also submit an application to the Language, Culture, and Gender Studies  Chair by the same deadline.

Accelerated Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to the accelerated graduate degree program once they have attained advanced junior standing with at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours (SCH). Upon admission to an accelerated program, students with senior standing (90 earned SCH) may enroll in graduate courses for credit. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

• Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
• Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The program may set higher GPA requirements as outlined on their TWU graduate program website at the time of graduate application.
• Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.