Accelerated Bachelor of Arts (Literature)/Master of Arts in English (Literature)

Website: https://twu.edu/english-rhetoric-spanish/ba-ma-accelerated-program-in-english/

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 (Literature)

  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. Gage Jeter
940-898-2347
gjeter@twu.edu 

Application Deadlines

  • Fall - June 1st
  • Spring - October 1st
  • 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 may carry forward. Students should be prepared to submit an updated writing sample and at least one new letter of recommendation from an instructor of one of their graduate courses.

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 Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to an approved accelerated degree program once they have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. Upon admission to an accelerated program, students may enroll in graduate courses for credit once they have attained at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

  • Up to 12 SCH of designated graduate courses may apply to both the Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree program comprised of 45 or fewer SCH; and up to 15 graduate SCH may apply toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree program comprised of more than 45 SCH (Master’s, Specialist or Doctoral degree.)
  • Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
  • No undergraduate-level course may count toward a graduate degree.
  • Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Academic components may set higher requirements for their program.
  • 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.
  • Prior to applying to an accelerated degree program, students must have completed a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at Texas Woman's University.

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.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120  

Major: 42 SCH  Minor required: 18 SCH

Program Code: ENGLISH.BA.LIT.ACC  CIP Code: 23.0101.00

 

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major 

English Core (All tracks)
ENG 3113Introduction to English Studies3
ENG 3033Introduction to the Study of World Literature3
ENG 3203Advanced Grammar and Composition (Requires a grade of "B" or better for certification majors.)3
Genre Studies (Select two of the following)6
Drama
Fiction
Poetry
Film and Literature
Genre Studies
Linguistics3
Introduction to Linguistics
Surveys (Select three of the following)9
British Literature to 1760
British Literature from 1760 to Present
American Literature: Colonial through Romantic
American Literature: Realism to the Present
Graduate Literature Elective (Select one of the following)3
Studies in American Literature
Studies in British Literature to 1760
Studies in British Literature after 1760
Genre Studies
Graduate Diverse Perspectives Elective (Select one of the following)3
Studies in World Literature
Studies in Ethnic, Multicultural, and Cross Cultural Literature
Studies in Literature by Women
Studies in Folklore
Other Requirements
ENG 4463Literary Theory and Criticism3
ENG 5103Introduction to Graduate Studies in English3
ENG 5083Bibliography and Research Methods3
Total SCHs42

Departmental Requirements

Languages Other Than English (LOTE): at least four courses. Options: 12 SCH in one LOTE, 6 SCH/6 SCH in two LOTEs (including ASL), or 9 SCH in one spoken LOTE/3 SCH in ASL.12
Minor (note: if Spanish is chosen as a minor, additional SCH may be required to reach the 120 total SCH requirement)18
Elective3
SPCH 1013Oral Communication3
English Exit Portfolio. All students pursuing a B.A. in English will submit an exit portfolio and portfolio self-assessment during their last semester of course work. This is a degree requirement that students must complete in order to graduate.
Total SCHs36

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher while in the Accelerated B.A./M.A. program.

Recommended Plan of Study for the Accelerated B.A./M.A. in English (Literature)

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
SPCH 1013Oral Communication SPCH 13113
Life/Physical Science Core3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
Creative Arts Core3
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
Multi-Cultural Women's Studies Core3
Life/Physical Science Core3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core3
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
ENG 3113Introduction to English Studies 3
Foreign Language I3
Mathematics Core3
ENG 3203Advanced Grammar and Composition 3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
Wellnes CAO Core2
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
Foreign Language II3
ENG 3363Introduction to Linguistics 3
Genre Course (Select 3 SCH)3
Drama  
Fiction  
Poetry  
Film and Literature  
Survey (Select 3 SCH)3
British Literature to 1760  
British Literature from 1760 to Present  
American Literature: Colonial through Romantic  
American Literature: Realism to the Present  
Social and Behavioral Sciences Core3
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
Foreign Language III3
ENG 3033Introduction to the Study of World Literature 3
Survey (Select 3 SCH)3
British Literature to 1760  
British Literature from 1760 to Present  
American Literature: Colonial through Romantic  
American Literature: Realism to the Present  
Genre Course (Select 3 SCH)3
Drama  
Fiction  
Poetry  
Film and Literature  
Minor3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
Foreign Language IV3
Minor3
Survey (Select 3 SCH)3
British Literature to 1760  
British Literature from 1760 to Present  
American Literature: Colonial through Romantic  
American Literature: Realism to the Present  
Elective (3000 or 4000 level ENG course)3
ENG 5083Bibliography and Research Methods 3
 SCHs 15
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
ENG 5103Introduction to Graduate Studies in English 3
Graduate Literature Elective (Choose one 5000 level ENG Literature course)3
Minor3
Minor3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ENG 4463Literary Theory and Criticism 3
Graduate Diverse Perspectives Elective (Choose one 5000 level ENG Diverse Perspectives course)3
Minor3
Minor3
 SCHs 12
 Total SCHs:  120