Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in English (Literature)
Website: https://twu.edu/english-speech-foreign-languages/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)
- Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media and technology.
- 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.
- Use effective research strategies to inform argument-driven projects.
M.A. in English
- Effectively gather, interpret, and evaluate information from multiple sources.
- Systematically interpret, evaluate, and critique language within various socially significant contexts.
- Compose clear communication in a variety of rhetorically significant genres and modes.
- Create compelling evidence-based arguments with supportive details.
Admissions
Program Coordinator
Dr. Ashley Bender
940-898-2334
abender@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.
- Complete the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in English online application.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| English Core (All tracks) | ||
| ENG 3113 | Introduction to English Studies | 3 |
| ENG 3033 | Introduction to the Study of World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 3203 | Advanced 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 | ||
| Linguistics | 3 | |
| 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 4463 | Literary Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| ENG 5103 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in English | 3 |
| ENG 5083 | Bibliography and Research Methods | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| 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 SCHs | 36 | |
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | SPCH 1311 | 3 |
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| Multi-Cultural Women's Studies Core | 3 | ||
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ENG 3113 | Introduction to English Studies | 3 | |
| Foreign Language I | 3 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| ENG 3203 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 3 | |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Wellnes CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| Foreign Language II | 3 | ||
| ENG 3363 | Introduction 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 Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| Foreign Language III | 3 | ||
| ENG 3033 | Introduction 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 | |||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| Foreign Language IV | 3 | ||
| Minor | 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 | |||
| Elective (3000 or 4000 level ENG course) | 3 | ||
| ENG 5083 | Bibliography and Research Methods | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| ENG 5103 | Introduction to Graduate Studies in English | 3 | |
| Graduate Literature Elective (Choose one 5000 level ENG Literature course) | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 4463 | Literary Theory and Criticism | 3 | |
| Graduate Diverse Perspectives Elective (Choose one 5000 level ENG Diverse Perspectives course) | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| Minor | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
