Master of Arts

Students completing the English with the TESL option program should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the theory and practice of teaching English as a second language.
2. Generate writing that demonstrates an advanced ability to analyze and synthesize.
3. Conduct original research.

Students who complete the English program should be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of significant American and British literary works.
2. Generate writing that demonstrates an advanced ability to analyze and synthesize.
3. Conduct original research.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of critical approaches.

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the MA degree program in English if they meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet the grade point requirement specified for unconditional admission may be admitted conditionally to enroll for a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours. If a student was admitted conditionally based on grade point average, the condition will be met if upon completion of twelve (12) semester hours a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better is achieved.

Academic Advisors

The Head of the English Department will assign a faculty advisor to each student admitted to the MA degree program. The advisor will assist the student in the design of a curriculum of study that leads to the fulfillment of degree requirements. Subsequently, the academic advisor and the Graduate College monitor the student's progress. It remains, however, the student's responsibility to understand and to satisfy all degree requirements.

Degree Requirements for English

1. The completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate course work, at least 15 semester hours at the 6000 level.
2. Satisfactory completion of ENGL 6003 Introduction to English Graduate Study Introduction to English Graduate Study.
3. The satisfactory completion of 27 semester hours of graduate English electives (non-thesis option), or 21 semester hours and six (6) hours of ENGL 6991 Thesis Research-6 Thesis Research or ENGL 6996 Thesis Research Thesis Research (thesis option).
4. The satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination based on the MA in English Examination Reading List.
5. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
6. The completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate course work in residence at Arkansas Tech University. Full-time residence is not required.
7. The completion of all degree requirements within six (6) years of admission.

Degree Requirements for English with TESL Option

1. The MA with TESL option requires 30 semester hours with at least 15 semester hours at the 6000 level.
2. The satisfactory completion of the following graduate English courses
   
   ENGL 5023 Second Language Acquisition
   ENGL 5703 Teaching English as a Second Language
   ENGL 5713 ESL Assessment
   ENGL 5723 Teaching People of Other Cultures
   ENGL 6003 Introduction to English Graduate Study
   ENGL 6013 Modern English Grammar and Usage
   ENGL 6023 Composition Theory and Practice.
   
   
3. The satisfactory completion of nine (9) semester hours of graduate English or TESL electives.
4. The satisfactory completion of an examination based on three (3) ENGL-prefixed or TESL-prefixed courses selected by the student.
5. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
6. The completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate course work in residence at Arkansas Tech University. Full-time residence is not required.
7. The completion of all degree requirements within six (6) years of admission to the program.

Master's Thesis Option

Students who elect the thesis option will work with a faculty advisor to prepare a thesis plan. After this thesis plan is approved by the Head of the Department of English and the Graduate College Dean, the student may enroll for thesis credit. Students may complete their theses over two semesters by enrolling twice in ENGL 6993 Thesis Research Thesis Research or complete their theses in a single semester while enrolled in ENGL 6996 Thesis Research.

Degree Works

Degree Works is a software tool utilized by Arkansas Tech University designed to detail academic progression. It allows both students and advisors to monitor course progress towards degree completion and clearly indicates which course requirements have been met as well as how courses transfer into a program. Transfer courses must be approved through the use of a substitution/waiver form available via the Registrar for progress to display correctly within Degree Works. 

Degree Works will display course progression based on the current program of study, but a "what-if" scenario can be generated for any program to see how progression looks with the courses currently completed and in progress. Note that if you have applied to and been admitted to a graduate program while still finishing your undergraduate program, Degree Works will show your new program of study in the graduate program and you would have to generate a "what-if" query to see your undergraduate degree progress.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an Application for Graduation online or at the Graduate College.  Students must apply for graduation upon completion of fifteen (15) graduate credit hours.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must, in advance of enrollment, obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.