Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Rhetoric, Scientific and Technical Communication M.A.Writing Studies Department
College of Liberal Arts
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Writing Studies, 214 Nolte Center, 315 Pillsbury Drive, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-4761; fax: 612-624-3617)
Email:
writgpc@umn.edu
Website: http://cla.umn.edu/writing-studies
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The Department of Writing Studies trains students to understand how people use written communication (textual, digital, and visual) to shape the world around them, with a particular emphasis on communication in scientific and technical areas. The MA program prepares students for doctoral-level research by training them in the areas of rhetorical theory and history; writing studies and pedagogy; and technical communication, technology, and culture. Students build a broad base of knowledge in these three areas while developing a speciality area and pursuing interdisciplinary study.
MA applicants should have a strong interest in language and rhetorical theory or communication theory. Students often benefit from entering the program with a background in a science, Internet studies, environmental studies, or pedagogy and technology. Students work in collaboration with faculty mentors and peers to develop the expertise required to make original contributions to the scholarship in their field. The curriculum, professional development training, and funding are structured to support students in making early and regular contributions to the published literature, and in teaching first-year writing and advanced writing courses at the college level.
Each student also develops a supporting field or minor by taking courses outside the department. Students often build expertise in such areas as communication studies; curriculum and instruction; history of science and technology; history of medicine; or gender, women's and sexuality studies.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
Undergraduate degree in a related discipline such as rhetoric, technical and professional communication, English, or communication studies.
Special Application Requirements:
Nonnative speakers of English are required to take an appropriate test with satisfactory scores. All applicants must submit a departmental supplemental application, personal statement, curriculum vitae or resume, three letters of recommendation and two writing samples. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to submit a diversity statement and, if appropriate, an extenuating circumstances statement. All MA applicants should apply by the January 5 application deadline; all admitted students begin in the fall semester.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan B: Plan B requires
28
major credits and
6
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project:The Plan B project requires students to complete a publication-worthy research paper under their advisor’s supervision.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 3.00
is required for students to remain in good standing.
Coursework offered on both the A-F and S/N grading basis must be taken A-F, with a minimum grade of B earned for each course.
Required Core Area (12 credits)
Select a total of 12 credits from the following 3 categories:
Rhetoric (3 to 6 credits)
Select at least 3 credits from the following in consultation with the advisor:
WRIT 5775 - Rhetorical Traditions: Classical Period
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5776 - The Rhetorical Traditions: Modern Era
(3.0 cr)
Writing Studes Specialty Area (6 credits)
Courses should be selected to develop a coherent specialty area/concentration. Specialties include areas such as rhetoric, literacies, professional and technical communication, internet studies, theories of writing, writing pedagogies, rhetorics of science, medicine, or law, and the environment.
WRIT 5112 - Information Design: Theory and Practice
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5501 - Usability and Human Factors in Technical Communication
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5561 - Editing and Style for Technical Communicators
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5662 - Writing With Digital Technologies
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5664 - Science, Medical, and Health Writing
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5671 - Visual Rhetoric
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5775 - Rhetorical Traditions: Classical Period
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 5776 - The Rhetorical Traditions: Modern Era
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8505 - Professional Practice
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8510 - Seminar in Rhetoric
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8520 - Seminar in Scientific and Technical Communication
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8540 - Seminar in Technical Communication and Composition Pedagogies
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8550 - Seminar in Technology, Culture, and Communication
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8560 - Seminar in Writing Studies
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 8792 - Independent Study, Reading, and Research
(1.0-4.0 cr)
Outside Coursework (6 credits)
Select 6 credits outside the Department of Writing Studies in consultation with the advisor. Other courses can be applied to this requirement with advisor approval.
AMST 8202 - Theoretical Foundations and Current Practice in American Studies
(3.0 cr)
BTHX 5300 - Foundations of Bioethics
(3.0 cr)
BTHX 8xxx
CI 5xxx
CI 8xxx
COMM 5xxx
COMM 8xxx
ENGL 5xxx
ENGL 8xxx
GWSS 5xxx
GWSS 8xxx
HMED 5xxx
HMED 8xxx
HSCI 5xxx
HSCI 8xxx
IDSC 6xxx
IDSC 8xxx
OLPD 5xxx
OLPD 8xxx
PUBH 6414 - Biostatistical Literacy
(3.0 cr)
STAT 5021 - Statistical Analysis
(4.0 cr)
Plan B Project Credits (3 credits)
Take 3 credits of the following in consultation with the advisor:
WRIT 8794 - Directed Research
(1.0-4.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5611/Writ 5776 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 4501/Writ 5501 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 4662W/Writ 5662 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5611/Writ 5776 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |