Graduate Progam Information:
Marnie Leonard (970) 491-2403 Marnie.Leonard@colostate.edu
Graduate Study
M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition
The M.A. in English with a specialization in rhetoric and composition allows students to pursue the study of writing and writing instruction, including:
- the theory and practice of writing and writing instruction
- the roles writing plays in public and private contexts
- the composing processes used by writers in varying contexts and for particular purposes
- the social, cultural, and historical forces shaping writing and writing instruction
- the impact of technology on writing and writing instruction
Students pursuing the M.A. in English with a specialization in rhetoric and composition at Colorado State University can draw on a wide range of resources:
- a nationally recognized faculty with expertise in the history, practice, and theory of writing and writing instruction
- course offerings within the department covering key issues in the field
- courses offered in related departments, such as Speech Communication and Journalism and Technical Communication
- a nationally recognized program for preparing graduate students to teach writing
- a strong commitment to innovative uses of technology to support writers and teachers of writing, including a dedicated computer lab for graduate students, two computer-supported writing classrooms, and resources available through the University's Writing Center Web site (http://writing.colostate.edu)
- the opportunity to participate in funded research conducted through the University's Center for Research on Writing and Communication Technologies
- a well supported internship program that allows students to work on projects inside or outside the University, including internships in writing centers, composition administration, Web development, professional and technical writing, and teaching, among others
- opportunities to work on print and online publications, including the Freestone, the department's alumni magazine, the Nieve Roja Review (http://nieveroja.colostate.edu/), the department's online literary magazine, and academic.writing (http://aw.colostate.edu), an academic journal offering interdisciplinary perspectives on communication across the curriculum
Teaching Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Most assistantships begin in the fall semester. Please apply by January 15th for full consideration.
Requirements for Degree
- Completion of Plan A (32 semester credits, including six credits of thesis) or Plan B (34 semester credits, including two credits of independent study)
- Completion of the required core courses listed below
- Completion of the Rhetoric and Composition Colloquium
- Oral defense of a thesis or independent study project
- View Advising Checksheet
Course of Study
- E501 Theories of Writing
- E600 Research Methods and Theory or another approved research methods course
- One additional course in writing theory (select from focused area of study list below)
- One course in historical backgrounds of writing (select from the following: Histories of Writing Theory; SP503: Transformations in Rhetorical Theory, or SP601: Ancient and Medieval Rhetoric)
- Three courses in a focused area of study (see below), selected in consultation with the advisor.
- E692 Rhetoric and Composition Seminar (taken in successive spring semesters for a total of 2 semester credits)
- E695 Independent Study Project (two credits are required) or E699 Thesis (six credits are required; no more than six credits can count toward the degree)
Focused Area of Study
Students will take at least three courses (nine semester credits) in a focused area of study. Students will work with their advisor to define their focused area of study and to determine appropriate coursework. The theory and history courses may be included in the focused area of study. Typical areas of study include:
- The Teaching of Writing
- Theories of Writing
- Literacy Studies
- Discourse Processes
- Technology and Writing
- Composition Administration and Curriculum Development
Available Courses
Students in the program can choose from among the following courses inside and outside the department. Students may select additional courses in consultation with their program advisors. Up to 9 credits of coursework may be taken outside the department of English. (Please note that all courses listed below may not be offered during a given two-year period.)
- E501 Theories of Writing
- E502 Literacy, Language, and Learning
- E504 Descriptive Linguistics
- E507 Genre Analysis
- E522 Linguistic Semantics, Pragmatics and Discourse
- E526 Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language
- E600 Research Methods and Theory
- E603 Computers and Writing
- E605 Reading/Writing Connections
- E615 Reading Literature - Recent Theories
- E632 Professional Concerns in English
- E633A: Variable Topics include Technology and Culture (proposed), Cultural Studies and the Teaching of Writing, Complexity Theory and Writing Theory, Writing and Difference, Cultural Studies, Theories of Literacy (proposed), The Politics of Literacy (proposed), Theory and Practice of Writing Across the Curriculum (proposed)
- E633B Gender and Writing
- E633D Variable Topics include Online Support for Writing Centers and Writing Across the Curriculum (proposed), Reading and Writing Online Texts, Teaching Writing for the Professions
- E635 Theory and Practice of Composition Administration (Proposed Number Change from E687 Composition Administration)
- E640C Literary Nonfiction Workshop
- E641 Writing Nonfiction: Variable Topics (past courses include Histories, Nature Writing, Fiction/Nonfiction Boundaries, Creative Science Writing)
- E642 Writing Hypertexts
- E684 Supervised College Teaching
- E687 Internship: Variable Topics, including Literacy Tutoring, Writing Centers, Literary Editing (Colorado Review, Freestone, Nieve Roja Review, Academic.Writing, WAC Clearinghouse Books Series), Web Design
- E692 Rhetoric and Composition Seminar
- JT 513 Impacts of New Communication Technologies
- JT 660 Communication in Technology Transfer
- JT 661 Information Design
- JT 662 Communicating Science and Technology
- SP 503 Transformations in Rhetorical Theory
- SP 505 Ethnography of Communication
- SP 512 Rhetorical Criticism
- SP 523 Feminist Theories of Discourse
- SP 527 Communication in Organizations
- SP 530 Communication Research Methods
- SP 620 Communication Theory
- SP 623 Contemporary Theories of Discourse
- SP 646 Theories of Mediated Communication
For information about course offerings and registration procedures for the upcoming semester or summer session, please view the Rambler, the Department's student newsletter.
Teaching Assistantships - are available on a competitive basis for those applying to enter in the fall semester.
For information about course offerings and registration procedures for the upcoming semester or summer session, please view the Rambler, the Department's student newsletter.
This information is not intended to replace your advisor or the information in the CSU General Catalog, the Class Schedule, or the Department Checksheets.
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