Accelerated BA English (Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies) to MA English (Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies track)
English offers an accelerated degree program in Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies, often referred to as 4+1. The 4+1 program provides motivated undergraduate students in the Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies concentration the flexibility to begin taking classes toward their Master's degree in English with a track in Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies during their undergraduate degree program.
The MA Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies program emphasizes rhetorical strategies of oral, written, material, and digital texts through classical and contemporary theories, methods, and contexts.
For more information:
Accelerated Program Coordinator: Samantha Franze
Undergraduate Advisor
Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies Program Director: Mark Hannah
The Accelerated Program Pre-Application form requires the following steps (junior year - second semester):
- Meet with your undergraduate academic advisor to express your interest and verify that you meet the following criteria: Be a BA English (writing, rhetorics and literacies) major, with 75 credit hours*, a 3.5 GPA in the major, and a 3.0 GPA overall.
- Fill out the Accelerated Program Pre-Application form found on the Department Forms webpage and email it to the Accelerated Program Coordinator. You will need your undergraduate advisor's signature on the form.
- You will be notified when you have been marked in the system as a "Candidate" to the accelerated program.
- Complete and return the signed 4+1 Agreement Form to the Accelerated Program Coordinator before courses begin.
Accelerated Program Pre-Application form is due by May 1 for fall and December 1 for spring.
Graduate Applications require the following steps (senior year - first semester):
- In the first semester taking shared courses for the accelerated program, you will complete a graduate application to the MA English (Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies track) program. Such an application requires students to submit an online application to Graduate Admissions (https://webapp4.asu.edu/dgsadmissions/Index.jsp) along with the following documents:
- A one-page, single-spaced statement of purpose. This document should explain how the ASU MA English (Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies track) program fits with the applicant's long-term goals.
- A resume.
- An academic writing sample relevant to the field.
- Two letters of recommendation with at least one from a WRL faculty member the applicant took an upper division undergraduate course with (300 or 400 level).
- Note: apply for the semester you plan to begin the graduate program (the semester after your proposed undergraduate graduation semester).
- The Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies admissions committee will review your file and let you know whether you have been admitted to the accelerated program shortly after the submission deadline.
**Please note that 4+1 applicants must maintain the required GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall when applying to the graduate program**
The graduate application for the MA program must be submitted by October 1 for fall (the graduate applications for the following fall opens on September 1) and March 1 for spring (the graduate applications for the following spring opens on February 1).
*90 credits MUST be completed by the beginning of the accelerated program (first semester of senior year).
International Students:
Proof of English Proficiency is required for our Master’s programs and can be satisfied in one of two ways:
- At least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- One of the following results on a standardized English proficiency test: (a) 100 (iBT) or 600 (PBT) or higher on the TOEFL; (b) 7.0 or higher on the IELTS. The MTESOL program will also accept a 68 or higher on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA).
I-20
It is important to remember that once you graduate from the undergraduate program and begin the graduate program, you will have to receive a new I-20. Please stay in close contact with the International Students and Scholars Center: 480-727-4776 or issc@asu.edu
Students will complete all requirements for the BA English (writing, rhetorics and literacies concentration) and for the MA English (writing, rhetorics and literacies track) degree. Done separately, these degrees involve a total of 150 credit hours (120 for the BA, then 30 for the MA); however, the accelerated program involves 12 credit hours that are shared between the bachelor's and master's programs, so the total number of credit hours to complete the accelerated program is 138.
Below is a timeline detailing how the program would work from the point of applying to graduation.
| Time | Actions |
| junior year -- second semester | Submit the Accelerated Pre-Application form to become a candidate for the accelerated program. Sign the Agreement Form after becoming a candidate. Meet with an undergraduate advisor and turn in the pre-application and agreement form to the Accelerated Program Coordinator. |
| senior year -- first semester | Apply by the deadline for the graduate program by submitting a graduate application (see the "Admission" tab for further information). Take the following courses: 1. ENG 501 Approaches to Research: Rhetoric & Composition or ENG 552 Composition Studies (3cr.)- students must receive an override from their undergraduate advisor Meet with an undergraduate advisor and the Accelerated Program Coordinator. The shared ENG 400 level elective must be approved by the Accelerated Program Coordinator. Note: The courses in bold are credit hours that will be shared between the bachelor's and master's programs. |
| senior year -- second semester | If admitted to the graduate program, continue to take the shared courses for the accelerated program. Take the following courses: 1. ENG 501 Approaches to Research: Rhetoric & Composition or ENG 552 Composition Studies (3cr.) - students must receive an override from their undergraduate advisor Meet with an undergraduate advisor and the Accelerated Program Coordinator. The shared ENG 400 level elective must be approved by the Accelerated Program Coordinator. Note: The courses in bold are credit hours that will be shared between the bachelor's and master's programs. |
| MA WRL -- first semester | Take the following courses: 1. ENG 651 Advanced Studies in History and Theories of Rhetoric, ENG 652 Advanced Composition Studies, or ENG 654 Advanced Studies in Rhetoric, Writing, Technology, and Culture (3cr.) or an approved equivalent Meet with the Accelerated Program Coordinator. *If students use a 500-level language course to fulfill the Foreign Language requirement, it can satisfy the elective. |
| MA WRL -- second semester | Take the following courses: 1. ENG 655 Disciplinary Discourses or ENG 656 Studies in Cross-Cultural Discourse or an approved equivalent Meet with the Accelerated Program Coordinator. |
To begin taking coursework for the accelerated program, students must have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours towards their BA. Please note that only six credit hours of 400-level coursework can be applied to the Master’s degree program.
MA students must also demonstrate or provide evidence of competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English to satisfy the Language Requirement.
Important Notice to Current International Students: In order for international students to maintain good standing for their VISAs, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester (i.e., 3 classes), 6 of which should be face-to-face classes.