Master of Arts Non-Thesis Option
The MA non-thesis option is available to students in literature, rhetoric, linguistics, and comparative literature.
30 hour program: 27 coursework and 3 hours of Applied Project (ENG 593 or LIN 593)
Faculty Committee: Applied Project Director (Chair) and one additional member is required on the iPOS (participation of this additional member in the project is optional, but required for the iPOS).
Registration: Students will fill out the Independent Study Form for ENG/LIN 593. The Applied Project Director (Chair) will sign the form (or if they are unable to sign the form, their email approval serves as the signature) and students will email the complete form to englishadvising@asu.edu. Our front office staff will process the form and give the student access to register. Note: the default is one credit hour so students will need to ensure they register for three credit hours.
Please note that the Department Chair serves as a placeholder on all independent study courses and should not be contacted about the project. Students should only contact their Applied Project Director about registering and to discuss the specifics of the project/timeline of completion.
Note: A Capstone Project is the culminating experience required for the MTESOL, MTESOL Online and MA English (English Studies) Online programs.
Applied Project Options:
If students choose this option, they will register for Applied Project in the last semester of their studies. Students who choose this option will produce a project under the supervision of an Applied Project Director and present their work at the end of the semester to the public at an oral presentation in a conference format along with other students who have chosen this non-thesis option. Students will choose an Applied Project Director to work with on one of the following projects:
1) Research Paper. Under this option, the student will work with the Applied Project Director to write a scholarly paper of article length (approximately 7,000-10,000 words).
2) Curriculum Design. Under this option, the student will work with the Applied Project Director to design a course for a specific instructional context. It will include an overview of the course, a detailed description of each component of the course, a sample syllabus, sample teaching materials and a relevant bibliography.
3) Professional Portfolio. Under this option, the student will work with the Applied Project Director to develop a portfolio to document his or her professional credentials, experiences and achievements in ways that are appropriate for their professional goals. In addition to a selection of papers (approximately 3 unrevised papers) written during the student's course of MA studies, the content of the portfolio must include a teaching philosophy statement taking into account current theories of pedagogy in field of specialization (approximately 7,000 words); or, a review essay plus an annotated bibliography of a topic within field of specialization; the essay should contain an overview of the topic and summarize current trends in research, scholarship, and/or pedagogy (approximately 7,000 words).
One additional committee member is required on the Plan of Study (iPOS). Only the chair is required to direct the project. The member's participation in the project is optional.
Final Examination
Applied Projects can be held in one of three ways:
- Zoom defense: Set up a Zoom link for a public defense that can be announced. If you choose this option please send Samantha.franze@asu.edu your project title, name of the committee chair, Zoom link, date and time, and a brief description of the project, which will be used for the announcement to the department. The defense information should be in the body of the email
- In-Person Defense: Reserve a room in RBHL for a public defense that can be announced. If you choose this option please send Samantha.franze@asu.edu your project title, name of the committee chair, room, date and time, and a brief description of the project , which will be used for the announcement to the department. The defense information should be in the body of the email.
- Defend the project one-on-one with your committee chair.
The mode of your Applied Project defense must be approved by your committee chair. Please discuss these options with your Applied Project chair to decide on the best option for you and your project.
Students defending applied projects do NOT need to abide by Graduate College’s format approval, scheduling deadlines, or ProQuest submission. Simply apply for graduation by the deadline. The grade for ENG/LIN 593 or ENG 597 (Capstone) must be a B or better for the degree to post. No other paperwork is necessary.
If you have any questions about applied projects, please your advisor or enggrad@asu.edu