2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Professional Writing BA/MA 4+1 [PWRT]


The five-year program in English allows students in the Professional Writing major to complete the requirements of two degrees in five years. With one additional year of coursework, students in the program graduate with a Master's in English.

Application Requirements

Students apply to the five-year program in their third year, or in the semester prior to their final year of coursework.

To apply to the program, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Junior standing or above in the PWR major
  2. Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  3. Overall GPA of 3.0 in PWR major

Advancement to the MA

All program requirements for the PWR major and the undergraduate degree must be completed to advance to the fifth year in the MA program.

Cost

500-level courses taken in the fourth year will be paid for at the cost of undergraduate tuition. Courses in the fifth year will be paid for at the cost of graduate tuition.

Restrictions

500-level courses taken for the five-year program cannot count toward requirements for the undergraduate PWR major. (No "double dipping" program requirements).

Up to 12 credits of 500-level courses taken for the five-year program may count towards toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Students in the Adolescence English Education (AEN) program may not apply for the five-year program because it is not possible to complete the required BA/MA coursework alongside the required AEN coursework, including student teaching, during the senior year.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Professional Writing BA program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate rhetorical awareness of genre, audience, purpose, and context.
  2. Structure and focus writing based on feedback and visibility of their work in online environments, publishing, workshops, or other venues inside or outside of the classroom.
  3. Evaluate and design documents and pieces for a specific audience and context.
  4. Create an original combination of content, design, and genre.

Upon successful completion of the English MA program, students will be able to:

  1. Investigate key literary and cultural texts, contexts, archives, and critical debates within English
  2. Demonstrate a mastery of interpretation, reading, writing, and communication
  3. Develop and compose a Master's thesis within the discipline of English Studies 

Career Potential

When you successfully complete the MA in English at SUNY Cortland, you will be well prepared to move into a range of exciting careers in business, marketing, law, politics, education, nonprofit organizations, and the arts. You will also be prepared to pursue a Ph.D. in areas such as Literature, Rhetoric, Composition, Technical Communication, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Undergraduate Requirements


B. PWR Electives: 18 credit hours


At least 18 additional credit hours of elective professional writing courses with at least six credit hours at the 400 level. No more than six credits below the 300 level. 

C. ENG Elective: 3 credit hours


One 300- or 400-level ENG course.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120


Graduate Requirements


C. Required Courses: 4 credit hours


               ENG 510 Critical Methods in English (3 cr. hr.)
               ENG 686 Culminating Thesis Proseminar (1 cr. hr.)
               ENG 687 Culminating Activity: Thesis (0 cr. hr.)

D. Electives: 27 credit hours


Electives must satisfy the following distribution requirements. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be taken at the 600 level (excluding Proseminar). One course may fulfill two distribution requirements. Students may choose to enroll in one non-English elective.

Distribution Requirements:

  • Theory - emphasis on theoretical approaches to literature and/or rhetoric
  • Diversity - emphasis on literary or rhetorical traditions of marginalized groups
  • Pre-1800 - emphasis on instruction in literary or rhetorical topics prior to 1800
  • Writing - emphasis on instruction in writing and/or rhetoric (i.e. not literature)

E. Culminating Thesis


Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 31


Example of the PWR BA/MA


First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Fall


  • (3 cr. hr.)
  • PWR elective (3 cr. hr.)

    Foreign Language (3 cr. hr.)

    GE course (4 cr. hr.)

    GE 7 course (recommend ENG 200 level course) (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 16


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Spring


         PRW 400 level elective (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 300/400 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         GE course (3 cr. hr.)
         Minor/elective (3 cr. hr.)
         Minor/elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fourth Year Spring


         PWR 300 or 400 level elective (3 cr. hr.)
         Minor/elective (3 cr. hr.)
         Minor/elective (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 500 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 500 level course (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Fifth Year Fall


         ENG 686 Culminating Thesis Proseminar (1 cr. hr.)
         ENG 500 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 600 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 600 level course (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 10


Fifth Year Spring


         ENG 687 Culminating Thesis (0 cr. hr.)
         ENG 500 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 600 level course (3 cr. hr.)
         ENG 600 level course (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 9