M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition - Admission to the Program

The Admissions Committee will consider several factors when determining admission eligibility into the Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition program, including the candidate’s:

• Experience and interest in the field
• Proven academic ability
• Demonstration of skills necessary to complete the program successfully
• Ability to contribute to the fields of rhetoric and composition pedagogy upon completion of the program

Applicants to the program must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university
• A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in prior undergraduate and graduate coursework
• Proficiency in English (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language) provided by an adequate TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) minimum score of 550 with section scores of 50 or higher

Applicants who do not meet the full requirements above may be given conditional admission to the program if their other application materials provide good evidence that they will be successful in the program.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete and submit all of the following items in order to be considered for admission. Resumes, personal statements, and writing samples can be uploaded through the applicant portal, emailed to gradadmissions@uhd.edu, or mailed to:

• Submit an application
• Pay the $35 application fee
• Request/submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended to the email or mailing address above (including community college work and prior graduate work).
• Provide a personal statement of approximately 500 words that addresses some or all of the following questions in detail. Support your views with reasons and examples drawn from such areas as your reading, experience, observations, or academic studies. Be sure to develop your ideas fully and organize them coherently:
  • Why do you want to study rhetoric and composition?
  • What topics or issues in our field might you want to study further and why?
  • What qualifies you to embark upon this field of study?
  • What experience do you have in this field?
  • How do you plan to use your degree?
• Provide a 10–15-page academic writing sample. (We ask that you compose a researched, argument-driven academic essay on a topic of general interest using a generally recognized academic style sheet for references (MLA, APA, or Chicago).
• Provide the names and email contact information for two recommenders application.
  • Your recommenders/references should be individuals with knowledge of your work and who are able to address your academic potential such as former professors, work supervisors, or professional colleagues.
  • Your recommenders will be contacted and provide their recommendations directly into the application system. Please make sure you have accurate email addresses for both recommenders.
• Provide TOEFL scores of 550 with section scores of 50 or higher (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language).

Transferring Coursework

The Program Director may approve up to 6 hours of coursework to be transferred into the program from another institution. Students must have earned a grade of B or above in a course to qualify for transfer credit. Fill out the Graduate Transfer Credit Petition form (pdf) to make a transfer credit request.