Writing Studies [M.A.]

Location(s): Online

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This program prepares students for careers in professional writing, editing, publishing, or teaching writing at the elementary, secondary, or community college levels. It also provides thorough preparation for Ph.D. studies in rhetoric and composition.

Applicants may combine academic and professional experience in support of their application.

Program Admission

Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Fall or Winter. See Application Deadlines.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants not meeting minimum admission requirements.

Program Requirements

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements. Requirements may be more stringent than the minimum graduate school requirements.

A personal statement (we recommend that these statements be 1 to 2 pages in length)
An academic writing sample (preferably something related to your intended concentration in either the Teaching of Writing or Professional Communication)
Two letters of recommendation

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions and select the appropriate application.

- Go to 2023-2024 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Winter 2025.

- Go to 2024-2025 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026.

Domestic Applicants Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript from all previously attended institutions.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

Department Information

English Language & Literature 612 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.4220

Joseph Csicsila, PhD, Department Head

Eric Acton, PhD, Graduate Coordinator

Advisor Information

Cheryl Cassidy, PhD, Program Coordinator, 614 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.0995

Degree Requirements: 30-32 hours

Required Core: 9 hours

Concentration: 12-14 hours

Choose one of the following concentrations.

Teaching and Writing Concentration: 12-14 hours

Required Courses: 3-5 hours

Choose one course from the following. The course not selected may be used to satisfy the restricted elective requirement.
ENGL 675 Eastern Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute 5 hrs
WRTG 514 Issues in Teaching Writing 3 hrs
Restricted Electives: 9 hours

Choose a minimum of nine hours from above, not already taken, or from the following:
ENGL 530 Issues in English Studies for Teachers 3 hrs
ENGL 675 Eastern Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute 5 hrs
WRTG 503 Rhetorical Theory and the Teaching of Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 505 Rhetoric of Science and Technology 3 hrs
WRTG 514 Issues in Teaching Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 515 Literacy and Written Literacy Instruction 3 hrs
WRTG 516 Computers and Writing: Theory and Practice 3 hrs
WRTG 517 Topics in the Teaching of Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 518 Rhetoric and the Written Word 3 hrs
WRTG 521 Technical Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 522 Technical Editing 3 hrs
WRTG 523 Writing Computer Documentation 3 hrs
WRTG 524 Advanced Technical Writing and Research 3 hrs
WRTG 525 Advanced Public Relations Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 526 Topics in Technical Communication 3 hrs
WRTG 527 Topics in Professional Communication 3 hrs
WRTG 540 Visual Rhetoric and Information Design 3 hrs
WRTG 544 Writing for the World Wide Web 3 hrs
WRTG 545 Writing Digital Media 3 hrs
WRTG 580 Writing, Teaching, and Public Policy 3 hrs
WRTG 585 Teaching Basic Writing at the College Level 3 hrs
WRTG 596 Teaching Composition on the College Level 3 hrs

Professional Writing Concentration: 12 hours

Required Courses: 3 hours
WRTG 524 Advanced Technical Writing and Research 3 hrs
Restricted Electives: 9 hours

Choose a minimum of nine hours from the following:
ENGL 675 Eastern Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute 5 hrs
WRTG 503 Rhetorical Theory and the Teaching of Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 505 Rhetoric of Science and Technology 3 hrs
WRTG 514 Issues in Teaching Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 515 Literacy and Written Literacy Instruction 3 hrs
WRTG 516 Computers and Writing: Theory and Practice 3 hrs
WRTG 517 Topics in the Teaching of Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 518 Rhetoric and the Written Word 3 hrs
WRTG 521 Technical Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 522 Technical Editing 3 hrs
WRTG 523 Writing Computer Documentation 3 hrs
WRTG 525 Advanced Public Relations Writing 3 hrs
WRTG 526 Topics in Technical Communication 3 hrs
WRTG 527 Topics in Professional Communication 3 hrs
WRTG 540 Visual Rhetoric and Information Design 3 hrs
WRTG 544 Writing for the World Wide Web 3 hrs
WRTG 545 Writing Digital Media 3 hrs
WRTG 580 Writing, Teaching, and Public Policy 3 hrs
WRTG 585 Teaching Basic Writing at the College Level 3 hrs
WRTG 596 Teaching Composition on the College Level 3 hrs

Thesis or Writing Project: 3 hours

Satisfy one of the following:

Thesis:

A candidate completes original research under the supervision of a guidance (thesis) committee. This research must be suitable for publication, written in a form acceptable to the Graduate School, and defended in an oral examination.
WRTG 692 Thesis 3 hrs
Writing Project:
WRTG 693 Master’s Writing Project 3 hrs

Elective Courses: 6 hours

Students may use any graduate-level course to satisfy this requirement.

Students typically select from among courses in writing (WRTG), linguistics (LING), literature (LITR), reading (RDNG), teaching English as a second language (TSLN), communication theory (see advisor for course list), computer science (COSC), measurement and evaluation (see advisor for course list), psychology (PSY), statistics (STAT).

Critical Graduation Information

Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Master’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of first enrollment in the master’s degree program.

In the event a student does not complete the master’s degree requirements within six years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all master’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

A master’s degree must require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
No more than six credits of independent study courses and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined may be applied to a graduate degree.
Residency Requirement:
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- Residency and enrollment in multiple programs: Students enrolled in multiple master’s/specialist degree programs must have 24 unique credit hours in each degree program.
Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
Some master’s programs require a thesis; others require a special project or internship; others require students to pass a final exam. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.