MAA Written Communication Option
From MWSU Graduate School Policy Portal
Contents |
Accuracy of Information
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the Registrar is the authoritative source for this information. Please contact the Registrar or the director of the program with any questions.
Program of Study Forms
Please consult the Registrar's Web Page for Current Program of Study Forms. Students are required to complete a Program of Study Form during their first semester as a degree seeking graduate student. Without a Program of Study form on file, graduate courses may not count towards your degree.
Primary Contact
| Dr. Kaye Adkins |
| Phone: 816-271-5967 |
| EMail: kadkins@missouriwestern.edu |
| Web Site: www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/graduate.asp |
| You can also contact the Graduate Dean for more information |
Overview
The Writing Studies option was developed for educators who want a Masters degree that gives them strength in writing as a content area and for students who are interested in teaching writing at the post-secondary level. Students in the Writing Studies option will improve their understanding of writing theory and pedagogy, as well as improving their preparation to use technology in the teaching of writing. Issues explored in the Writing Studies option include writing and technology, the connections between rhetorical theory and writing pedagogy, and effective writing program administration.
Admission
You must be accepted to both the University Graduate School and the MAA in Written Communication. Please see the section on Admissions Process for more information.
Application materials required for the MAA in Written Communication are:
- Letter of intent that summarizes the skills, experiences, and competencies students can bring to the program. Students should also explain why they are applying to this program, which of the two options (Writing Studies or Technical Communication) the student intends to enroll in, and what their goals are for their work in the program. The letter should also discuss the portfolio materials (see below), explaining the audience, context, and purpose for which they were written.
- Curriculum Vitae or resume.
- Portfolio that includes three writing samples. Students applying for the Writing Studies option should include at least one academic paper. Students applying for the Technical Communication option should include at least one example of workplace writing. Students in both options are encouraged to prepare a portfolio that shows the range and quality of their writing.
- Undergraduate transcript. Students must have an overall undergraduate G.P.A. of at least 3.0.
- GRE scores, general section only. No minimum score will be required, but scores may be used in advising students to address weaknesses in academic preparation.
- Three letters of reference from professors, supervisors, or other suitably qualified personnel. These may sent directly to the address below.
Provisional Admission
Students whose GRE scores have not been received by the institution, but who meet all other admission requirements, will be provisionally admitted. They will be fully admitted if scores are received before the end of their first semester in the program.
Students whose undergraduate G.P.A. does not meet the minimum of 3.0, but who meet all other admission requirements for the program, may be provisionally admitted. Upon successful completion of their first nine hours of graduate study with a G.P.A of 3.0 or higher, students will be fully admitted into the program.
Send application materials for the MAA in Written Communication to this address:
| Department of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism |
| Graduate Admissions |
| Missouri Western State University |
| 4525 Downs Dr. |
| St. Joseph, MO 64507 |
Curriculum
Master of Applied Arts Core (22 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| AIM 505 | Converging Media Theory and Practice | 3 |
| MAT 609 | Technical Analysis for Decision Making | 4 |
| OR ENG 609 | Qualitative Research Theories and Methods | 3 |
| COM 501 | Professional and Organizational Communication | 3 |
| OR MGT 503 | Organizational Theory | 3 |
| ENG 520 | History and Theory of Rhetoric | 3 |
| EPR 620 | Proposal and Grant Writing | 3 |
| ENG 695 or ETC 695 | Thesis | 6 |
WRITING STUDIES OPTION (12 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
| END/EDU 512 | Teaching Writing With Technology | 3 |
| ENG 664 | Composition Theory and Pedagogy | 3 |
| Electives | 6 credits required | |
| Eng/EDU 501 | Topics in Teaching Writing | 1-2 |
| END/EDU 502 | Professional Learning Community | 1-2 |
| ENG 540 | Writing for Management and Supervision | 3 |
| ENG 567 | Grammar and the Teaching of Grammar | 3 |
| ENG 573 | History of the English Language | 3 |
| 500-level | Literature course | 3 |
| ENG 601 | Practicum in the Teaching of College Writing | 3 |
| ENG/EDU 610 | Prairie Lands Writing Project Invitation Institute | 6 |
| ENG/EDU 612 | Seminar in Professional Writing for Teachers | 3 |
