PROGRAMS

M.A./M.S. in Writing

I. General Information
II. Application Procedure
III. Admission Requirements
IV. Advising
V. Transfer Credit
VI. Financial Assistance
VII. Plans of Study
VIII. Thesis Requirements: Creative and Nonfiction Options
IX. Portfolio Requirements: The Professional/Technical and Book Publishing Options
X. Procedures For Writing A Thesis: Creative and Nonfiction Options
XI. Procedures For Creating a Portfolio: The Professional/Technical Option
XII. Foreign Language Requirement
XIII. Policy on Independent Study
XIV. Advancement to Candidacy: Written Examination
XV. Oral Examination
XVI. Graduate Assistantships
XVII. Other Matters

I. General Information

The Department of English offers graduate work leading to the Master of Arts in Writing and the Master of Science in Writing degrees. The 48-credit MA/MS in Writing is designed for students who are prepared to undertake advanced work in the field. The program provides a range of courses in writing, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, technical, professional, and book publishing. The motives and destinations of the students in the program vary, but the focus on writing to earn a living will attract those who wish to make writing a career.

II. Application Procedure

Students must apply to the University and to the Department of English. Both forms are available from the Department (Department of English, Portland State University, Box 751, Portland, OR 97207; 503-725-3521). The PSU catalogue (Bulletin), available from the University Bookstore, covers the University's GPA stipulations. The University additionally requires an application fee of $50 and a complete set of sealed transcripts. The Department application requires a complete set of transcripts and other material as applicable (see Section III Admission Requirements).

If you would like confirmation that the department received your materials, please include a Self Addressed Stamped Postcard with your application. Please do not call the department regarding the receipt of materials.

Applications for the MA in English and MA in Creative, Poetry, and Nonfiction Writing are accepted for fall term admission only. The application deadline is February 1st.

The MA/MS in Book Publishing and Professional/Technical Writing programs have rolling admissions which follow the University's admission deadlines as follows: April 1st for Fall 2007, Sept. 1st for Winter 2008, Nov. 1st for Spring 2008, Feb. 1st for Summer 2008, April 1st for Fall 2008.

III. Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study is granted on the basis of evidence of suitable preparation and the probability of success in the intended field of study.

Applicants must submit two different application packets. The admissions process will be delayed if packets are incomplete.

One application packet along with a $50 non-refundable fee must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Further instructions and the necessary forms are available from the University.

The Admissions application and fee must be submitted prior to submitting an application to the department. The department will not review a student's files until the University admissions application and fee have been submitted to the Office of Admissions.

A second application packet must be submitted to the Department of English. Students accepted into the Master's program must provide satisfactory evidence of preparedness to undertake advanced work, to include a BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university and the following.

Departmental application form (available from the Department).
One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
3.25 GPA in undergraduate work.
Three letters of recommendation.
One-page personal introduction, including background as a writer, statement of goals, and proposed plan of study.
Typed or word-processed manuscript(s) in the applicant's primary genre(s) or form(s). Previously published, single-authored work will be accepted in the form in which it was originally
Stamped, addressed notification postcard

*Please do not submit these materials in a three-ring binder due to limited storage space. Please do not submit bound materials of any kind, i.e. books or magazines.

*Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required for admission to the M.A. in Writing or the M.S. in Writing program.

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

In creative writing: 15 pages of poetry, 30 pages of fiction, or 30 pages of screenplay, double-spaced as in manuscript form. Work that has been previously published may be included in the published form (e.g., offprints, etc.). Manuscripts should demonstrate mastery of basic craft and unmistakable literary promise.
In nonfiction writing: 30 pages of news features, magazine articles, or creative nonfiction, double-spaced as in manuscript form. Work that has been previously published may be included in the published form (e.g., offprints, etc.). Manuscripts should demonstrate mastery of basic craft and promise of success in nonfiction writing.
In professional/technical writing: 15-30 pages from customary genres, including (but not limited to) descriptions, specifications, computer documentation, proposals, memoranda, formal reports, newsletters, on-line documentation, web pages. Manuscripts should demonstrate mastery of basic craft and promise of success in professional/technical writing.
In book publishing: 15-30 pages of written work demonstrating promise of success in the publications industry. Genres are open. Work that has been previously published may be included in the published form (e.g., offprints, etc.).

Applications not fulfilling the requirements may be reconsidered after the student has met certain conditions (e.g., additional preliminary coursework) as specified by the Chair of the Master's Degree in Writing committee.

IV. Advising

Each student will be assigned an advisor upon admission to the program. Students are urged to contact their advisors for help in planning their programs. The advisor's signature is required on various approval forms that the candidate submits. The advisor is ordinarily the chair of the student's examination committee.

Advisors are knowledgeable, but following department and University rules and regulations is ultimately the student's responsibility. Therefore, students should be familiar with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this guide, as well as with University deadlines and regulations published in the PSU Bulletin or available from the Office of Graduate Studies.

V. Transfer Credit

A maximum of 16 credits of approved graduate transfer credit may be applied to the 48-credit Master's program. Students wishing to transfer credit should file form GO-11, as approved by the advisor, in the Office of Graduate Studies by the end of the first term of enrollment. Transferable credits are graduate credits graded “A” or “B” received from Portland State prior to admission to the graduate program or from another accredited institution.

N.B. The overall time limit for finishing the Master's is seven years. Thus a student who wishes to graduate Spring 2007, for instance, would not be able to count in their 48 credits courses taken before Spring 2000.

VI. Financial Assistance

For graduate students who are Oregon residents, the state sponsors the Oregon Laurels Tuition Remission program for graduate study. Information about the Laurels and other competitive scholarships is available in the PSU Bulletin and from the Office of Graduate Studies. A Department of English nomination is required for three all-university competitions: the Oregon Sports Lottery, the University Club, and the Underrepresented Minority Graduate Student Pipeline scholarships.

The English department is limited in its resources for financial assistance. The department does offer some Graduate Assistantships. A fuller description and application information are provided in Section XVI. The University Studies Program also offers opportunities for Graduate Assistantships. Interested students should contact that program for further information.

VII. Plans of Study

For creative writing and nonfiction writing, the department requires a minimum of 32 graduate credits in writing. For professional/technical writing and book publishing, the department requires a minimum of 28 graduate credits in writing. The remainder of the student's program may, with the approval of the advisor, include coursework in fields related to writing.

In every case, the student's program must be approved by the advisor and the Chair of the Master's in Writing Committee. The student will have a choice of four tracks: creative writing (fiction or poetry), nonfiction writing, professional/technical writing, and book publishing. For students pursuing creative writing and nonfiction writing, the thesis may count for a maximum of 8 credits upon proper registration.

Creative Writing: Students typically will complete 24 core credits (6 courses), 16 elective credits (4 courses), and 8 thesis credits (2 courses).

Core courses include workshops, craft-seminars, and literature courses in the Department of English. Writers are encouraged to supplement their core courses in creative writing with electives from within professional/technical writing, nonfiction writing, or literature. Advisor-approved courses from outside the department may also count as electives. Credits taken while completing the creative thesis must be distributed over two or more terms. A creative thesis will be supervised by one of the creative writers in the department. After completing their workshops, students should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with one of these faculty members. The length of a creative thesis will depend upon its genre and format.

Core Courses (24 credits total: 8 workshops, 8 craft-seminars, 8 literature courses)

Two workshops are required from the list below. In a workshop setting, students read and critique one another's manuscripts while faculty direct discussions and address questions of technique that emerge from the texts.

WR 512 Advanced Fiction Writing (4)
WR 513 Advanced Fiction Writing II (4)
WR 514 Poetry Writing (4)
WR 515 Poetry Writing II (4)
WR 516 Screenwriting (4)
WR 507 Writing Seminar (4) (Topics vary, including, e.g., Genre Fiction: Detective, Mystery, Western, Sci-Fi.)

Two selected craft seminars are required from the list below. These are literary courses for writers and provide a specific focus on Form. Lecture/discussions as well as assigned readings and written assignments are required.

WR 510 Selected Topics in Writing (4). Topics vary, including, e.g., the following:

Form and Theory of Traditional Fiction
Forms of Innovative and Post-Modern Fiction
Forms of Post-Colonial Narrative
Problems in Modern Poetic Form
African-American Poetics
Epic and Narrative Poetry
Theory and Practice of Screenwriting

Two Graduate Literature Courses from the English Department's regular offerings. A student's advisor may approve literature courses from outside the department.

Electives: (16 credits)

Writers are encouraged to supplement their courses in creative writing with offerings from within professional/technical writing, nonfiction writing, or literature. Advisor- approved courses from outside the department may also count as electives.

Thesis: Students typically complete 8 credits distributed over one or more terms.

A creative thesis will be supervised by one of the creative writers in the department. After completing their workshops, students should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with one of these faculty members. The length of a creative thesis will depend upon its genre and format.

Nonfiction writing: Students typically will complete 24 core credits (6 courses), 16 elective credits (4 courses), and 8 thesis credits (2 courses).

Core courses include workshops, craft-seminars, and literature courses in the Department of English. Writers are encouraged to supplement their core courses with electives from within creative writing, professional/technical writing, or literature. Advisor-approved courses from outside the department may also count as electives. Credits taken while completing the nonfiction thesis must be distributed over two or more terms. A nonfiction thesis will be supervised by one of the nonfiction writers in the department. After completing the workshops, a student should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with an appropriate faculty member who has expertise in the genre of the student's choice. The length of the thesis will depend upon its genre and format; with advisor approval, a student can substitute a series of shorter works in place of a book-length thesis. As with the creative writing emphasis, the student's work must be of publishable quality in a professional context.

Core Courses (24 credits: 8 workshops, 8 craft-seminars, 8 literature courses)

Two workshops are required from the list below.

In a workshop setting, students read and critique one another's manuscripts while faculty direct discussions and address questions of technique that emerge from the texts.

WR 552 Writing about Lives: Diaries, Memoirs, Autobiographies, and Biographies
WR 553 Writing about Places: Travel Writing, Nature Writing, Science Writing
WR 554 Writing about Events: Histories and Journalism
WR 555 Writing about Ideas: Essays Philosophical and Religious

Two selected topic seminars are required from the list below.

These are literary courses for writers and provide a specific focus on Form. Lecture/discussions as well as assigned readings and written assignments are required.

WR 510 Selected Craft Seminars in Writing (4). Topics vary, including, e.g., the following:

Form and Theory of the Autobiography
Form and Theory of Expository Prose
Form and Theory of Folklore.
Theory and Practice of Screenwriting
Women and Writing

Two Graduate Literature Courses from the English Department's regular offerings. A student's advisor may approve literature courses from outside the department.

Electives: (16 credits)

Writers are encouraged to supplement their courses in creative writing with offerings from within professional/technical writing, nonfiction writing, or literature. Advisor-approved courses from outside the department may also count as electives.

WR 504 Internship
WR 505 Writing and Conference
WR 530 Desktop Publishing II
WR 510 Selected Topics in Writing (4). Topics vary, including, e.g., the following:

Writing Memoirs
Magazine Writing
Writing from Place: A Practicum in Northwest Literature
Nature Writing
Writing Children's Nonfiction
Reviewing
Biography
Travel Writing
Folklore and Mass Media

WR 520 Writing Process and Response
WR 528 Advanced News Writing

Thesis: 8 credits distributed over one or more terms

After completing the workshops, a student should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with an appropriate faculty member who has expertise in the genre of the student's choice. The length of the thesis will depend upon its genre and format; with advisor approval, a student can substitute a series of shorter works in place of a book-length thesis. As with the creative writing emphasis, the student's work must be of publishable quality in a professional context.

Professional and Technical Writing: Students typically will complete 16 core credits (4 courses), 16 elective credits (4 courses), and 16 credits (4 courses) in a specialization that may involve coursework in another discipline (e.g., Management, Marketing, ISQA).

Students will be required to submit a final project in addition to completing their course work. This project typically will be a portfolio of their work demonstrating competence at a professional level but, with advisor approval, may be a single, substantive work. Note that core courses include Management 550, Organizational Management or an alternate advisor-approved business course, which are offered through the School of Business Administration. Electives include seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. Writers are encouraged to supplement their core courses in professional/technical writing with electives from creative writing, nonfiction writing, or literature. Advisor-approved courses from outside the department may also count as electives.

Note that the MS option does not require students to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. In cases where a student does opt to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, the MA in Writing: Professional and Technical Writing will be awarded.

Core Courses: 16 credits

WR 525 Advanced Technical Writing
WR 526 Document Design
WR 527 Technical Editing
MGMT 550 Organizational Management (may be replaced with an alternate graduate business course with advisor approval)

ELECTIVES: 16 credits

WR 504 Internship (Credit TBA)
WR 505 Writing and Conference (Credit TBA)
WR 507 Writing Seminar (4) (Topics vary, including, e.g., Grant Writing, Technical Documentation and Procedures, Online Writing)
WR 508 Workshop (Credit TBA): (Topics vary, including, e.g., Adobe Acrobat, Java Scripting, Framemaker, Robohelp, Authorware)
WR 510 Selected Topics in Writing (4) (Topics vary, including, e.g., Technical Publications Project Management, Writing for Presentations, Information Technology for Writers, Multimedia for PT Writers, Managing Web Communications, International Aspects of PTW, History of Business and Technical Writing, Legal Issues for Technical Writers, Public Relations Writing in Technical Industries.)
WR 529 Writing Computer Documentation (4)
WR 530 Desktop Publishing (4)

Specialization Tracks: 16 credits

Students who choose a PTW track must take their electives from outside that track. Students will select track courses in consultation with the PTW advisor. Possible specializations include publications management (e.g., Introduction to Book Publishing, Book Editing, Book Design & Production, Book Marketing, Bookselling, Publications Project Management, PT Editing, Workshops in Publication Technologies, Writing Seminars, Selected Topics, Internship), technical communication (e.g., Writing Computer Documentation, Writing for Presentations, Information Technology for Writers, PT Editing, Writing Seminars, Selected Topics, Internship).

Additional specializations outside of professional/technical writing include nonfiction (i.e., four courses from the nonfiction strand chosen in consultation with the PTW advisor) and creative writing (i.e., four courses from the creative writing strand chosen in consultation with the PTW advisor).

Possible specializations outside the field of writing include business administration (management, marketing/public relations), communication (speech), computer science, environmental sciences and resources, and information systems. Students are encouraged to enhance their professional development by specializing in a series of courses that will create advantages in employment opportunities. Students will identify possible specializations in consultation with the PTW advisor and an appropriate advisory from the related discipline.

In consultation with the School of Business Administration, for example, MS advisors have identified the following series of courses that would serve well technical communicators in the workforce:

Marketing 544 Marketing Management
Marketing 548 Product Management & Innovation
Marketing 552 Relationship & Service Marketing
Marketing 555 Technology Marketing
Management 544 Technology Management
Management 545 Managing Technological Innovations
Management 556 Organizational Politics
Management 560 Managerial Responsibility & Public Policy

Book Publishing: Students typically will complete 20 core credits (5 courses), 16 elective credits (4 courses) in writing, and 12 elective credits (3 courses) that may involve coursework in another discipline.

There is no thesis option in the publishing strand. The final project, in addition to completing the coursework, will be a portfolio of work demonstrating competence at a professional level, but with advisor approval, may be a single, substantive work. Upon completion and delivery of the final project or portfolio to the student's orals committee, a topic will be assigned by the student's advisor for a final paper of approximately ten pages to be delivered within 10 days to each member of the committee.

The student will take an oral exam in defense of the final project and final paper. Work included in a portfolio will reflect assignments made in a particular course and appropriate to it — i.e., samples of editorial work, query letters for fiction and nonfiction books, book marketing plans, book design proposals and finished designs, research and writing on issues in contemporary American publishing.

Core Courses: 20 credits

WR 560 Introduction to Book Publishing
WR 561 Book Editing
WR 562 Book Design & Production
WR 563 Book Marketing
WR 564 Bookselling
WR 570 Intellectual Property & Copyright Law

Electives: 28 credits from other strands of the M.A./M.S. In Writing, from English, or from another discipline.

See the many examples from descriptions of other strands and consult with advisor to determine the best electives to meet your goals.

Students may also earn credits by participating in the work of Ooligan Press, a small trade publishing house. Students work in groups to review, accept, and edit manuscripts; design the interior and the exterior of books; send books to press; and market the books to booksellers, libraries, and other outlets.

VIII. Thesis Requirements: Creative and Nonfiction Options

Candidates in the creative and nonfiction writing strands should plan to submit the thesis in the same term as they take their final written examination. No final oral examination can take place until both the thesis and the written examination have been completed. To allow timely review of the thesis, a candidate should provide a readable copy to each of the committee members at least two weeks before the scheduled time of the oral examination. Thesis oral examinations must be scheduled seven weeks before the end of the term of anticipated graduation.

IX. Portfolio Requirements: The Professional/Technical and Book Publishing Options

Candidates in the professional/technical writing strand or in the book publishing strand should plan to submit the portfolio in the same term as they take their oral examination. No final oral examination can take place until both the portfolio and the final paper have been completed.

To allow timely review of the portfolio, a candidate should provide a readable copy to each of the committee members at least four weeks before the scheduled time of the oral examination, at which time the topic for the final essay/paper will be assigned. The final paper will be due within ten days of its assignment. Portfolio oral examinations must be scheduled seven weeks before the end of the term of anticipated graduation.

X. Procedures For Writing a Thesis: Creative and Nonfiction Options

Creative Thesis

A creative thesis will be supervised by one of the creative writing faculty in the department. Students should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with their supervisor. The proposal should be two-to-three pages in length and should clearly state the nature of the creative project proposed. The student should submit the proposal to the Master's in Writing Committee for approval. The Master's in Writing Committee then submits the proposal to the Graduate Committee for final approval. Students may be asked to revise their proposals at either stage of this process. Approval is not automatic.

Upon approval of the creative thesis proposal, the student registers for eight credits of WR 503 Thesis. These credits may be taken all in one term or divided over several terms and are graded In Progress until the thesis is completed and accepted by the department.

The length of a creative thesis will depend upon its genre and format. A successful poetry thesis, composed of related poems, will rarely be less than 50 pages. The length of a fiction thesis will vary, depending on whether it is a collection of short stories, a novella, or a novel. Students should seek advice on this and other matters from their thesis advisor.

N.B. The contract between the creative thesis student and the advisor is good for one year. If an extension becomes necessary, the student must negotiate with the Master's in Writing Committee.

By University regulation, the student must enroll for a minimum of one credit hour of ENG 501 (Research) or ENG 503 (Thesis) when working on any phase of a thesis. Also, students must apply for graduation with the University one term prior to desired graduation. This form is available in either Degree Requirements (NH lobby) or the Office of Graduate Studies.

Nonfiction Thesis

A nonfiction thesis will be supervised by one of the nonfiction writing faculty in the department. Students should draw up a thesis proposal in collaboration with their supervisor. The proposal should be two-to-three pages in length and should clearly state the nature of the project proposed. The student should submit the proposal to the Master's in Writing Committee for approval. The Master's in Writing Committee then submits the proposal to the Graduate Committee for final approval. Students may be asked to revise their proposals at either stage of this process. Approval is not automatic.

Upon approval of the nonfiction thesis proposal, the student registers for eight credits of WR 503 Thesis. These credits may be taken all in one term or divided over several terms and are graded In Progress until the thesis is completed and accepted by the department. The length of a nonfiction thesis will depend upon its genre and format. Students should seek advice from their thesis advisor.

N.B. The contract between the nonfiction thesis student and the advisor is good for one year. If an extension becomes necessary, the student must negotiate with the Master's in Writing Committee.

By University regulation, the student must enroll for a minimum of one credit hour of ENG 501 (Research) or ENG 503 (Thesis) when working on any phase of a thesis. Also, you must apply for graduation with the University one term prior to desired graduation. This form is available in either Degree Requirements (NH lobby) or the Office of Graduate Studies.

XI. Procedures For Creating a Portfolio: The Professional/Technical Option

A portfolio will be supervised by one of the writing faculty in the department. Students should prepare a portfolio proposal in collaboration with their supervisor. The proposal should be two-to-three pages in length and should clearly state the nature of the items proposed for the portfolio and the relevance of the portfolio to the field. The student should submit the proposal to the Master's in Writing committee for approval the term before graduation. Students may be asked to revise their proposals at either stage of this process. Approval is not automatic. The length of a portfolio will depend upon its genre and format. Students should seek advice from their portfolio advisor.

N.B. The contract between the Professional/Technical Portfolio student and the advisor is good for one year. If an extension becomes necessary, the student must negotiate with the Master's in Writing Committee.

Also, students must apply for graduation with the University one term prior to desired graduation. This form is available in either Degree Requirements (NH lobby) or the Office of Graduate Studies.

XII. Foreign Language Requirement

Before taking the written and oral examinations, MA students (creative, nonfiction, MA Professional and Technical Writing, and MA Book Publishing options) must fulfill the foreign language requirement by successfully completing a qualifying examination or by receiving a passing grade in an advanced course in a foreign language. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literature sets the foreign language policy for the University. Students should consult that department for current information about courses and examination times.

MS students (professional/technical option or book publishing option) are not required to fulfill the foreign language requirement. However, students in these strands who choose to complete a foreign language may receive the MA degree.

XIII. Policy on Independent Study

From one to four credits of independent study or internship per term may be arranged under WR 501 (Research), WR 504 (Internship), WR 505 (Reading and Conference), or WR 509 (Practicum). The Department of English recognizes that independent study can be a valuable means of expanding the curriculum and allowing students to pursue special interests. Students wishing to pursue independent study should seek the approval of a faculty member willing to undertake the arrangement. Faculty time to supervise independent study during any given term is limited. By University policy, ENG 501 and ENG 505 coursework applicable toward the degree is limited to 12 hours in the MA/MS in Writing program.

MA/MS examinations consist of a written and an oral component. MA/MS exams are offered three times a year, during fall, winter, and spring terms. Any exception needs to be negotiated with the Master's in Writing Committee. Students must have a representative from outside the English department on the orals committee.

N.B. By University requirement, graduate students need to be enrolled for a minimum of one credit hour when taking written and oral examinations.

XIV. Advancement to Candidacy: Written Examination

To advance to candidacy, the student must hold regular degree status. Graduate students have a limit of seven years (7) to complete the degree without losing course credits. Students must apply to the University for graduation one term prior to desired graduation. Forms are available in the Office of Graduate Studies and Degree Requirements (Neuberger Admissions Lobby.)

In consultation with the advisor, all MA students prepare the GO-12 (Approved Graduate Degree Program) form in the term prior to the term in which the student plans to take the written and oral examinations. The GO-12 is to be reviewed and signed by the advisor and submitted into the Department office for further evaluation and appropriate signatures.

The Chair of the Master's in Writing committee, in consultation with the MA student and the advisor, selects the faculty examination committee before forwarding the GO-16 (Appointment of Final Oral Examination Committee) to the Department. Please note all forms (with the exception of the degree application form) must be submitted to the Department of English before the form is submitted to other University offices. Once the forms are submitted to the Department of English and approved, they will be automatically forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies.

The written examination typically requires the student to demonstrate graduate-level critical knowledge of the genre in which the student is working. The written examination alternatively might take the form of a comprehensive examination reflecting the coursework the student has completed. The written examination is a take home examination. Students are encouraged to consult with committee members prior to the written and oral examinations.

For those students exercising the portfolio option (technical/professional writing and book publishing), a GO-16 is not required. The Chair of the Master's in Writing committee, in consultation with the MS student and the advisor, selects the faculty examination committee and notes this on the GO-12 form.

The written examination is read by every committee member. If the candidate fails to pass the written examination, the committee meets to recommend a course of action. The candidate's right to retake the examination is not automatic. Usually, however, a committee recommends that the candidate be allowed to take a second examination in order to address their concerns. The University requires a wait of at least three months before retaking any failed examination. Should the student fail the second examination, disqualification from the program is automatic. Written examinations are either passed or not. No grade is assigned.

XV. Oral Examination

In the case of students pursuing the MA in creative or nonfiction writing, the advisor files form GO-16 (Appointment of Final Oral Examination Committee) with the Office of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the term in which the student expects to graduate. The oral examination committee consists of the written examination committee, the thesis advisor, and a PSU faculty member from outside the English department who acts as the University representative. Advisor and student may request particular outside faculty, but the final approval of the representative rests with the Office of Graduate Studies. The form is completed by the student and advisor, then submitted to the Department office for additional signatures. The Department office will then forward the document to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Ordinarily, the advisor chairs the oral examination committee. Questions and discussion usually proceed from responses to the written exam and the thesis but may range beyond that. Passing the oral examination requires a favorable majority vote of the committee. The committee may recommend that the student repeat the oral. In unusual circumstances (e.g., failure to complete the foreign language requirement for the creative or nonfiction option), the Office of Graduate Studies may require that even a successful oral be repeated once the deficiency is remedied. As with the written examination, oral examinations are either passed or not. No grade is assigned.

In the case of students pursuing the MS (or MA) in professional/technical writing or in book publishing, a GO-16 form is not required, and no University representative is appointed by the Office of Graduate Studies. In the case of students pursuing the MA in creative or nonfiction writing, if approval is granted, the committee must assign a grade to remove the In Progress grade on ENG 503 (Thesis).

XVI. Graduate Assistantships

The Department of English accepts applications for English Graduate Assistantships once a year with appointments to begin the following Fall term. The application deadline is February 1. Current forms and information may be requested by writing or calling the department. Students must be accepted in the MA/MS in Writing program to be considered for an assistantship. The competition for assistantships is keen. Approximately one in four applicants is offered a position.

Graduate assistants are appointed for three terms and receive tuition remission and a stipend. First-year GAs must attend a one-week workshop the week before school begins in September, and attend a weekly seminar on the theory and practice of composition.

Those wishing to continue for a second year must receive a favorable review of their overall performance by the Master's in Writing Committee.

In a two-year period, GAs rotate through a variety of assignments that may include tutoring in the University Writing Center, teaching in the Freshman Inquiry Communications course, assisting a faculty member in a Writing Intensive Course (WIC) in another discipline, assisting in a Department of English literature course, teaching a section of writing, or serving as Assistant Director of Writing or Assistant Director of the Center for Excellence in Writing.

Graduate assistants are required to work 15 hours a week and must carry at least nine hours of graduate coursework each term of the appointment. By University regulation, GAs may not receive a grade of Incomplete in those nine hours, but thesis credits (ENG 503) listed In Progress do qualify.

XVII. Other Matters

For information on other important issues, including the possibility of dual Master's degrees, petitions for exceptions to regulations, validation of out-of-date graduate credit, etc., students are advised to consult the PSU Bulletin and the Chair of the Master's in Writing Committee.