College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2015-2016 Catalog

112 cannot pass it in three attempts will not graduate. Students must finish all coursework and pass the tabletop examination within 5 years. The tabletop exam is offered three times a year: in January, May and August/September. Faculty members are assigned to review the answers. Students are assigned an examination number. Thus, faculty members do not know whose answers they are reviewing. In order to fail a question, two faculty reviewers must award a failing grade. Graduation Requirements In order to be eligible for conferral of degree, NSA students must have completed all coursework and passed the tabletop examination. In addition, they must have at least a 3.0 GPA with no "incomplete" grades, and must be a "student in good standing" with no disciplinary actions pending or disciplinary tasks to complete. NSA students may participate in the June graduation ceremonies if they have completed all coursework and taken their tabletop examination even if they have not yet received their grade for the exam. M.A. in Writing Program Description The Master of Arts in writing degree program provides students with a foundation in rhetoric, research, and the evolution of the English language. Students develop expertise in a variety of professional and creative writing genres, and they have the opportunity to study teaching writing. Students can go on to careers in writing, publishing, and education; work as professional writers for magazines, newspapers, and businesses; and pursue a variety of Ph.D. programs of study. Learning Outcomes The successful M.A. in Writing graduate is expected to: 1. Write in multiple genres for diverse audiences using professional-level conventions; 2. Create texts employing professional-level rhetorical strategies; 3. Conduct professional-level research; 4. Produce a master’s thesis of publishable quality. Curriculum Major Requirements (30 credits) Core Courses (9 credits) WRIT 5010 Research Methods (3 credits) WRIT 5200 Grammar and History of the English Language (3 credits) HUMN 5000 History and Theory of Rhetoric (3 credits) Elective Courses (15 credits) Select 15 credits from the following courses: WRIT 5000 Professional and Public Writing (3 credits) WRIT 5020 Poetry Writing Workshop (3 credits) WRIT 5030 Fiction Writing Workshop (3 credits) WRIT 5040 Screenwriting Workshop (3 credits) WRIT 5050 Autobiography and Memoir Workshop (3 credits) WRIT 5060 Writing Literary Nonfiction (3 credits) WRIT 5100 Teaching Writing (3 credits) WRIT 5400 Technical Writing (3 credits)