English at Boise State: Graduate Program

Program Options

The M.A. in English studies program offers two options. One allows the student flexibility in choosing an area of study that may focus on literature or rhetoric and composition or a combination of the two. Qualified students may also choose electives from other areas, including creative writing and technical communication. A second program, the M.A. in English, English Education Emphasis, allows a student to receive a Master’s degree while also completing certification for teaching English in middle, junior, and senior high school.

Those completing the English Education Emphasis are required to take a comprehensive examination. Other students work with advisors to determine whether the thesis option or the coursework option is most suited to their career goals.

See the links below for details on these two options:

M.A. in English (Literature and Rhetoric and Composition)

M.A. in English, Education Emphasis (leading to certification, secondary school teaching)

Course Options

The Master of Arts in English offers courses in literature, rhetoric and composition, English Education, and linguistics. Courses such as Theories of Rhetoric and Composition, Survey of Critical Theory, Literature for Use in Junior an Senior High School and the Introductory Seminar in English Studies are offered regularly.

The catalog also lists numerous generic headings that are implemented in a diversity of individual offerings each semester. Courses taught recently include William Faulkner and Toni Morrison, Twentieth Century Irish Drama, Literature of Personal Essay, The Pearl Poet and the 14th century, 19th century British Women Writers, 20th Century American Poetry, Teaching Basic Writing, 20th Century Western American Women Writers, and many more.

See the links below for additional information:

Graduate Assistantships for the M.A. in English Program

The M.A. in English Program offers two types of assistantships.

Teaching Assistantships

The M.A. in English program offers fifteen teaching assistantships over a two-year period, with the number of new assistantships available each fall varying from six to nine. Assistantships carry stipends of at least $9,660 per year plus a waiver of in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees. They are renewable for a second year given satisfactory performance in both teaching and graduate course work.

Graduate teaching assistants teach three courses a year, starting with one course in their first semester. In a workshop before classes begin in the fall, and in a course throughout the semester, they receive intensive training in teaching freshman composition, including mentoring in pedagogy and composition and rhetorical theory.

Writing Center Assistantship

In addition to the teaching assistantships, the M.A. in English program also offers one assistantship in the Writing Center, which carries the same stipend and waiver of tuition/fees. Students interested in this position must still apply for a teaching assistantship, but can include an additional page that discusses their experience with and interest in writing center work (see directions below). This assistantship may be renewed for a second year, given satisfactory performance in the Center and in graduate work, but a student may choose to switch to a teaching assistantship instead.

The graduate writing center assistant is responsible for holding several consultation hours in the Center each week, for mentoring new consultants, for designing and producing resource materials for students and professors, and for helping the Director coordinate writing workshops and Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) activities. Previous experience in a writing center is highly encouraged.

Application Procedure for Assistantships

To be considered for an assistantship, applicants must ensure that all application materials for admission to the M.A. program and all application materials for Teaching and Writing Center Assistantships are received by the Director of the M.A. in English no later than February 1, 2007. Materials must be submitted in hard copy.

To apply, follow the steps below:

Apply to the Graduate College by filling out the application and having official transcripts from all institutions previously attended sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Other materials, including the goals essay, the writing sample, and the letters of recommendation, as well as the GRE score, must also be submitted by February 1, 2007, to the Director of the M.A. in English. See Program requirements.
Complete the following:

The four-page BSU Graduate Assistant Application form.
A one-page, single-spaced statement indicating why you would like this assistantship, what special qualifications you bring to it, and how the experience will affect your later professional plans.
If you are interested in the Writing Center Assistantship, a second one-page, single-spaced statement that discusses any previous writing center experience you have had and tells why you would like to be considered for this position.
The Teaching Assistantship for English Composition Application Form. Your responses to the questions and the student essay offer us more information about your background. We believe that as writers and students you have had enough experience to assess how a piece of writing can be improved.
A vita, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three persons who can be contacted for recommendations. At least two of them should be persons who know your academic work; if this is impossible because of your particular career path, please list people who know your abilities in other areas of endeavor and include an explanation.

Send all of the above items to the following address:
Dr. Matthew Hansen
Director, M.A. in English
English Department
1910 University Drive
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83725-1525

You are responsible for making sure that all information has been received.

Continuing Students

If you are a continuing student in the M.A. in English program, we will already have your application materials on file, but we do ask that you send us the following additional information:

A transcript of the graduate work you've done since you were admitted to the program
Two letters of recommendation from faculty in whose graduate courses you have been enrolled
A cover letter describing your plans for completing the degree and your expected date of completion

Decisions about teaching assistantships are made by a selection committee of faculty from the M.A. in English program, as well as the Director and Assistant Director of Writing. Selection is based on materials specific to the TA application and on the materials submitted for admission to the M.A. in English program.

Contact Information

To contact the Director, Dr. Matthew Hansen, email MatthewHansen@boisestate.edu or phone (208) 426-1215. The postal address is:

Dr. Matthew Hansen
Director, M.A. in English
English Department
1910 University Drive
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83725-1525

His office is located in room 205 of the Liberal Arts Building.

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