Graduate Program General Guidance
To succeed as a graduate student, you will need to be self-motivated and to take responsibility for completing your degree. Don’t wait to be told what to do. That means carefully reading all available resources, including course syllabi, program websites, and this handbook to understand what’s expected of you and when it’s due—including paperwork to be filed with the Graduate School along the way to your degree; and it means registering for the courses appropriate to your specialization and degree, as well as the appropriate number of credits each semester.
Full-time MA/MS students in English (Language, Culture, and Composition or Creative Writing) and Folklore are expected to take 9 credits each fall and 6 credits each spring, thus completing the 30-credit degree in two years.
Master of Technical Communication (MTC) students are expected to take at least one course per semester. MTC students should make course choices in consultation with the Director Graduate Studies.
Students in the PhD program in Technical Communication and Rhetoric are expected to take 9 credits each semester in their first two years (coursework) and then 6 credits per semester in their final two years in the program (internship and dissertation).
General Tips ‘Don’t just Survive Graduate School, Flourish!’
Read this handbook. It contains important information on how to navigate through the forms, policies, and procedures of the Department of English and the Graduate School.
Check your email. All USU students are given an email address, which your professors (and students if applicable) will use to send you important information. Check it daily!
Know the professors. Meet and talk with the faculty members. Learn what they teach and their areas of scholarly interest.
For thesis and dissertation writing students, meet regularly with your chair (once you have chosen one). Try to meet with your chair at least three times per semester.
Attend talks, lectures, and other social events/activities. Graduate school is the place where you will form many long-lasting professional relationships.
Don’t wait to be told what to do. In case you missed it, this is an important one. There are people who want to help you, but you need to be proactive in reaching out to them to get the help you need.
Faculty
Being a successful graduate student also means taking the initiative to contact your professors or the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or appropriate staff members if you are unsure about what to do. It also means taking advantage of office hours to meet with professors to discuss assignments and your standing in the class; and it means looking for potential Supervisory Committee members as soon as you begin taking classes and then contacting those professors as your thesis or dissertation topic starts to come into focus.
Insurance
USU offers an injury and sickness insurance plan for graduate students through First Student. The plan is underwritten by the United Healthcare Insurance Company. Please refer to First Student for more information. You can also contact Katelyn Richins (katelyn.richins@usu.edu) with additional questions.
Office Space
The English Department has desk space available for all Graduate Instructors (GI). Desk space is assigned by Nicole Despain in the main office. As a GI, you should work to maintain the desk space and respect the working habits of those around you. The office is a professional workplace.
Keys
GI's will receive a key to the shared office space where their desk is located and a building key card that will allow them entry into the Ray B. West building on the Logan campus only. As a result, you will be required to pay a one-time key deposit of $25 (replacement keys are an additional $25).