MA/MS Degree Information

Language Requirement 

The MA language requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

  • Pass a test of written and oral comprehension in an approved foreign language through USU’s Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies (LPCS). Students may seek testing outside of USU if LPCS does not offer a specific language test.
  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
  • Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent).
  • Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite.

If you obtained the designated course work during your bachelor’s degree, it is possible this course work will meet the graduate school language requirements. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for details.

Summer Courses

You can only count 12 credits of summer coursework toward your degree. You may take the Bennion Teachers’ Workshop (no more than twice) if the course number is offered with an ENGL prefix. If the course is not offered with an English prefix (ENGL), permission will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the DGS.

Internship Policy

USU English master’s students can complete an internship (ENGL 6900) as part of their program of study, though only the Folklore program specifically encourages it. Internships for master’s degrees are for 3 credits (50 hours per credit = 150 hours worked for the internship). The supervisory committee chair and the DGS must approve the internship prior to its start and determine the work that comprises the internship. Please note: the internship cannot be made up of unpaid departmental or programmatic work.

Online Courses 

You may take online courses toward the degree, but you may not take the entire degree online.

Directed Study

Directed Study credits (ENGL 6920) are granted only in exceptional cases because they take students out of scheduled graduate seminars (which can cause a class to be cancelled because of low enrollments) and because they place an extra supervision burden on faculty (who are not paid for their supervision). If you want to apply for Directed Study credits, you must make a case in writing to the DGS and the professor who would supervise the Directed Study. You may not take more than 3 credits total of Directed Study toward the degree.