Applying to the Program :: Rhetoric & Writing @ Michigan State University

Applying to the Program

MA in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing or
MA in Critical Studies in Literacy & Pedagogy

Application Deadlines for Fall 2008 Admission

For full consideration for university and college level fellowships and graduate assistantships, PhD and MA applicants should submit complete application packages by:
December 1, 2007 --> For PhD Applicants
December 15, 2007 --> For MA Applicants

May 1, 2008 --> For MA applicants wishing to enroll without financial support, files should be complete by May 1, 2008.

International applicants are advised to complete application as early as possible to allow time for processing of visas and other documents. See http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm for additional information.

Admissions decisions are made by the Rhetoric & Writing Graduate Advisory Committee.

MA in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing
MA in Critical Studies in Literacy & Pedagogy

To be considered for admission to the master's program in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing, or the MA in Critical Studies in Literacy & Pedagogy, you will need to provide the following documents:

A completed Application for Graduate Study, along with a check or money order to cover the application fee. The application form is available at http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm. You are strongly encouraged to apply online. (There is a separate application form for international applicants.) NOTE: At the "Personal Statement" prompt on the application form (item 22), please write "see attached" or "statement sent to program" and substitute the statement specified in #3 below; make sure this specific statement is included in the materials sent directly to the R & W program.

One copy of each transcript from each college or university that you have attended. Transcripts should be sent directly from the Office of the Registrar at each institution you have attended. (Transcripts of work taken at MSU need not be requested.)
Send a personal statement that addresses your goals in pursuing an MA degree in either Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing or in Critical Studies in Literacy and Pedagogy at MSU directly to the R & W program. The Graduate Committee wants to know: Why do you want to pursue this degree at MSU? What interests, qualifications, and, most importantly, professional goals of yours will be served by completion of this degree? How do you see the program at MSU specifically helping you to meet those goals?
At least two writing samples showing two different styles or genres of writing. For both MA programs, at least one sample should be an academic paper showing your ability to do a sustained critical analysis, research, review, or evaluation (ideally, from an upper-division course). For the MA in DR&PW, the other sample could demonstrate your abilities as a professional/technical writer, as an editor, as a page designer, or as a developer of digital information (e.g., multimedia products, web sites). You can submit digital samples as well as print ones (e.g., a web URL or a CD).
Three letters of recommendation from professionals in a position to evaluate your potential for graduate study. At least one letter, ideally two, should come from former faculty members (or instructors) who can address your qualifications for academic course work at the graduate level and also your skills as a professional writer, or as a potential teacher if you are applying for the MA in CSLP. (If you have taken rhetoric or professional writing courses, it is most helpful to have letters from your instructors in those courses.) Ask your recommenders to use the MSU Graduate School Recommendation Form (PDF) as a cover sheet for their letters --> http://grad.msu.edu/prospect/gradapprec.pdf.

MA Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must:

have a baccalaureate degree in humanities, writing, communications, English, or a related field;
have completed a minimum of 18 semester credits in humanities, writing, English, or communications-related fields beyond the 100 level with a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Admissions decisions are made by the Rhetoric & Writing Graduate Advisory Committee. Applicants who do not meet the criteria stated above may be admitted provisionally. Conditions for regular admission, including the completion of collateral coursework, must be satisfied during the first year of study.

The Rhetoric and Writing Program has a rolling admissions policy for MA students only. However, to assure full consideration for University and college level fellowships and graduate assistantships, MA applicants' files should be complete by December 15, 2007.

International applicants are advised to complete application as early as possible to allow time for processing of visas and other documents. See http://www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/apply.htm for additional information.

PhD in Rhetoric & Writing

To be considered for admission to the doctoral program in Rhetoric & Writing, you will need to provide the materials described below. (Applicants to the CSLP program -- Critical Studies in Literacy and Pedagogy -- must provide these same materials and submit their applications by the same process.) Please feel free to let us know how your interests fit with the concentrations that we offer (including our "design your own" option).

A completed Application for Graduate Study, along with a check or money order to cover the application fee. The application form is available at http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm. You are strongly encouraged to apply online. (There is a separate application form for international applicants.) NOTE: At the "Personal Statement" prompt on the application form (item 22), please write "see attached" or "statement sent to program" and substitute the statement specified in #4 below; make sure this specific statement is included in the materials sent directly to the R&W program.
One copy of each transcript from each college or university that you have attended. Transcripts should be sent directly from the Office of the Registrar at each institution. Transcripts of work taken at MSU need not be requested.
Send a personal statement that addresses your goals in pursuing a doctorate in Rhetoric & Writing at MSU directly to the R &W program. The Graduate Committee wants to know: Why do you want to pursue this degree at MSU? What interests, qualifications, and, most importantly, professional goals will be served by completion of this degree? What kinds of preparation do you have for doctoral level work? How do you see the program at MSU building on your preparation and helping to meet the goals you have set for yourself?
A statement of teaching philosophy. In no more than 1 page (single spaced), discuss your experience or potential as a teacher of writing and/or as a teacher educator; talk about your philosophy of writing (what are your goals as a writing teacher? what general approach do you take?); and indicate how you teach (e.g., what sorts of approaches and strategies do you employ, or would you employ, in teaching a writing or literacy pedagogy class?).
Submit at least two writing samples (e.g., major research paper, summary of master's thesis, or digital documents). At least one sample should be an academic paper showing your ability to do sustained critical analysis, research, review, or evaluation at an advanced level.
Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess your ability to pursue advanced graduate study. Letters of recommendation should address your potential to do doctoral-level research and writing -- for rhetoric/composition applicants, in the field of rhetoric and writing; for CSLP applicants, in the field of literacy pedagogy. At least one of the letters should address your qualifications as a teacher (or your potential for teaching). Ask your recommenders to use the MSU Graduate School Recommendation Form (PDF) as a cover for their letters --> http://grad.msu.edu/prospect/gradapprec.pdf

PhD Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must:

have a master's degree or the equivalent.
have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in graduate level courses.

The Rhetoric & Writing program does not require the GRE.

PhD applicants' files are due by December 1, 2007.

International applicants are advised to complete application as early as possible to allow time for processing of visas and other documents. See http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm for additional information.

IMPORTANT!
Mailing Your Application

Please mail ALL your application materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, sample writings, etc. to:

Prof. Malea D. Powell,
Director of Rhetoric & Writing
5 Olds Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1047.

Questions?

Please direct all questions regarding admissions, or inquiries about the MA in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing or PhD program, to Prof. Malea D. Powell, Director of Rhetoric & Writing, 5 Olds Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1047, 517.432.2583, powell37@msu.edu.

For information and questions about the Critical Studies in Literacy and Pedagogy MA programs, contact Prof. Julie L. Lindquist, Director of CSLP, 5 Olds Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1047, 517.353.9363, lindqu11@msu.edu.

Program Codes

PhD in Rhetoric & Writing
--> 5600

MA in Digital Rhetoric & Professional Writing
--> 5601

MA in Critical Studies in Literacy & Pedagogy
--> 5643