Chapter 1 – General Information Chapter 2 – Master of Arts Programs Chapter 3 – Master of Fine Arts Programs Chapter 4 – Doctoral Programs Chapter 5 – Concurrent Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs Chapter 6 – Certificate Programs

A concurrent BS in Technical Communication (TComm) and MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication (RCPC) offers well-qualified students the opportunity for accelerated study, achieving both degrees within a 5-year time frame. A student enrolled in this program pursues a graduate MA degree while simultaneously completing the requirements for the BS in Technical Communication. Completing the concurrent degree program would enable students to enter the workforce one year earlier than through the traditional MA degree pathway. Up to six credits can be double-counted toward the requirements for both degrees. Students applying for the concurrent degree program should be motivated, focused, and able to handle a 16+ credit hour/semester schedule.

5.3.1 Eligibility (all qualifications must be met to apply)

  • A minimum 45 credits in undergraduate program completed
  • At least 12 credits of TComm courses completed with a major GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • A minimum cumulative ISU GPA of 3.0

5.3.2 Timeline

Students should know by the middle of their sophomore year if they are interested in pursuing the concurrent program. We recommend that students plan ahead and notify the coordinator of the Rhetoric and Professional Communication (RPC) program, Craig Rood (rood@iastate.edu), as soon as they know of their intent to apply for the concurrent degree; if possible, the RPC coordinator should be notified of intent to pursue the concurrent degrees by the end of the 4th semester.

Students interested in concurrent enrollment should talk with the RPC coordinator about plans to apply for the concurrent program by no later than the end of the 6th semester by submitting the concurrent enrollment application materials (listed below).

If accepted into the concurrent enrollment program, students should begin taking graduate courses (by the onset of the fourth year of study). Students accepted into the concurrent enrollment program will continue to work with the RPC coordinator until the BS degree requirements are met. By the onset of the fifth year of study, students should have identified an area for their thesis/creative component and established a program of study committee (including a major professor).

Students become full-time graduate students upon acceptance into the concurrent degree program and are assessed graduate tuition and fees. Students are eligible for research assistantships upon entry into the concurrent degree program, although it should be noted that these opportunities are rare. Students are eligible to apply for a teaching assistantship early in the student’s 8th semester once it is determined that all requirements for the BS degree will be met by the end of the spring semester. The TA application deadline for current students in English Department graduate programs is January 15th. TA selection will follow the standard procedures for the department.

5.3.3 Admission Criteria

The admission criteria are the same as those required for all graduate students in the department. Application materials are reviewed by the RPC coordinator and/or graduate faculty in RPC, the department’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE), and the department chair. Their recommendations are forwarded to the ISU Graduate College.

5.3.4 Application deadline and how to apply

As early as possible (no later than the end of the 6th semester), talk with the RPC coordinator about your interests and plans. The application fee is $60 for domestic applicants and $100 for  international applicant’s.

The following components make up a student’s application. A complete application must be submitted by the end of their 6th semester:

  1. Complete a new graduate application in your Admissions MyAccount. Login here to begin.
  2. The following documents are required to be uploaded to your application via action items that will appear and the upload option:
  • Statement of purpose,1–3 double-spaced pages stating your preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the major
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation. List three names and email addresses in the application to receive email requests to submit their recommendations
  • Curriculum vitae including educational background, awards, accomplishments, etc.
  • Create a curriculum plan with the RPC coordinator who works closely with members of the graduate faculty
  • Expository writing sample (5-20 double-spaced pages) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills in the intended major. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English or a related field.

Any questions can be directed to englgrad@iastate.edu about the application process and requirements.

Once an admissions decision is made by the program, you will be notified and your application processed accordingly with our recommendation. If approved, the Admissions Office processes the application for graduate study. Upon admission, applicants will receive departmental admission letters and official ISU admissions letters the same as other graduate program applicants. Official enrollment and fee payment will be as a graduate student beginning that term of entry into the concurrent program.

5.3.5 Degree Requirements and Curriculum Plans

Curriculum plan BS in Technical Communication

CoursesCredits
3000+ level undergraduate coursesVarious (total includes all 3000+ ENGL courses)45
Core credits in the TComm majorENGL 2140, 3100, 3130, 3140, 4150, 416018
Designated area of concentration (DAC)6 credits in a technical, scientific, or design field (if student has a minor, no DAC needed)6
Communication proficiencyENGL 1500, 2500, ADV
Comm Choice, and LIB 1600
10
General education12 credits in A&H
9 credits in SS
8 credits in NS
3 credits in Math
32
*Elective choicesLING/ENGL 2200, ENGL 3020, 3090, SPCM 3120, ENGL 3120, 3500, 4180, 4770, 4870, 5050, 5290, 5420, 5490, 58609
TOTAL CREDITS120 CREDITS
*9 credits count as electives in the BS degree

Curriculum plan MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication

Area of CourseworkCoursesCredits Towards POS
CO-REQUISITES

This course does not count towards degree requirement credits. Students complete co-requisite their first fall semester upon entry into the program. Previous coursework that meets co-requisite must be documented by submitting the Pre/Co-Requisite Equivalency Petition.
ENGL 5910E
1.0 credit
CORE COURSEWORK
ENGL 5060
ENGL 5630A or C* (was 6020A or C)
6
ADVANCED STUDY IN RCPC
Choose from any of the courses in the categories listed.
TAs may count 3 credits of either ENGL 5000 or SPCM 5130.

Multimodal composition and speech communication
ENGL 5030, 5040, ENGL 5920B*#
Professional communication
ENGL 5050, 5080#, 5290, 5420, 5490*, 5860, 5870, Engl 5920C*#
Rhetoric
ENGL 5470*, 5480*, 5630A or C* (not used in Core), Engl 5920A*#
After designated prerequisites and 6 graduate credits completed, students may take
ENGL 6030, 6110*#, 6310
18
* Cross-listed with SPCM
# Repeatable
ELECTIVES
Elective credits may come from English Department course offerings or from other university departments or programs (such as WGS 5010, SPCM 5400, ENGL 5220, or ENGL 5270).
3
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
ENGL 6990: Thesis Research
or
ENGL 5990: Creative Component
3
TOTAL 30 minimum

Five-year plan for Concurrent BS in Technical Communication and MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication

The table below is just one example of how the courses can be laid out in this five-year concurrent degree program.

FALLCreditsSPRINGCredits
First Year (Freshman)Engl 1500 (or ENGL 2500)
Humanities Choice
LIB 1600
MATH or STAT
ENGL 2140
Foreign Lang or Elective
3
3
1
3
3
3-4
ENGL 2500 (if not in fall) or ENGL 3100
Social Science Choice
Natural Science Choice
Humanities Choice
Foreign Lang or Elective
3
3
3
3
3-4
Total 16-17Total 15-16
Second Year (Sophomore)ENGL 3130
TC Elective or Minor
Social Sci Choice
US Diversity Choice
Natural Science Choice
3
6
3
3
3
Technical/Scientific/Design
ENGL 3140
ENGL 4150
Humanities Choice
Electives or Minor
3
3
3
3
6
Total 18Total 18
Third Year (Junior)ENGL 4160
Elective or Minor
Intl Perspectives Choice
Humanities Choice
Social Science Choice
3
3
3
3
3
ENGL 4870 (recommended)
ENGL 4770
Technical/Scientific/
Design
Electives or Minor
3
3
3

6
Total 18Total 15
Fourth Year (Senior/MA)ENGL 5030, 5050, 5060, or 5860
ENGL 5910E (prereq)
ENGL 5470, 5630A or C (as M.A. Core)
Electives or Minor
9
0
3
3
ENGL 5290, 5420, 5480, or 5490
Electives or Minor
6
9
Total 15Total 15
Fifth Year (MA)ENGL 5030, 5050, 5060, or 5860
ENGL 5470, 5630A or C (not used as M.A. Core)
ENGL 5000 or SPCM 5130
(TAs may count only 3 credits of either course)
3

3
3
ENGL 5990/6990
ENGL 5290, 5420, 5480, or 5490
3
3
Total 9Total 6

5.3.6 Curricular Policies and Guidelines

Transferring concurrent credits

After admission to a concurrent program, all courses taken during the concurrent status are placed on the graduate permanent record (transcript). After each concurrent term, the student must  complete an Internal Transfer of Courses Request in Workday (see this help article for instructions) which lists all courses to be transferred off the graduate permanent record to the undergraduate permanent record (transcript). The credits transferred are no longer available for use on the graduate program of study. However, the courses and grades will still appear on the graduate permanent record but will not be included in the graduate GPA. This request will route in Workday for appropriate approvals.

With approval of a student’s Academic Plan Committee, up to 6 ISU credits taken while in concurrent status may be applied to a bachelor’s degree and the graduate M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication that requires a minimum of 30 credits.

If a student does not yet have the BS degree, a graduate degree is not granted until the bachelor’s degree is awarded. The graduate credential will be awarded at the same time or after the undergraduate degree is conferred.

5.3.7 The Academic Plan Committee and Academic Plan

Students should begin establishing their Academic Plan Committee and Academic Plan (Concurrent MA) as soon as possible to meet a department established deadline for master’s students in their second semester. See the English Department Graduate Program Handbook, Section 2.6 for more details and information on the Academic Plan Committee requirements and deadline for forming your committee and submitting the Academic Plan.

5.3.8 Thesis or Creative Component options

In your last semester as an RCPC student, you will complete a substantial research project—either a traditional thesis or a creative component.

We encourage students who are planning to enter the workforce after graduation to consider one of the two following creative component options. The creative component options allow you to apply and display what you’ve learned in your coursework.

RCPC Creative Component Options

Professional Project Option

The form of your professional project will depend upon the nature of the professional project that you carry out. A packet of course materials, for instance, will take on quite a different form than a redesign of a website, a packet of promotional materials for a small business, or grant proposal written to a government agency. Past projects have also included the following: an instructional manual for operating equipment in a factory; a comics-style set of instructions for a computer lab; a website redesign for a local coffee shop; a history of our first-year writing program; and training materials for volunteers at ACCESS, a local women’s shelter.

With your professional project—whatever form it takes—you will include a project report. This report of 5,000 to 8,000 words should state a rationale for your project, describe the project’s audience and context, and discuss your methods (e.g., rhetorical strategies, technology). Your report should also explain how your coursework and secondary research informed your choices in carrying out your project. This report often begins as a proposal that you write at the start of your creative component in which you describe your plans for your project for your POS Committee.

Professional Portfolio Option

The professional portfolio consists of five parts:

  1. A portfolio website. This professional portfolio site describes who you are, describes your past and present professional roles, and organizes examples of your work (see below). Your website should be your original design and should follow best practices. It should be usable, accessible, well-conceived, well-executed, and attractive. It should follow all relevant intellectual property laws, including, when necessary, obtaining permissions, citing sources, and linking to sources. In short, it should promote you as a professional.
  2. An introductory memo of about 2,000 words to your committee.  This memo must address these two general questions: (a) Based on your coursework, what do you see as the major issues in rhetoric, composition, or professional communication? (b) How do you as a professional and the work presented in this portfolio address those issues? At least 10 sources must be cited, following APA style. After responding to these two questions, you should provide an overview of the documents in the portfolio.
  3. A résumé or curriculum vitae.
  4. Five documents—print or online—that you have worked on during your two years in the RCPC program.
  5. For each of those five documents, a 500-word meta-analysis. The meta-analysis should include:
    • Name of the course and the instructor.
    • Audience(s) and purpose(s) for the document.
    • Your role in creating the document if the document was prepared collaboratively.
    • Your goals for the document and a description of the document-development process.
    • Theories and principles that informed the development of the document.
    • In-text and reference list documentation of secondary sources that support the document-development choices. Again, follow APA style.

Submit your professional portfolio to your Academic Plan Committee as a usable website.

5.3.8 Final Oral Defense of the Thesis or Creative Component (Final Oral Examination)

See the section on Program Completion/Graduation, Section 1.10 for more details and information on finishing up as well as resources with links to very helpful