The Master of Arts (MA) in English and Communication offers a personalized and interdisciplinary program of study in literature, writing, rhetoric, and communication, making it unique within the SUNY System. Both the coursework and the thesis project allow for breadth and depth of experience in areas that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and allow for intellectual synthesis of English and Communication. What unites these fields is the notion that all texts and utterances exist as part of discursive systems. Individual advising, carefully selected classes and program construction, and a commitment to students are central to the program. The program welcomes part-time students, and most classes are scheduled in the evening to accommodate those with daytime employment. There are no GRE requirements, and applications are reviewed as they arrive throughout the calendar year, although admission is limited to the fall semester, although graduate assistantship applications should adhere to the published deadlines.

Requirements for Admission

General Graduate Admission Requirements  Additional Admission Requirements 

1. Applicants shall have earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in English, Communication, or Writing from an accredited college or university. Those who have accredited degrees in humanities and social sciences fields such as History, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies are also encouraged to apply, but they must be aware that additional coursework might be required.
2. Submission of three letters of recommendation with cover sheets, at least two of which shall be from undergraduate professors in the academic discipline of the baccalaureate degree. However, in the case of applicants with significant work experience and/or have received their B.A./B.S. for over five years or more, at least one letter should be from an undergraduate professor.
3. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) in the most recent 60 semester hours of undergraduate study.
4. A writing sample, preferably a recent essay written for an upper-level English or Communication course or senior seminar that shows evidence of scholarly research and writing.
5. For applicants who have significant work experience, and/or have received their B.A./B.S. for over five years or more, a substantial piece of workplace writing may be substituted (grant writing, public relations, researched journalism, etc.).
6. Each student must demonstrate competence in a foreign language equivalent to that required for the awarding of a Bachelor of Arts degree at SUNY Potsdam.

A student who does not satisfy one or more of the above may, in some cases, be conditionally admitted.
A comprehensive approach to these distinct yet related fields defines the core graduate experience at Potsdam, making the program ideal for:

• Students who need the specialized skills an MA offers for their careers: teaching at community colleges; editing and publishing speeches, documents, and multimedia; and working for business, governmental agencies, non-profits, and/or the corporate world in a multitude of capacities.
• Students who are preparing themselves for the pursuit of a PhD.
• Public school teachers who are pursuing a master’s in English and Communication as part of their permanent certification.
• Those who may already possess a master’s degree but are looking to enhance their knowledge and skills.

English & Communication Course Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for the granting of the Master of Arts in English and Communication. At least 27 of the 36 credit hours must be taken at the 600 level. Upon admission into the program, students should meet with the Director of the Graduate Program in the English and Communication Department for advising.

The 36 credit hours are divided as follows: