English BA/MA Blended Program
The B.A. in English + M.A. in English and Writing Studies Blended Program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated path toward a graduate degree in English by allowing undergraduate students to take 4 graduate level courses (12 units) while in undergraduate status. These 12 graduate level units can double count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Coyote Accelerated Post-Baccalaureate Education (CAPE) scholars thus have the added benefits of 1) reducing the number of semesters required to earn a master’s degree, 2) paying undergraduate fees for some graduate-level courses, and 3) a seamless application process when joining the graduate program.
Students in the B.A. in English + M.A. in English and Writing Studies program may choose from the following three concentrations for the BA and MA:
- BA in English – Linguistics Concentration + MA in English & Writing Studies – Applied Linguistics and TESL Concentration
- BA in English – Literature Concentration + MA in English & Writing Studies – Literature Concentration
- BA in English – Rhetoric & Writing Studies Concentration + MA in English & Writing Studies – Composition and Rhetoric Concentration
Eligibility
The B.A. in English + M.A. in English and Writing Studies Blended Program is open to students who have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or an average GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework in English completed at the time of the application. Students who have a lower GPA than 3.0 may still apply and will be evaluated based on the strength of their other supporting materials. Students who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the B.A. in English will not be permitted to move to graduate status and will graduate with the B.A.
Eligible students will receive an email invitation to apply when they have reached junior year academic standing with at least 60 units completed. Most students will become eligible to apply for the CAPE scholars program in the Fall semester of their Year 3 and enter the pathway during the Spring semester of Year 4. Students who have completed more than 90 units applicable to the undergraduate degree are not eligible for the blended program, but they may apply for the MA program through the usual process using Cal State Apply.
The English Department will host an information session each semester for eligible/interested applicants to learn more and get their questions answered. For any pressing questions, contact the English Blended Program Coordinator, Dr. Erin Hall at Erin.Hall@csusb.edu.
Application Requirements
- Two letters of recommendation. Letters should be from people able to make relevant comments on the student's ability to succeed in an accelerated BA/MA blended program in their chosen concentration.
- One-page personal statement giving a sense of who the student is and their particular interests and goals in pursuing a graduate degree.
- 5-10 page writing sample that showcases the student's ability to think critically and articulate their ideas in writing.
Tips for the writing the personal statement can be found here.
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