Master of Arts (MA) in English - Rhetoric and Communication Design

The program information below was valid for the fall 2022 term (September 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Length of program 
  • All requirements for the degree should be completed no later than six terms after a full-time graduate student has been admitted as a candidate.
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis
  • Master's Research Paper
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • An Honours Bachelor's degree in English, or its equivalent, with an average of at least 78% in English courses, and at least 75% overall.
    • Those with Honours degrees not in English may apply to the program but may be required to take as many as 10 undergraduate courses in English to prepare them for graduate-level study in the discipline. Additional courses will be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Officer and will generally correspond to the minor program in English. When applying for admission to the program, candidates may also be asked to submit a portfolio of undergraduate or professional writing.
  • A Statement of Interest, no more than 500 words, explaining your reasons for applying to the program.
• Application materials 
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    at least 2 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 4 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 1 course designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
• If students can demonstrate that a reading course is necessary to their overall program, they may petition the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee to allow such an independent course. Directed reading courses must be designed and submitted to the Graduate Committee by the instructor in consultation with the student, and the course outline (with rationale, reading list, assignments and schedule) must be approved by the Graduate Committee in the term prior to the one in which the course is to be run. A reading course will not be approved if a course in a similar area, or with the same faculty member, will be taught that year; if the proposed course overlaps substantially with work that is also to be credited as an MRP or thesis; or if it would not be feasible within that term’s scheduling and enrolment constraints. Students are permitted to take only 1 reading course as part of the degree.
• In order to graduate, candidates must receive an average of at least 75% in their courses. If a student receives one failing grade or two grades lower than 70%, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee will review their standing in the program and the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• English (ENGL) courses

Master’s Thesis

• The thesis will be 80-100 pages long, or the equivalent in other media. It will be an in-depth inquiry into a problem in an area of Rhetoric and Communication Design. It will involve thorough research, and proficiency in the technology of the medium chosen. It will be supervised by a member of the Faculty and have a second reader who is also a member of faculty, but who may belong to a different academic unit than English.
• Students planning to complete their degree through this option should arrange a supervisor and a second reader and prepare a proposal and working bibliography for the approval of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee before the end of the second academic term.

Master's Research Paper option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 6 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 2 courses designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
  • 1 elective course from either within or outside the Department
• Students may include 1 extra-departmental graduate course in their degree requirements, but these courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee. For a course outside the University of Waterloo, the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student (OVGS) form must be completed. For a course inside the University, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee must approve. In either case, the Department’s Graduate Office must be supplied with a syllabus in electronic form and the course must be approved before the beginning of the term in which it is scheduled to run.
• If students can demonstrate that a reading course is necessary to their overall program, they may petition the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee to allow such an independent course. Directed reading courses must be designed and submitted to the Graduate Committee by the instructor in consultation with the student, and the course outline (with rationale, reading list, assignments and schedule) must be approved by the Graduate Committee in the term prior to the one in which the course is to be run. A reading course will not be approved if a course in a similar area, or with the same faculty member, will be taught that year; if the proposed course overlaps substantially with work that is also to be credited as an MRP or thesis; or if it would not be feasible within that term’s scheduling and enrolment constraints. Students are permitted to take only 1 reading course as part of the degree.
• In order to graduate, candidates must receive an average of at least 75% in their courses. If a student receives one failing grade or two grades lower than 70%, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee will review their standing in the program and the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• English (ENGL) courses

Master’s Research Paper

• The Master’s Research Paper can build on a portfolio of professional and technical writing, or on previously completed graduate course work. The assessed component of the major project will be a presentation equal in value and effort to two course credits. The project may take the form of an essay of approximately 50 pages (12,500 words), a digital project of similar length and complexity, a usability study or another form of analysis and presentation acceptable to the major project committee and the Graduate Committee of the Department. Proposals for major projects must be approved by the Graduate Committee in the second academic term of the student's program.
• Students wishing to pursue this option should make contact with a supervisor as early as possible in the second term, and work with the supervisor to craft a proposal to the graduate committee.

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 8 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 3 courses designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
  • 2 elective courses from either within or outside the Department
• Students may include 1 extra-departmental graduate course in their degree requirements, but these courses must be approved by the Graduate Committee. For a course outside the University of Waterloo, the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student (OVGS) form must be completed. For a course inside the University, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee must approve. In either case, the Department’s Graduate Office must be supplied with a syllabus in electronic form and the course must be approved before the beginning of the term in which it is scheduled to run.
• If students can demonstrate that a reading course is necessary to their overall program, they may petition the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee to allow such an independent course. Directed reading courses must be designed and submitted to the Graduate Committee by the instructor in consultation with the student, and the course outline (with rationale, reading list, assignments and schedule) must be approved by the Graduate Committee in the term prior to the one in which the course is to be run. A reading course will not be approved if a course in a similar area, or with the same faculty member, will be taught that year; if the proposed course overlaps substantially with work that is also to be credited as an MRP or thesis; or if it would not be feasible within that term’s scheduling and enrolment constraints. Students are permitted to take only 1 reading course as part of the degree.
• In order to graduate, candidates must receive an average of at least 75% in their courses. If a student receives one failing grade or two grades lower than 70%, the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee will review their standing in the program and the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• English (ENGL) courses