|
|
2019-2020 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.
Folklore and American Studies - MA/MS
|
|
 Return to: Programs of Study
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of English
MA/MS in Folklore and American Studies Requirements
The Folklore and American Studies graduate program at Utah State University offers an interdisciplinary master’s degree (MA, MS) that allows students to focus on the study of folklore and/or American culture (North and South America).
Due to its wide-ranging interdisciplinary and cultural focus, the Folklore and American Studies program prepares students for a wide range of careers in education, museums, non-profits, public relations, marketing, government agencies, the arts, and more.
During their first semester, all students admitted to the Folklore and American Studies program must take ENGL 6600: Introduction to American Studies and ENGL 6700: Introduction to Folklore Studies.” After completing these courses, students will then choose a specific area of emphasis (Folklore or American Studies) and complete the specific curriculum requirements for their chosen area.
Students must declare their emphasis in Folklore or American Studies by November 1 during their first semester. Please contact the director of Folklore or the director of American Studies for form required to declare an emphasis.
|
Foundation Courses: 9 Credits (3 courses)
Folklore Elective Courses: 9 credits (3 courses)
Students may choose any of the following folklore courses, pending available course offerings: Open Elective Courses: 6-9 credits, depending on thesis option (2-3 courses)
For electives, students may choose any graduate courses offered within the English dept., including folklore classes.
Students who decide to complete a Plan B thesis must take 9 credits of open elective courses (3 courses)
Students who decide to complete a Plan A thesis must take 6 credits of open elective courses (2 courses)
Thesis Credits: 3-6 credits, depending on thesis option
Students must choose to complete either a Plan A or a Plan B thesis. Students who decide to complete a Plan B thesis must register for 3 credits of thesis work. Students who decide to complete a Plan A thesis must register for 6 credits of thesis work.
The Folklore and American Studies program strongly encourages students to complete a Plan B thesis.
Plan B: For a Plan B thesis, students must write a single research paper that is modeled on a publishable journal article. For the Folklore and American Studies program, the minimum page requirement for a Plan B thesis is 25 pages, although most tend to be 30-50 pages. The length of a Plan B thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.
Plan A: For a Plan A thesis, students must write an extensive research project that consists of several chapters. For the Folklore and American Studies program, a Plan A thesis must be a minimum of 50 pages, although most tend to be 50-100 pages. The length of a Plan A thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.
NOTE: Students who wish to complete a Plan A thesis must complete their thesis proposal defense by April 15 during the second semester in the program. Students who do not complete a thesis proposal defense by this date will not be eligible to complete a Plan A thesis and must complete a Plan B thesis. American Studies Emphasis Requirements
Students who declare an American Studies emphasis must complete 30 credits that meet the following requirements: Foundation Courses: 6 Credits (2 courses)
Interdisciplinary Courses: 6 credits (2 courses)
Students must take two courses in a discipline outside of their major area of study. The major area of study is determined by the disciplinary focus of the thesis project.
One of these courses must be outside of the English department or outside the student’s primary department of study.
One of these courses must be an English department courses that is not related to their major area of study (choose from courses in Literature, Technical Communication, or Folklore)
Courses vary. A list of courses eligible for American Studies credit will be provided to students each semester. Affiliated Department Elective
Students may choose any graduate course in our affiliated departments. Affiliated departments include Anthropology, Art History, Communication Studies, English, Environment and Society, History, Journalism and Communication, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology.
In choosing these elective courses, students should work on developing a central focus for their program of study, in consultation with the director of the American Studies program.
Courses vary. A list of courses approved for American Studies credit will be provided each semester. If a student would like to take a course that is not on the list of approved courses, the student may request that it be counted for American Studies credit, pending approval by the director of the American Studies emphasis.
Students in the American Studies emphasis have the option of taking one upper-division undergraduate course (4000-5000 level) for graduate credit, pending approval of instructor and director of American Studies emphasis. Approved upper-division undergraduate courses will be provided each semester with the list of graduate-level courses. Thesis Credits: 3-6 credits, depending on thesis option
Students must choose to complete either a Plan A or a Plan B thesis. Students who decide to complete a Plan B thesis must register for 3 credits of thesis work. Students who decide to complete a Plan A thesis must register for 6 credits of thesis work.
The Folklore and American Studies program strongly encourages students to complete a Plan B thesis. Plan B: For a Plan B thesis, students must write a single research paper that is modeled on a publishable journal article. For the Folklore and American Studies program, the minimum page requirement for a Plan B thesis is 25 pages, although most tend to be 30-50 pages. The length of a Plan B thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.
Plan A: For a Plan A thesis, students must write an extensive research project that consists of several chapters. For the Folklore and American Studies program, a Plan A thesis must be a minimum of 50 pages, although most tend to be 50-100 pages. The length of a Plan A thesis is determined by the discretion of the thesis committee chair.
NOTE: Students who wish to complete a Plan A thesis must complete their thesis proposal defense by April 15 during the second semester in the program. Students who do not complete a thesis proposal defense by this date will not be eligible to complete a Plan A thesis and must complete a Plan B thesis.
Requirements for MA Degree
To obtain an MA (Master of Arts) degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Students in American Studies Standard or American Studies Folklore must pass a language requirement in order to receive an MA degree. Without a foreign language, students will receive an MS (Master of Science). The language requirement for the MA degree may be completed in the following ways: - Test: Pass a test of written and oral comprehension in an approved foreign language through the Department of Language, Philosophy, and Communication Studies at Utah State University.
- Coursework: Students may satisfy the requirement through one of the following forms of coursework:
- Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020 level or higher (or its equivalent)
- Demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level (or its equivalent) in one language and the 2020-level (or its equivalent) for the other
- Complete an upper-division (3000-level or higher or the equivalent) in a foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Note: Conversation courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Students who have passed coursework in a foreign language within the past five years from the date of matriculation into the American Studies program may petition for acceptance of coursework to fulfill the language requirement for the MA degree. Please see the director of your specialization program for more information. Requirements for MS Degree
Students completing an MS (Master of Science) degree do not need to fulfill any foreign language requirements. They only need to complete the curricular requirements for the Folklore and American Studies master’s program.
|
Return to: Programs of Study
|
|
