GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Graduate Council MODIFIED/DELETED Certificate, Concentration, Track, or Degree Program
Coordination/Approval Form
(Please complete this form and attach any related materials. Forward it as an email attachment to the Secretary
of the Graduate Council. A printed copy of the form with signatures should be brought to the Graduate Council
Meeting. If no coordination with other units is requires, simply indicate “None” on the form.
Title of Program/Certificate,etc: MA in English with a concentration in Professional Writing and
Rhetoric (was Professional Writing and Editing)
Level (Masters/Ph.D.): Masters
Please Indicate:__ ____ Program ______ Certificate
___√____ Concentration
_______ Track
Description of the change in the certificate, concentration or degree program:
We are proposing to change the name of one MA concentration in the English degree from "Professional
Writing and Editing" to "Professional Writing and Rhetoric" along with corresponding new course
requirements for the degree.
The new name better reflects the scope and perspective of the discipline:
Up until now, the concentration has had only one "editing" course. A larger number of the course offerings
emphasize a disciplinary approach that asks students to examine their professional writing in larger rhetorical
contexts and focus on a holistic conceptualization of "writing," which sees editing as both a part of a larger
writing process (research and invention, arrangement and design, style and editing, and delivery through
technology) and a larger rhetorical situation (departmental functions, organizational hierarchies and processes,
organizational culture, national laws pertinent to the organization's mission, and the larger public culture). The
term "rhetoric" more clearly signifies that these larger contexts and movements are the concern of the
concentration.
The new name better reflects the courses available (and being proposed):
In addition to the courses currently on the books that emphasize rhetoric (501 Introduction to Professional
Writing and Rhetoric, 611 Studies in Rhetoric, 612 Cultures of Professional Writing, 613 Technical and
Scientific Writing, 697 Composition Theory) new courses and a new course structure is being proposed that
will further emphasis rhetorical concerns and bring more focus to the concentration (502 Research Methods in
Rhetoric and Writing, 508 Digital Rhetoric and Design, 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric).
Adding 502 as a requirement along with 501 at the beginning of the students' course of study and concluding
that study with 797 explicitly directs the students to produce a piece of professional, technical, or argumentative
writing that addresses a particular rhetorical situation successfully.
New name better reflects the expanding expertise of the faculty:
New tenure-line faculty teaching in the concentration bring with them additional expertise in professional
writing, argumentation, rhetorical history and analysis, and digital or multimodal composition, to complement
current expertise in editing. The more inclusive new name more clearly defines the disciplinary focus of the
concentration and provides a more accurate disciplinary "home" for the faculty. This focus ultimately ensures
that students have a strong disciplinary background to take into their professional writing lives.
Corresponding changes in course requirements:
Currently, the concentration only requires 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric and 3 hours
toward a final thesis. At present, students are taking longer than the required one semester for the thesis and
don't have the guided curriculum for producing a discipline-based project. The new concentration structure will
include 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing and 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
as requirements. The new methods course will provide students with a wider variety of more concrete
approaches to researching rhetorical contexts and the new projects course will function in lieu of a thesis to
provide students with a much more focused and concrete environment for producing a final project.
Additional changes to the number of hours in various areas are being proposed. The current requirements are:
 3 credits in ENGL 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Editing
 3 credits in research methodology, either ENGL 506 or ENGL 701
 12 credits in professional courses and nonfiction writing courses
 9 credits chosen from designated courses in rhetorical studies, literature and literary theory, linguistics,
cultural studies, film and media studies, and folklore
 3 credits in ENGL 799 Thesis
 Foreign language proficiency as described in the degree requirements above
The proposed changes include the new methods course and projects course as well as a shift in hours for
specific areas. The new requirements will be:







3 credits in ENGL 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric
3 credits in ENGL 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing
6 credits in additional professional writing and rhetoric courses
3 credits in writing or nonfiction courses
9 credits chosen from designated courses in rhetorical studies, literature and literary theory, linguistics,
cultural studies, film and media studies, and folklore
3 credits in ENGL 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
Foreign language proficiency as described in the degree requirements above
Students may also opt out of the elective and capstone courses and write a thesis that contributes new
knowledge to the fields of professional writing, rhetoric, or technical communication.
These revised course requirements will create a sequence that more carefully directs the students' connections
among rhetorical theories, workplace contexts, and the production of texts that affect those contexts.
Approval from other units:
Please list those units outside of your own who may be affected by these. Each of these units must approve this
change prior to its being submitted to the Graduate Council for approval.
No approval from other units is needed for this change.
Submitted by: Denise Albanese, Department of English Graduate Curriculum Coordinator Email:
dalbanes@gmu.edu
Graduate Council approval:____________________________________ Date: _____________
Graduate Council representative: ________________________________ Date: _____________
Provost Office representative: __________________________________ Date: _____________
To: The CHSS Curriculum Committee
From: The English Department
Re: Justification for changing the name of an MA concentration
Date: September 2007
We are proposing to change the name of one MA concentration in the English degree from "Professional
Writing and Editing" to "Professional Writing and Rhetoric" along with corresponding new course
requirements for the degree.
The new name better reflects the scope and perspective of the discipline:
Up until now, the concentration has had only one "editing" course. A larger number of the course offerings
emphasize a disciplinary approach that asks students to examine their professional writing in larger rhetorical
contexts and focus on a holistic conceptualization of "writing," which sees editing as both a part of a larger
writing process (research and invention, arrangement and design, style and editing, and delivery through
technology) and a larger rhetorical situation (departmental functions, organizational hierarchies and processes,
organizational culture, national laws pertinent to the organization's mission, and the larger public culture). The
term "rhetoric" more clearly signifies that these larger contexts and movements are the concern of the
concentration.
The new name better reflects the courses available (and being proposed):
In addition to the courses currently on the books that emphasize rhetoric (501 Introduction to Professional
Writing and Rhetoric, 611 Studies in Rhetoric, 612 Cultures of Professional Writing, 613 Technical and
Scientific Writing, 697 Composition Theory) new courses and a new course structure is being proposed that
will further emphasis rhetorical concerns and bring more focus to the concentration (502 Research Methods in
Rhetoric and Writing, 508 Digital Rhetoric and Design, 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric).
Adding 502 as a requirement along with 501 at the beginning of the students' course of study and concluding
that study with 797 explicitly directs the students to produce a piece of professional, technical, or argumentative
writing that addresses a particular rhetorical situation successfully.
New name better reflects the expanding expertise of the faculty:
New tenure-line faculty teaching in the concentration bring with them additional expertise in professional
writing, argumentation, rhetorical history and analysis, and digital or multimodal composition, to complement
current expertise in editing. The more inclusive new name more clearly defines the disciplinary focus of the
concentration and provides a more accurate disciplinary "home" for the faculty. This focus ultimately ensures
that students have a strong disciplinary background to take into their professional writing lives.
Corresponding changes in course requirements:
Currently, the concentration only requires 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric and 3 hours
toward a final thesis. At present, students are taking longer than the required one semester for the thesis and
don't have the guided curriculum for producing a discipline-based project. The new concentration structure will
include 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing and 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
as requirements. The new methods course will provide students with a wider variety of more concrete
approaches to researching rhetorical contexts and the new projects course will function in lieu of a thesis to
provide students with a much more focused and concrete environment for producing a final project.
Additional changes to the number of hours in various areas are being proposed. The current requirements are:
 3 credits in ENGL 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Editing
 3 credits in research methodology, either ENGL 506 or ENGL 701




12 credits in professional courses and nonfiction writing courses
9 credits chosen from designated courses in rhetorical studies, literature and literary theory, linguistics,
cultural studies, film and media studies, and folklore
3 credits in ENGL 799 Thesis
Foreign language proficiency as described in the degree requirements above
The proposed changes include the new methods course and projects course as well as a shift in hours for
specific areas. The new requirements will be:







3 credits in ENGL 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric
3 credits in ENGL 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing
6 credits in additional professional writing and rhetoric courses
3 credits in writing or nonfiction courses
9 credits chosen from designated courses in rhetorical studies, literature and literary theory, linguistics,
cultural studies, film and media studies, and folklore
3 credits in ENGL 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
Foreign language proficiency as described in the degree requirements above
Students may also opt out of the elective and capstone courses and write a thesis that contributes new
knowledge to the fields of professional writing, rhetoric, or technical communication.
These revised course requirements will create a sequence that more carefully directs the students' connections
among rhetorical theories, workplace contexts, and the production of texts that affect those contexts.
MA, Professional Writing and Rhetoric
Overview: The MA concentration in professional writing and rhetoric is oriented to workplace uses of
language. In addition to training in pragmatic skills, the concentration is characterized by a self-reflexive
attention to workplaces as institutions and sites for rhetorical action. Courses on research and theory in
nonfiction writing complement instruction in rhetoric, editing, technical communication, digital publication, and
ethnography to prepare students for roles as writers and communicators in the private and public sectors.
Instruction in research methodologies melds archival research with the most current technological advances to
equip students with valuable research tools and strategies, while courses in literature, media studies, folklore,
and linguistics provide insight into language and writing practices across a variety of contexts.
Requirements: Students must successfully complete 30 credits in graduate English courses. Coursework
must be distributed according to the areas below; several courses qualify in more than one area. Students must
also demonstrate foreign language proficiency by course work equivalent to Mason's foreign language 202 or
209, or by passing a translation test administered by the Department of English.
Core Course (3 hours)
_____ 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric
Research Course (3 hours)
_____ 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing
Professional Writing and Rhetoric Courses (6 hours)
_____ 503 Theory and Practice of Editing
_____ 504 Internship in Writing and Editing
_____ 505 Computer-Assisted Publications Writing and Design
_____ 508 Digital Rhetoric and Design
_____ 611 Studies in Rhetoric
_____ 612 Cultures of Professional Writing
_____ 613 Technical and Scientific Writing
_____ 697 Composition Theory
Writing Courses (3 hours)
_____ 506 Research for Narrative Writing
_____ 565 Forms of Nonfiction
_____ 615 Proseminar in Composition Instruction
_____ 616 Nonfiction Writing Workshop
_____ 619 Special Topics in Writing
_____ 695 Writing and Learning
_____ 699 Workshop in English
Literary, Linguistic, and Cultural Studies Courses (9 hours)
Students may take any English graduate courses in Literature, Linguistics, or Cultural Studies to fulfill the
required 9 hours. The department recommends that students take 9 hours in one of the areas specifically and
that the area supports the student's future writing or research interests.
Elective Course (3 hours)
Students may take any English course from the above areas or a course from another discipline that supports the
student's writing and research interests to fulfill this requirement. Some courses may need special approval from
the individual instructors and the department. Consult your advisors.
Capstone Course (3 hours)
_____ 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
Thesis Option (6 hours)
Students may opt out of the elective and capstone courses and write a thesis that contributes new knowledge to
the fields of professional writing, rhetoric, or technical communication.
Language Requirement (intermediate proficiency in a foreign language)
Intermediate proficiency corresponds to GMU's coursework through the 202 or 209 level. Generally speaking,
this level represents 4 consecutive semesters in a given language (e.g. Frech 101, 102, 201, and 202). You may
satisfy this requirement in three ways:
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

Confirm that your undergraduate (or continuing education) transcript includes courses corresponding to
this level of proficiency.
If your language proficiency is in a Romance language or German, you can take a proficiency exam
administered by the English Department. Contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator to schedule the
exam. If your proficiency is in another language, contact a local university where this language is taught
and arrange to sit for an exam.
Take courses at GMU or elsewhere through the intermediate level. Make sure that the intermediate level
elsewhere corresponds to that of GMU.
Please contact your advisor soon after enrolling to determine how you will meet the language proficiency
requirement. Once you have made this decision, contact the Graduate Coordinator at 703-993-1180, so that we
may conduct the necessary paperwork.
Concentration Contact
Byron Hawk
bhawk@gmu.edu
Change of concentration name: "Professional Writing and Editing" to "Professional Writing and
Rhetoric"
Catalog Copy
Page 195
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of English offers graduate programs in the study and practice of literature and writing, as well
as course work in related fields such as folklore, film, and cultural studies. The MA in English (30 credits)
provides concentrations in literature (including an optional track in cultural studies), professional writing and
rhetoric, the teaching of writing and literature, and linguistics. The department also offers a terminal degree, the
MFA in creative writing (48 credits), with concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. In addition, the
department offers a certificate in the teaching of English as a second language (TESL, 18 credits), a certificate
in professional writing and editing (18 credits), and courses as part of the PhD in education.
■ English, MA
Admission Requirements
In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit one copy of a 1,000word analytical writing sample, and two letters of recommendation. For those applying in literature,
professional writing and rhetoric, and the teaching of writing and literature, the writing sample should be an
interpretive paper on a literary text. In addition to the writing sample, applicants must
submit a goals statement of no more than 750 words. Applicants for the concentration in professional writing
and rhetoric must also submit two copies of a 10- to 15-page portfolio of their nonfiction work such as a
technical or business report, essay, term paper, editing project, or any other material reflecting interests and
skills in nonfiction writing.
Concentration in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
• 3 credits in ENGL 501 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric (usually in the first semester of
study)
• 3 credits in ENGL 502 Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing
• 6 credits in additional professional writing and rhetoric courses
• 3 credits in writing or nonfiction courses
• 9 credits chosen from designated courses in rhetorical studies, literature and literary theory, linguistics,
cultural studies, film and media studies, and folklore
• 3 credits in ENGL 797 Projects in Professional Writing and Rhetoric
• Foreign language proficiency as described in the degree requirements above
Other pages in the catalog where editing needs to be changed to rhetoric:
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Page 2
Page 4
Page 6