Resources

• LCS Bylaws
• LCS Annual Faculty Review Policy
• LCS Faculty Peer Observation of Teaching Form
• College of Liberal Arts Default Review Policies

These policies will be used for all reviews other than the standard Annual Reviews until Department official policies are approved.

• UTRGV Guidelines for External Reviewers
• Core Course SLOS
• Upper Division SLOs
• Plan for Distribution of Summer Incentive Funds

These links lead to UTRGV webpages with forms, policies, and faculty resources.

• UTRGV UCentral Faculty Forms (for academic course issues)
  Faculty and Staff Resources: Course Inventory Request Form, Degree Program Action Request Form, Drop by Instructor Form, Grade Change Form.
• UTRGV Executive Vice President and Provost Faculty Forms and Resources
  Faculty Resources: Guidelines, Faculty Reviews, Administrative Forms, Faculty Teaching Workload Equivalency.
• UTRGV Handbook of Operating Procedures
  This Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley contains policies and procedures for the governance of UTRGV.
• UTRGV Academic Integrity
  The following information is provided as a guide to assist students with a variety of academic integrity issues.
• UTRGV CEP Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability
  In coordination with undergraduate academic programs, field experiences and clinical teaching leading to teacher certification are planned and delivered through the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability.
• UTRGV Center for Teaching Excellence
  CTE nurtures excellence in teaching at UTRGV and provides consultations and workshops on teaching-related issues.
• UTRGV Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology
  Supports the delivery of online courses and programs at UTRGV, including those delivered by online, hybrid or interactive methods.
• UTRGV B3 Institute
  The B3 Institute is a university wide initiative that facilitates UTRGV’s movement to become a bicultural, bilingual, and biliterate Hispanic Serving Institution.
• UTRGV Office of Engaged Scholarship and Learning
  The Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning is here to help you find opportunities to apply your skills and knowledge in the real-world.

Graduate Advisors

*Contact the Graduate College to find more information about the admission requirements.

Information for Graduate Students

New Students

• Admitted Students
• Cost of Attendance
• Faculty
• Financial Aid/Scholarships
• Frequently Asked Questions

Current Students

• Thesis and Dissertation
  • Thesis Prospectus Guidelines
  • Application for Dissertation Committee
  • Application for Thesis Committee
  • Change of Committee Form
  • Certification of Completion of Thesis Dissertation
  • Elements of a Proposal
• Portfolio
  • LCS Degree Plan Portfolio Guidelines
  • English Studies Degree Plan Portfolio Guidelines
• Travel Scholarship 
• Graduation Information

Resources

• Graduate Catalog
• Graduate College
• Library
• Literatures and Cultural Studies Facebook Page
• Student Services
• U Central
• Vaqueros Report It
• Writing Center

Fast Track 5 Year BA/MA in English with a Concentration in Literatures & Cultural Studies

The BA/MA degree option in English is designed to provide qualified students the means to complete the requirements for both the BA and MA in a period of five years. A key feature of the option allows students to get a head start on fulfilling the course requirements for the MA by taking up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses (that will count as dual undergraduate and graduate credit) during their senior year. These 12 hours of dual-credit courses will allow students to both finish the requirements for the BA and begin the requirements for the MA in English. Students who pursue this option can be registered in any of the five English concentrations at the BA level but would be taking graduate courses toward the English MA in the Literatures & Cultural Studies Concentration. The graduate hours taken while still enrolled as an undergraduate could be applied toward the specific Area requirements of the English BA degree plan (where applicable) or as general electives.  

The Process:

Apply Spring 2024 semester Junior year (to Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair)

Fast-Track Requirements:  
1. Must be declared in the BA in English (any concentration; excludes teacher certification) at UTRGV.
2. Must have 90 hours completed towards the BA in English with at least 30 ours completed at UTRGV.
3. Must have a minimum average GPA of 3.25 in the major
4. Must have a minimum university GPA of 3.5.
 

Application Materials:

Statement of Interest/Purpose

Transcripts

Writing Sample (from ENGL course)

Apply senior year to MA Program (if accepted, grad hours carry over)

Schedule:

Fall senior year: two graduate courses (course should line up with BA & MA requirements to satisfy both degrees) & two UG courses

Spring senior year: two graduate courses (courses should line up with BA & MA requirements to satisfy both degrees)

Summer after BA: two graduate courses

Fall MA (year 5): three graduate courses

Spring MA (year 5): three graduate courses & complete Portfolio, or two graduate courses & Thesis

2024-2026 Rotation

FALL 2024

ENGL 6300: Intro to Literary Studies & 3 Under-grad courses

ENGL 6308: Mexican American Literature

SPRING 2025

ENGL 6302: Studies in Literary History

ENGL 6306: Studies in Comparative Literature

SUMMER 1 2025

ENGL 6315: Cultural Studies

SUMMER II 2025

ENGL 6304: Studies in British Literature

FALL 2025 – THESIS TRACK

Choose one Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Course

Choose one Linguistics Graduate Course

ENGL 7300: THESIS I

FALL 2025 – PORTFOLIO TRACK

One Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Course

Two ENGL Electives

SPRING 2026 – THESIS TRACK

ENGL 6301: Studies in Literary Theory

ENGL 6312: Studies in Single Author

ENGL 7301: THESIS II

SPRING 2026 – PORTFOLIO TRACK

ENGL 6301: Studies in Literary Theory

ENGL 6312: Studies in Single Author

One Linguistics Graduate Course

PORTFOLIO

Please click below for more information and to apply:

https://www.utrgv.edu/graduate/for-future-students/fast-track-programs/index.htm

Fast Track 5 Year BA/MA in English with a Concentration in Literatures & Cultural Studies

The BA/MA degree option in English is designed to provide qualified students the means to complete the requirements for both the BA and MA in a period of five years. A key feature of the option allows students to get a head start on fulfilling the course requirements for the MA by taking up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses (that will count as dual undergraduate and graduate credit) during their senior year. These 12 hours of dual-credit courses will allow students to both finish the requirements for the BA and begin the requirements for the MA in English. Students who pursue this option can be registered in any of the five English concentrations at the BA level but would be taking graduate courses toward the English MA in the Literatures & Cultural Studies Concentration. The graduate hours taken while still enrolled as an undergraduate could be applied toward the specific Area requirements of the English BA degree plan (where applicable) or as general electives.  

The Process:

Apply Spring semester Junior year (to Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair)

Fast-track Admission Requirements:

1. Must be declared in the BA in English (any concentration; excludes teacher certification) at UTRGV.
2. Must have 90 hours completed towards the BA in English with at least 30 hours completed at UTRGV.
3. Must have a minimum average GPA of 3.25 in the major.
4. Must have a minimum university GPA of 3.5.

Application Materials:

Statement of Interest/Purpose

Transcripts

Writing Sample (from ENGL course)

Apply junior year to MA Program (if accepted, grad hours carry over)

Schedule:

Fall senior year: two graduate courses (course should line up with BA & MA requirements to satisfy both degrees) & two UG courses

Spring senior year: two graduate courses (courses should line up with BA & MA requirements to satisfy both degrees)

Summer after BA: two graduate courses

Fall MA (year 5): three graduate courses

Spring MA (year 5): three graduate courses & complete Portfolio, or two graduate courses & Thesis

Two Year Rotation

FALL Year 1

ENGL 6300: Intro to Literary Studies & 3 Under-grad courses

ENGL 6308: Mexican American Literature

SPRING Year 1

ENGL 6302: Studies in Literary History

ENGL 6306: Studies in Comparative Literature

SUMMER 1 Year 1

ENGL 6315: Cultural Studies

SUMMER II  Year 1

ENGL 6304: Studies in British Literature

FALL Year 2 – THESIS TRACK

Choose one Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Course

Choose one Linguistics Graduate Course

ENGL 7300: THESIS I

FALL Year 2 – PORTFOLIO TRACK

One Rhetoric/Composition Graduate Course

Two ENGL Electives

SPRING Year 2 – THESIS TRACK

ENGL 6301: Studies in Literary Theory

ENGL 6312: Studies in Single Author

ENGL 7301: THESIS II

SPRING Year 2 – PORTFOLIO TRACK

ENGL 6301: Studies in Literary Theory

ENGL 6312: Studies in Single Author

One Linguistics Graduate Course

PORTFOLIO

Please click below for more information and to apply:

https://www.utrgv.edu/graduate/for-future-students/fast-track-programs/index.htm

5 Year Dual Degree Brochure