Accelerated BA/MA- Literary Option Program

The Department of English and Philosophy offers an accelerated BA/MA program for its most talented undergraduates in the English BA program (Literature Option). It provides outstanding bachelor's degree students in English a "fast-track" option, allowing them to pursue up to twelve credits of graduate-level coursework (usually at the 5000-level) and count those credits toward both their undergraduate and graduate degree.

Suggested Preparatory Courses

Applicants to the combined BA/MA - Literary Option should plan on having completed the following courses before applying: ENGL 2211 Introduction to Literary Analysis and ENGL 3311 Literary Criticism and Theory

Admission Requirements

Declared English majors (Literature Option) may apply to the program after having successfully
completed 75 credits at the undergraduate level. Applications for admission must be made to the English Graduate Program, and students must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for admission:

1. Undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or better, with a GPA of 3.7 or better in ENGL courses;
2. Writing sample of 10 pages; and,
3. 1-page statement of purpose detailing the applicant’s professional goals and interest in the program.

For details on application and admission into the Accelerated program in English, please see (English).

Program Logistics 

Students accepted into an accelerated undergraduate program may take departmentally approved graduate coursework as part of their undergraduate curriculum. These credits will count towards both their bachelor's and master's degrees and can fulfill major requirements, upper-division requirements, and/or free electives.  For details on accelerated programs at Idaho State University, please see (Degree Requirements).

Once accepted into an accelerated degree program, it is strongly recommended for students to stay in close communication with their undergraduate advisor and the English Graduate Program Director regarding pursuit of acceptance into the Graduate School and the master's degree program at Idaho State University. Acceptance into an accelerated program during the bachelor's degree program is the first step in the admissions process. A separate application to the Graduate School is necessary for all accelerated programs. For more information regarding application and admission to the Graduate School at Idaho State University, please see the Graduate Admissions section of the graduate catalog (http://coursecat.isu.edu/graduate/graduateadmissions/).

Graduates from the accelerated BA/MA - Literary Option will receive separate undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Program Advising

Students who wish to pursue the accelerated BA/MA - Literary Option are strongly encouraged to work closely with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies in English to ensure that they are planning their course coursework to fulfill all of the requirements for the degree.

Financial Aid Impacts

Students in this program should be aware that once they are registered predominantly for graduate level coursework, their student status will change and they will be classified as graduate students for the purposes of financial aid for the remainder of the semesters that they are enrolled. This new graduate student classification has direct impacts for Pell Grant recipients and could also impact recipients of other forms of undergraduate financial aid in terms of the amounts and types of grants, loans, and scholarships available. Students should work closely with the Office of Financial Aid to understand the impact of the shift from undergraduate to graduate student status.

The accelerated BA/MA - Literary Option allows students to take up to 12-credits, usually at the 5000-level, as part of their undergraduate degree. The following curriculum provides an example of how this curriculum may look. It is not intended to be a degree map. Rather, it is an example of how a student might plan their time to complete the accelerated BA/MA - Literary Option. Students should work closely with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies in English to ensure they are enrolling appropriately each semester.

Sample Curriculum

This sample BA/MA degree map is adapted from the undergraduate degree map currently provided in the Undergraduate Catalog, and meets the Graduate School’s credit requirements for a graduate degree.

Apply to BA/MA Program

Students apply to the program during the Spring semester of the 3rd year.

Graduate Coursework and Bachelor's Degree

Graduate coursework begins in the Fall of the 4th Year. Bachelor’s degree awarded at the end of Spring semester pending successful completion of bachelor degree requirements.

Applying to the Graduate School and Master's Degree

Students apply to the Graduate School during the Fall of the 5th year. Master’s degree awarded at the end of Spring semester pending successful completion of master’s degree requirements.

Credit Totals

• 108 undergraduate credits
•   12 graduate credits that will also count toward undergraduate requirements in the English major and toward the BA
•   30 total graduate credits (18 at the 6600-level)