Dear Students, I'm writing to give you some information on a new accelerated BA-MA program, which will allow qualified students to begin taking coursework for the master's degree as an undergraduate student. Complete details are pasted below and are contained in the attached handout. The application form for this program is also attached to this message. The department will be able to award 2 $1000 and 1 $500 tuition scholarships for the Spring 2019 semester to the first group of students entering this program. All of those who apply by Friday, November 16, will be considered for these awards. If you have any questions about the program, contact Professor Orchard at worchard@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:worchard@qc.cuny.edu>. Accelerated BA-MA Program in English What is it? Accelerated degrees allow qualified students to begin taking coursework for a master's degree as an undergraduate student. This translates to accelerated completion of graduate education, as well as savings in tuition funds. Up to 12 credits (4 classes) of graduate coursework can count towards both a student's baccalaureate degree requirements and the degree requirements for the master's degree in English. Who is eligible? Junior and senior English majors with GPAs of 3.5 or higher. How does it work? After being accepted into the program, up to 9 graduate English credits may satisfy elective requirements in the English BA. Usually, these will satisfy elective requirements in the English major. The following classes may then also count towards completion of the MA in English: ENGL 701. Graduate Methodologies ENGL 636. History of Literary Criticism Any 600- or 700-level English elective course (excluding the creative-writing workshops and craft classes reserved for MFA students). Upon completing the requirements for the BA, students will be accepted in the MA program. The master's degree requires 30 credits (10 classes) total, which means that students in this program will have as few as six courses to complete in order to earn the MA degree. Note: For undergraduate students who are enrolled in the QC English Honors Program, two semesters of ENGL 399 will count as 6 graduate credits toward the English MA degree. These students may take up to two of the graduate English courses listed above, allowing them to transfer 12 graduate credits to the English MA program. (Twelve is the maximum number of graduate transfer credits that is allowed by the College.) How to apply? To apply to the program, submit the following information to William Orchard, Assistant Director of Graduate Studies, by email (worchard@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:worchard@qc.cuny.edu>): 1. a writing sample of about 3-5 pages demonstrating their strongest work in an English course; 2. the name of one English Department faculty member who has agreed to serve as the student's referral (no formal letters of recommendation required); 3. a completed application form