Composition Studies: Online Degrees: Online Degree Programs: Indiana University

Composition Studies

Graduate Certificate

Course Delivery
100% Online
Total Credits
20
In-State Tuition Per Credit
$320.00
Out of State Tuition Per Credit
$450.00

Composition Studies

Graduate Certificate

The IU Online Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies explores the core principles of writing and literature. Learn to teach students to craft sound arguments using close attention to logic, context, and audience. Develop a fluency with the current debates, schools, and theories of writing instruction.

Areas of focus include:

Contemporary theory on the pedagogy of composition and literature
Linguistic structures and history of the English language
Reading strategies and literary analysis, with attention to close reading, style, form, genre, and rhetorical practices
Approaches to composition and writing instruction, including the identification and evaluation of sources, use of evidence, generation of ideas, and the development and organization of argument
Developing archival research skills and facility with electronic resources
Developments, trends, and frontiers in the digital humanities

Of Special Interest for Dual-Credit and Community College Instructors Needing to Meet HLC Standards

The Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies is ideal for those who want to teach dual-credit courses and who need to meet Higher Learning Commission dual-credit qualification standards. These standards require teachers wanting to teach dual-credit courses to hold either a master's degree in their area of instruction or a master's degree in another discipline (such as education), plus at least 18 credit hours of discipline-specific graduate coursework.

If you hold a master's degree in another discipline, you can meet HLC standards by completing the 20 credit hour Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies.
If you plan to pursue the IU Online MA in English or the IU Online Master of Liberal Studies, you may apply the 20 credit hours from the Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies toward the master's degree.

Your IU Online Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies prepares you for such careers as:

Composition dual-credit teacher (high school)
Composition instructor (community college)

This 100 percent online, consortial program is taught by IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. This consortial model allows you to take coursework from several campuses and learn from a wide range of faculty.

Certificate Requirements

To enroll in this program, you must possess either a BA in English (or related bachelor's degree in education with an English specialization, concentration, or outside area) or two years of secondary teaching experience in literature or composition classes. To earn the Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies, you must complete a total of 20 credit hours.

NOTE: If you choose to pursue the IU Online MA in English or the IU Online Master of Liberal Studies, these certificate courses may apply to ("stack into") your degree requirements. Admission to the Certificate in Composition Studies does not constitute admission into any of the face-to-face graduate programs in English at the participating campuses.

See courses that are being offered this semester.

Download a printable PDF summary of all our graduate programs for teachers.

Admissions

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

A bachelor's degree
To enroll in this program, you must possess either a BA in English (or related bachelor's degree in education with an English specialization, concentration, or outside area) or two years of secondary teaching experience in literature or composition classes.
3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale

NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states

To apply to this program:

Complete an online application that includes:

Transcripts
250-word personal statement explaining background and reasons for entering the program
TOEFL scores (international students only)

Application Dates

Fall semester: Aug 1

Spring semester: Jan 1

Summer 1 semester: May 1

Summer 2 semester: Jun 15

Courses

Core

ENG-G 660 -or- ENG-L 646	Stylistics -or- Readings in Media/Literature/Culture	4 Credits
ENG-W 500 -or- ENG-W 509	Teaching Composition: Issues & Approaches -or- Writing and Literacy Studies	4 Credits
ENG-W 501 -or- ENG-W 600	Teaching of Composition in College -or- Topics of Rhetoric and Composition	4 Credits
ENG-W 590 -or- ENG-W 620	Teaching Writing: Theories and Application -or- Advanced Argumentative Writing	4 Credits
ENG-W 682	Sp. Topics: Rhetoric & Composition	4 Credits

Tuition & Fees

Cost for Indiana Residents

Per Credit Hour
Tuition: $320.00

3 Credit Hours
Tuition: $960.00

Note:

Additional fees will apply.

-This program is eligible for financial aid at IU East and IUPUI.

Cost for Out of State Residents

Per Credit Hour
Tuition: $450.00

3 Credit Hours
Tuition: $1350.00

What's it like to be an IU Online Student?

Earn an IU education from wherever you are

When you enroll in an IU Online program, you take IU classes, taught by the same faculty who teach on our campuses.

It's the flexible, affordable way to get the IU education you deserve without putting your life—or career—on hold.
Get the support you need to succeed

As a student in an IU Online program, you'll have the opportunity to engage with and seek help from your professors and peers, just as you would in a campus-based program.

You'll also have access to a variety of academic and other support services that you can call on when you need additional assistance. You're an important part of the IU community and we're dedicated to ensuring you have the resources you need to thrive in your online program.
Reap the rewards for decades to come

No matter what field you're in, an IU degree or certificate can improve your chances of earning a promotion or pay raise.

You'll also earn skills that will help you to achieve success for the foreseeable future, whether you're seeking to complete an advanced degree in your current field or switch career paths altogether.
Take the first step toward a more rewarding future

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