Preparation for Graduate Study in the Arts & Humanities

Fall Semester
	SR		4901		Graduate School Preparation I: GRE Prep (2 Credits)
	SR		4131		Researching Degree Programs (3 Credits)
	SR		4132		Creating Your Application Portfolio (3 Credits)
	EL				Elective (2 Credits)
	EL				Elective (2 Credits)
Winter Semester
	SR		4902		Graduate School Preparation II: GRE Prep (2 Credits)
	SR		4903		GRE Exam (2 Credits)
	SR		4139		Humanities Internship (4 Credits)
	SR		4995		Senior Thesis (2 Credits)
	SR		4999		Oral Defense (2 Credits)

 

SR4901 Graduate School Preparation I: GRE Prep (2 credits)

Whether or not students choose to attend Graduate School after George Wythe, they will all prepare for and take the GRE as part of their senior year studies. Students will enroll in an assigned online GRE Prep course that runs for approximately two four-month sessions.

The Texts of this course will be the first half of an actual GRE prep course online.

 

 SR4131 Researching Degree Programs (3 Credits)

This course is for students who plan to attend a graduate program in an area other than business, law or medicine. The process of preparing for graduate study can be divided into three phases, 1) finding the programs that fit you, 2) preparing for and taking required exams, 3) writing essays, getting recommendations & completing application portfolios. Foresight, time management and diplomacy are essential for successful entry into graduate school. This course focuses on phases one and two. Students will spend 75-100 hours researching graduate programs, talking to admissions personnel, students and faculty of many schools, and if possible visiting campuses. This process is by nature mostly self-directed for the student. However, mentors, professors, authors, and other students are valuable resources in finding the right fit for you and anticipating roadblocks. By the end of this course the student should have a narrowed down list of 5-10 programs that they truly feel will prepare them for their calling.

• Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D., by Robert Peters
• Graduate Schools in the U.S., by Peterson's (or a similar book),
• latest edition GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test 10th Edition, by Education Testing Service
• Choosing the Right College, by John Zmerak

 

SR4132 Creating Your Application Portfolio (3 Credits)

The final phase of preparation for graduate school is the most delicate and challenging. This is where the student has to find two or three people to who truly know their strengths and will skillfully write letters of recommendation. The student also will write his/her statement(s) of purpose for each specific program to which they are applying. Students will learn how to artfully put themselves on the page and craft cohesive essays that tie together their strengths and tell their story in engagingly. This is where the student is tested in mastery of the trivium: logic, grammar and rhetoric. The texts for this course are intended to refresh the student's knowledge of the trivium and refine their ability to reason, inform and persuade through the mediums of writing and speaking. Mentors will work closely with students, refining multiple drafts of essays. Many graduate programs conduct interviews; mentors will coach students in preparation for successful interviews. In summary, by the completion of this course a student should be ready to submit excellent, well-crafted, competitive applications to various graduate programs.

• The Trivium: The Liberal Arts of Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric, by Sister Miriam
• Joseph and Marguerite McGlinn Graduate Admissions Essays:
• Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice, by Donald Asher
• The Great Ideas: A Lexicon of Western Thought, by Mortimer J. Adler

 

Elective (2 credits) Students may choose preexisting electives related to their emphasis, or work with a mentor to design an elective best suited to their interests and needs.

 

Elective (2 credits) Students may choose preexisting electives related to their emphasis, or work with a mentor to design an elective best suited to their interests and needs.

 

SR4902 Graduate School Preparation II: GRE Prep (2 Credits)

Whether or not students choose to attend Graduate School after George Wythe, they will all prepare for and take the GRE as part of their senior year studies. Students will enroll in an assigned online GRE Prep course that runs for approximately two four-month sessions.

The Texts of this course will be the second half of an actual GRE prep course online.

 

SR4903 GRE Exam (2 Credits)

In this course, students will actually take the GRE examination from an approved third-party organization. An official document of student test results must be submitted to the mentor before this course will be counted as complete.

 

SR4139 Humanities Internship (4 Credits)

This course requires each student to set up an internship or field experience in the area of their chosen emphasis. Students will be encouraged to set up an internship that will help them gain experience, meet key people, gain allies and personal connections for assistance in future projects, and learn the workings, language and processes of their chosen emphasis. Throughout the process of designing and arranging the internship, students should work with their mentor, follow internship guidelines, and receive approval from their mentor. Students will also meet regularly with a GW mentor and with other interning students throughout the internship process.

To complete this course, students must: Find an internship in an academic setting, with an organization tied closely to the field of academia. Work a minimum of 320 hours as an intern within a 5 month period. Find a mentor from that school or field, and meet with them regarding your preparations weekly. Meet with a GW Mentor over the phone, internet, or in person regarding your progress weekly. Keep an Internship Journal and submit it to your mentor for review at the internship's conclusion. Write an internship report at the conclusion that details lessons learned from the experience.

 

SR4995 Senior Thesis (2 Credits)

Students are required to submit a Senior Thesis or a detailed description and analysis of a Senior Project. This paper or project description should be the student's best work, show outside observers the quality of depth and breadth gained, and highlight his or her academic maturity. Students should plan to spend a minimum of 48 hours completing this course under the direction of their mentor. Basic guidelines for the Senior Thesis are detailed in the syllabus.

Submit a quality paper to be kept on file as the best work of your undergraduate years. You may also submit a project summary to fill this requirement.

 

SR4999 Oral Defense (2 Credits)

Each student must defend his or her degree program by taking an oral examination administered in person or online by a board of mentors. Students will be asked to show familiarity and competency in each area of their undergraduate program. They will also be asked to defend their senior year emphasis and their senior thesis for quality, effectiveness and relevancy.

Stand for an Oral Defense administered by a two-four mentor panel. You will prove competency in each of the required subject areas of your undergraduate degree. The Oral Defense carries with it a $75.00 fee each time it is taken (fees for this class are subject to change).

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