Take elective outside department or take two incredibly difficult theory classes??

[klader]

Hi there,

I'm writing because I'm in a bit of a quandary and could use some advice. I'm starting my MA in the fall, and one of the courses for which I was registered was canceled at the last minute. Its replacement (one of only two seminars offered in my particular concentratration) is basically part 2 of a theory sequence. I'm also taking part 1 of the theory sequence (the only other seminar offered), and while the two are designed to be taken in any order, they typically are NOT taken in the same semester (part 2 is usually offered in alternate years, but they were in a bind and needed to offer it this fall).

I talked to the part 1 professor about this, and he said that it would indeed be very challenging to take both at once due to the reading load and the content but that, since I studied parts of these theories/field as an undergrad, I'd be ahead of the game, which would help me get through it all.

However, I'll also be teaching for the first time, tutoring a few hours/week at the writing center, and presenting at a national conference this fall, so I fear that taking two such heavy, important classes during my first semester would crush me. I'm also relocating to a different state and living on my own for the first time, so I know I'll be going through a tough enough time as it is.

I've heard that grad students usually take elective courses outside their departments to complement their studies, but how can I effectively do that when I'm just getting started?? I have a vague idea of what I want to study, but not enough to know what kind of extra knowledge I could use. I feel like I would just be choosing a random class to stay full-time and keep my tuition waiver.

Given the circumstances, what would you all recommend that I do? I want to get the most out of this semester content-wise, but I also don't want to burn out.

Thanks in advance!

 

Edited August 4, 2016 by klader

[fuzzylogician]

Do you have an assigned faculty advisor? If so, I would write him/her to ask these questions. If not, write the DGS. If you were put in touch with more senior students in your department, they will also be a good source for extra information about how difficult this plan would really be. It sounds like taking these two courses together is possible but not advisable, so given your other commitments and situation, I would probably try to avoid it. Unless, of course, this second course is required and isn't going to be offered again during your time in the program, in which case you don't have much of a choice. As for what else you might take, again this would be best answered by either your advisor or more senior students. Do you know what your post-degree plans are and can you think of any particular course that might help you more than others? If not and no one has a clear suggestion, sometimes you can shop around in the first week or two of class and then make up your mind. And sometimes you just kind of guess and occasionally some courses end up being less useful than others, and that's ok too.  

[klader]

Thanks, @fuzzylogician! I don't have an assigned advisor, and I did set up a meeting with the DGS for next week. I do wish to continue on for the PhD, so I was thinking about maybe taking some kind of research methods class offered in the education department or something. Do you think that would be useful? I'm already exempt from the language requirement because I double-majored in undergrad, so that isn't an option, either. 

[Need Coffee in an IV]

Honestly I would go after the elective course. You are just getting started and it will be easier to know how much of a learning curve you will have. Do you need to take an elective for your program? My program requires to take some electives. But I'm also risk averse, so that influences my advice too. I'm also starting grad school so I don't know how much help I'll be. Haven't signed up for my classes yet, have to wait for orientation. Good luck!

[TakeruK]

You say Part 2 is only offered every other year, but it's being offered this fall. Does this mean that Part 2 won't be offered again until the 2018-2019 school year (i.e. your 3rd year as a graduate student while most MA programs are 2 years or less, right)? 

If this is so, and if you want to take them both in the first two years, then I can see two options:

1. Find out how often Part 1 happens. If Part 1 is offered every year and Part 2 only every other year, then I would suggest taking Part 2 now, replace Part 1 with an elective and then take Part 1 next year.

2. If Part 1 is also only offered every other year and if you want to have both parts done before Year 3 (for whatever reason) then you might have to end up taking both this year. 

If Part 2 is still being offered next year, then my advice is to also take the elective. You don't have to worry about making sure every single course fits a nice theme. Grad school is certainly a place for specialization, but a little breadth in coursework doesn't hurt anyone. You may even be exposed to different ways of thinking that can help you with your main research. Electives are a big part of my graduate program, we have 6 core classes and 5 electives, so about half of our coursework will be different from our peers. I pretty much took electives every single semester along with core classes. I would say to make a (short) list of courses that interest you and when you talk to the DGS next week, present each option to the DGS with your main reason for being interested and see what their input is.

Also, side question --- does the elective have to be outside of your department? No other elective options within department (i.e. is the 2 theory courses you mention the only two courses offered by your department?)

[klader]

Thanks for all the responses and help!

To answer your questions, @TakeruK, I'm in the composition and rhetoric division of my university's English department, so while they do offer other English seminars, they're in, say, Renaissance literature or 20th century American literature, which is not the kind of things that I study in comp/rhet (so not the kinds of courses that I'm actually qualified to take, either. I have almost 0 literature experience).

Part 1 and part 2 are actually the two sequences of rhetorical theory. They offer part 1 and part 2 of rhetorical theory during the fall and spring semesters one year and then part 1 and part 2 of composition theory the next year. So, part 1 and part 2 of rhetorical theory will not be available to me again (unless I stay at this university for my PhD); however, I'm only required to take 2 out of the 4 theory courses, so I could just take part 1 (which is one I really want to take because of the professor and content) this semester and take part 1 or part 2 of composition theory next year (in addition to the other requirements I need to take).

There are typically only two  comp/rhet courses offered each semester (one of the 4 theory courses plus a special topics course, which was unfortunately canceled this semester and replaced with the part 2 course), so everyone basically takes the theory courses and the special topics course (plus maybe another course that might help your research). I also discovered that part 2 is being taught by a renowned scholar at my school, so I really would like to take it and learn from him (and perhaps get him on my MA thesis committee, too!).

I'll of course double check this course pattern and my options with the DGS, but given that I won't be able to take either part 1 or part 2 again, should I just buckle down and do it? I want to take all of the rhetorical theory and composition theory courses so that I can gain a better understanding of my field and be in good shape for PhD applications (we also have MA comp exams, so I feel like the reading I'd do in these courses could help prepare me for that). I'll only be taking 2 courses + a year-long teaching practicum requirement both semesters during my first year but will be able to take 3 courses a semester during my second year, thus giving me more opportunities to find electives to support my thesis research.

Thanks again for the input!