MA Master of Arts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How do most US Master of Arts programs handle full-time enrollment in terms of credit hours per semester?
- 3-5 credit hours
- 9-12 credit hours (Correct answer)
- 18-21 credit hours
- 24-27 credit hours
Correct answer: 9-12 credit hours
Full-time graduate enrollment in the US is typically defined as 9–12 credit hours per semester.
Question 2: Which funding mechanism specifically supports MA students by exchanging teaching duties for a stipend and tuition waiver?
- Pell Grant
- Teaching assistantship (Correct answer)
- Work-study program
- Presidential scholarship
Correct answer: Teaching assistantship
A teaching assistantship (TA) provides a stipend and often a tuition waiver in exchange for the student assisting with undergraduate instruction.
Question 3: What does it mean when an MA program is described as 'cohort-based'?
- Students must maintain a B average to remain enrolled
- A fixed group of students begins and progresses through the program together (Correct answer)
- Admission is open at any time during the year
- Courses are offered only online
Correct answer: A fixed group of students begins and progresses through the program together
A cohort-based program admits a group of students who take classes and complete milestones together on the same schedule.
Question 4: In the context of graduate admissions, what does a 'writing sample' submitted with an MA application typically demonstrate?
- Proficiency in a foreign language
- The applicant's capacity for scholarly argumentation and analysis (Correct answer)
- Undergraduate GPA performance
- Professional work history
Correct answer: The applicant's capacity for scholarly argumentation and analysis
A writing sample shows admissions committees that the applicant can construct and sustain an academic argument at the graduate level.
Question 5: Which standardized test score has been most commonly waived or made optional by US MA programs since the early 2020s?
- TOEFL
- GRE General Test (Correct answer)
- GMAT
- LSAT
Correct answer: GRE General Test
Many US graduate programs dropped or made optional the GRE General Test requirement beginning around 2020, a trend that has continued.
Question 6: What is the function of a comprehensive exam (comps) in an MA program that does not require a thesis?
- To replace the undergraduate degree transcript
- To assess mastery of the field before the degree is awarded (Correct answer)
- To qualify students for doctoral programs only
- To evaluate language proficiency
Correct answer: To assess mastery of the field before the degree is awarded
Comprehensive exams assess whether the student has mastered the core knowledge and methods of their discipline before the degree is conferred.
Question 7: Which of the following best defines 'articulation agreement' as it relates to MA programs?
- A faculty contract specifying teaching loads
- A formal agreement allowing students to transfer credits between institutions (Correct answer)
- A requirement that theses must follow a specific citation style
- A policy mandating oral defense of coursework
Correct answer: A formal agreement allowing students to transfer credits between institutions
An articulation agreement is a formal arrangement between institutions that recognizes and transfers specific credits, easing student transitions.
MA Master of Arts 3
How do most US Master of Arts programs handle full-time enrollment in terms of credit hours per semester?