M.A. English

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Master of Arts: English

Degree Options:

  • Thesis
  • Non-Thesis

Who Would be Interested in This Program?

  • Anyone looking for a supportive environment that encourages reading, writing, and thinking at a higher level
  • Current or future English teachers who want to expand knowledge of their content area
  • Students pursuing careers that demand critical thinking, research, and writing skills

What Are the Requirements to be Admitted to the Program?

Applicants should have:

  • at least a 2.5 overall GPA with a 3.0 GPA in upper-division (undergraduate) English coursework
  • an undergraduate major or minor (or equivalent) in English
  • GRE scores of 150 verbal and 4.0 analytical writing (GRE waived for applicants with a 2.5 GPA or higher)

Program requirements include:

  • Specialization in one of three concentrations: rhetoric/composition; literature; or generalist

  • 9 hours of coursework in core English studies courses

  • 15 hours of coursework in chosen concentration

  • 6 hours of elective coursework in English

  • Completion of a thesis and breadth-of-knowledge examination or completions of a two-part breadth- and depth-of-knowledge examination

Where Are Recent Graduates Employed?

  • As teachers in secondary schools
  • Community colleges and universities
  • As teachers of English to speakers of other languages, both in the US and abroad
  • Published authors and professional writers and editors

How Do I Get More Information?