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Master of Arts in English
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Why Choose English?
A Master of Arts degree in English prepares you to advance in a wide range of careers. Our graduates are thriving as Ph.D. students, college professors, high school teachers, professional writers, editors, publishers, business entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders in nonprofits as well as community organizations. Our M.A. degree includes a flexible curriculum that you can customize to meet your personal as well as professional goals in two years of study—and our courses provide advanced instruction in the kinds of writing, research, critical thinking, creative analysis, and global cultural studies that local, national, and international employers value. The English graduate program also has funding opportunities that can make completing your M.A. degree more affordable.
Careers
Recent graduates of our program are:
- fully-funded students in competitive Ph.D. programs
- employed as technical writers locally and in major cities across the country
- teaching English as a second language abroad
- running their own businesses
View the English program profile for sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections.
Real-World Experience
Recent graduates of our program have:
- published their writing
- developed podcasts and videos
- pursued internships at magazines and media outlets
- presented their research at academic conferences
Academics and Curriculum
All students complete 30 hours of graduate coursework (usually, 10 classes). Two courses are required: a gateway course that prepares students to succeed by introducing them to the research methods and materials commonly used in English studies, and a capstone course that supports students as they complete a required culminating project. Students select the other 8 courses they will take based on their own interests, and we offer a range of courses in literary studies, creative writing, and English education. Students may also take up to three courses in another discipline for their degree. Please note, however, that we do not currently have an online-only option for completing the Master of Arts in English degree.
View the Master of Arts in English program information in the Academic Catalog.
Admission
We accept applications for admission on a rolling basis. However, applicants who plan to submit the separate application required for our scholarship and teaching assistantship opportunities should apply for admission by the priority deadline of January 1 and must submit their second application for funding opportunities by February 1.
In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School, applicants for regular standing in the M.A. program in English must present a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7 (based on a 4.0 system) or an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, but with a 3.0 or better for the last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours earned toward the undergraduate degree. Applicants whose overall grade point average is between 2.5 and 2.7 (based on a 4.0 scale)—or less than 2.5 but above 2.3, if the grade point average for the last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours earned toward the undergraduate degree is 2.7 or better—may be admitted to conditional standing.
Those seeking regular admission for whom English is a second or other language must also meet one of the following minimum language proficiency requirements: TOEFL IBT 100, IELTS 7.5, or PTE-A 68. To be considered for conditional admission, those for whom English is a second or other language must present a score of TOEFL IBT 80, IELTS 6.5, or PTE-A 53.
All applicants must submit a writing sample of at least 5, but no more than 8, pages (1250-2000 words). The writing sample should demonstrate your overall writing style, and it may be an example of creative writing, a professional document, or a research-based analysis. Although we welcome writing samples that engage in literary interpretation, your writing sample need not focus on topics specific to English studies—and may be a paper you submitted in an undergraduate course.
Our Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship opportunities require a separate application that is made available to students once they have been admitted to the program.
How to Apply
Apply online to the Graduate School.
