I think the program’s small, intimate dynamic allowed me to make the transition from an undergraduate mindset to having the courage to pursue a Ph.D. program elsewhere. At least for me, the master’s program was an opportunity to explore my interests and test my academic potential in an environment that was nurturing rather than competitive.

Kristen Seas
MA, Spring 2003

Degree Programs

Master of Arts in English is designed for persons who plan to teach in high school or in college, to pursue careers requiring a high level of communication skills, or to pursue further graduate work in English.
Master of Science in Teaching-English is designed for persons already certified to teach English who plan to continue teaching at the high school or middle school level and who wish to pursue additional graduate work.

Some information about these programs is listed below; complete printable fact sheets (PDF) for each program are available on the Graduate Studies website:

Program Requirements

All three programs (MA and MST) require the following core courses as part of the minimum 27 course credits required for the degree:

English 711 - Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
English 713 - Methods of Bibliography and Research
English 715 - Critical Theory in English Studies

Students must also take one course from at least three of the offered graduate-only, 700-level "umbrella" courses in the program. Only three credits of coursework in an area of study outside of the English department may be applied toward the degree.

All students also complete a 3-credit critical thesis (English 799) as the culmination of their graduate study. Students who are referred by the creative writing faculty and have taken 6 credits of creative writing at the graduate level have the option of doing a creative thesis.

Thesis Prospectus Cover Sheet

Master of Arts

The applicant for this degree program must have a baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 24 semester credits of English. Any deficiency in credits must be made up at the undergraduate level. After admission to the program, the student must complete a minimum of 27 semester credits in graduate course offerings (at least 24 credits in English offerings), including Engl 711 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing, Engl 713 Methods of Bibliography and Research, and Engl 715 Critical Theory and English Studies. At least nine of the additional credits in English must come from umbrella courses (Engl 721-789), with three different umbrellas represented. The program may include no more than three seme ster credits of independent study and three semester credits of directed study. A 3.0 GPA in all graduate work is required.

In addition to the 27 credits of coursework, each student must write a three-credit thesis.

Master of Science in Teaching-English

The applicant for this degree program must have a baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 24 semester credits of English. Any deficiency in credits must be made up at the undergraduate level. After admission to the program, the student must take from 12 to 18 semester credits in English graduate offerings, including 711 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing, Engl 713 Methods of Bibliography and Research, and Engl 715 Critical Theory and English Studies; 9 semester credits in Professional Education Offerings; and up to 6 semester credits of Free Electives, depending on how many English credits are needed (any Free Electives may be taken in English). At least half of the credits in English must be in 700-level courses, excluding Engl 796, 797, 799. (NOTE: At least 15 credits in the student's entire MST program must be at the 700-level.) The program may include no more than three semester credits of independent study and three semester credits of directed study. A 3.0 GPA in all graduate work is required.

In addition to the minimum of 42 semester credits in English (including undergraduate credits), the credits required in Professional Education, and the Electives, each student must write a three-credit thesis.