ENG-LITT - English, Literature Concentration, M.A.

The Master of Arts degree program in the Department of English prepares graduates for success in any further graduate and professional education that might require superior analytical and communication skills, as well as for careers outside the academic world wherever superior analytical and communication skills and knowledge of literary and cultural traditions are essential. Our English M.A. also provides superb grounding for seeking a Ph.D. in English by increasing students' knowledge of literary history and improving their skills in writing, literary analysis, and research. Graduates can also become effective high-school or college-level teachers by improving their knowledge of writing pedagogy and theory.

The Literature concentration engages traditional chronological periods of British and American literature alongside a wide variety of additional course offerings. Flexible plans of study provide opportunities to focus on conventional literary-historical areas as well as far-reaching critical and theoretical fields. Our courses help students pose and investigate problems in the advanced study of literature in English, and also provide a strong foundation for those students seeking to pursue a Ph.D. in literature or related fields. Students analyze texts, identify relevant contexts, and communicate complex ideas in a clear, artful manner. Additionally, by developing students’ written and oral communication skills, research abilities, and analytical prowess, this concentration establishes core competencies required for work in many fields.

We offer both a thesis and portfolio option for the Literature M.A.

Thesis Option

• Core Coursework: 12 hours

• Concentration Content Coursework: 12 hours

• Research and Thesis: 6 hours

• Total Degree Requirements: 30 hours

Non-Thesis Option

• Core Coursework: 12 hours

• Concentration Content Coursework: 15 hours

• Non-Thesis Requirement: 3 hours

• Total Degree Requirements: 30 hours