M.A. in English with a Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric

Through our graduate programs, Stony Brook’s English Department participates in learning communities around the world. Professionals with Stony Brook English degrees teach in secondary schools, colleges and universities, present research at scholarly conferences, and write for specialized and general-interest audiences.Students enrolled in the Master of Arts program pursue a course of study that includes courses in historical periods, literary genres, topics in gender, race and cultural studies, and various writing workshops. The program offers students the opportunity to broaden as well as deepen their knowledge of literature while also developing their own writing skills. This course of study leads to the Master of Arts degree and requires 30 credits, including a master’s thesis, for completion. Students also have the option to specialize by completing a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric. While pursuing the M.A. in English, students may also earn an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in women’s, gender and sexuality studies, media, arts, cultural and technology, or composition studies. Students in the MA in English Literature program can enroll full-time or part-time. We offer flexible schedules with evening courses and online course options. Students can complete the English MA program entirely online as of Fall 2022.

The following, in addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, are required for admission to the M.A. program:

A. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution;

B. An average of at least B in the last two years of undergraduate work;

C. An official transcript of all undergraduate work;

D. Letters of recommendation from three instructors;

E. A writing sample (10 double-spaced pages; page count does not include bibliography);

F. Acceptance by both the Department of English and the Graduate School.