English, MA

The English MA program in the School of Humanities and Cultural Studies offers a flexible graduate education designed to meet various employer and student needs, including those of prospective or practicing educators, professional writers, ESL specialists, and predoctoral students. The program is structured around work in language, literature, and writing. Courses are regularly available in the standard areas of literature, linguistics, composition, rhetoric, professional writing, and cultural studies, as well as in nontraditional and interdisciplinary studies. Elective options allow students to design programs to meet their personal, educational, and professional goals. In addition to the course and thesis options, special options allow students to combine courses in literature or language with work in creative writing, professional writing, technical writing, women's and gender studies, or the teaching of writing and literature, among other options. The program in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), which includes linguistics and prepares students to teach English to nonnative speakers, may be pursued as an elective option, as an endorsement for certified public school teachers, or as a concentration in itself. Interdisciplinary options allow work in programs such as reading, communications, religion studies, or history. By offering on-the-job experience at appropriate sites, internships within the various options prepare students for professional writing careers, college teaching, or positions in special collections, archives, and private and rare book libraries. Full-time or part-time study is possible.