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Master of Arts In English

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The Master of Arts degree in English introduces students to advanced teaching and scholarly research in literature and language. The MA is designed to broaden students’ intellectual interests and, thus, encourages them to explore a wide variety of literary periods and rhetorical issues. It prepares students for continued graduate study at the doctoral level, but also for work in a variety of other roles: public history and professional writing, arts and educational administration, grant writing and fundraising, publishing (digital and traditional), and other forms of public humanities work.

The Program offers three concentrations for the MA: Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, and English Studies.

Literature

The Master of Arts in Literature introduces students to professional scholarship in literature, literary theory, and literary history. The degree asks students explore a wide variety of literary periods while simultaneously developing an area of research focus. Students in the MA in Literature take a qualifying examination and have the option of also writing a thesis.

Rhetoric and Composition

The Rhetoric and Composition concentration prep emphasizes technical writing, and the mechanics of writing. It’s applicable to careers such as grant writing, publishing and editing, law, library science, corporate communication, even technical and scientific manual writing.

This concentration is designed to be a 2-year program which requires 30 credit hours as well as reading knowledge of one foreign language. You will complete a thesis or portfolio as your capstone project.

English Studies

The Master of Arts in English Studies is designed for working professionals, especially high-school teachers, interested in a substantial MA program to enhance their credentials and broaden their knowledge in the areas in which they teach and work. Like the Master of Arts degrees in literature and rhetoric and composition, the MA in English Studies asks students to explore a wide variety of literary periods and rhetorical issues. A flexible examination serves as the terminal event in the degree program.

Compass IconView the requirements for each of these concentrations or view all English courses.

Assistantships

Almost all MA, MFA, and PhD students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500, depending on the degree. Assistantships are renewable to students in good standing: up to twenty-four months for MA students, up to thirty-two months for MFA, and forty-eight for PhD. Graduate students in good standing who have taught freshman English (ENGL 101 and 102) are also eligible to teach a variety of courses to broaden their teaching expertise, including literature courses, and to serve as tutors in the program’s Writing Center.

Most graduate assistants are assigned to the University’s first year writing program, in which they have full responsibility for two sections of composition each semester. An extensive series of pre-semester workshops, a semester-long seminar in the teaching of college composition, and a mentoring system complement graduate work and assist in professional development. Summer teaching is also available to a limited number of graduate students.

How to apply

The application deadline is January 1 for prospective students wanting the concentration of literary studies and rhetoric and composition. There is no deadline for applications for the English Studies concentration. However, to ensure full consideration for summer or fall admission, applicants should complete the Graduate School’s application by April 20. To ensure full consideration for spring admission, applicants should complete the application by November 15.

The application will ask you to submit a CV, statement of purpose, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation, in addition to transcripts and other basic academic information. Please consult the following documents for advice on application materials, statements of purpose, and writing samples.

While GRE scores (general or subject tests) are not required for admission to the MA, MFA, or PhD programs, students are still encouraged to submit these scores. The minimum GPA for admission to SIU Carbondale’s Graduate School is 2.7 (of 4.0).

Contact Information

Ryan Netzley
Director of Graduate Studies
Faner 2276
1000 Faner Dr
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-453-6845
rnetzley@siu.edu

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School of Literature, Writing, and Digital Humanities | College of Liberal Arts | 618-453-5321 |