English

The Masters of English Program offers students opportunities for advancing their personal and professional goals within a vibrant learning community. We offer classes in literature, rhetoric, college teaching, and linguistics that emphasize active learning through engaged inquiry, research-based writing, and oral presentations. We welcome students who wish to enlarge their knowledge of literature, improve their critical thinking and writing, and gain an understanding of teaching theory and methods for the college English classroom. Because our students come to us with different writing priorities and professional interests, we support them in pursuit of a diverse set of goals--whether to broaden their understanding of literature, teach in local high schools, attend an MFA or PhD program, or enter the workforce in a humanities or writing-based career.

Our MA program offers several opportunities for intellectual and professional development. All students take a Methods of Graduate Study course and work closely with a mentor on an MA thesis project. Eligible students can cultivate their teaching skills as adjuncts in CSI’s Writing Program.

Two options are offered, one with a concentration in literature and one with a concentration in rhetoric. Students electing the literature option may take all 7 courses in literature, and must take a minimum of five literature courses (ENG 700-level courses); students electing the rhetoric option will take three courses in linguistics or writing (ENG 600-level courses) and four courses in literature (ENG 700-level courses). In addition all students are required to take Methods of Graduate Study, ENG 690; one pre-1800 Literature course; and the independent study, ENG 780 for writing their MA thesis (28-32 pages).

In sum, 34 credits are required for the degree: 7 subject matter courses totaling 28 credits, Methods of Graduate Study, ENG 690, for 3 credits, and the Thesis Independent Study, ENG 780 for 3 credits.