Master of Arts in English

Western Michigan University

The Master of Arts in English offers students opportunities to study literature, literary history, linguistics, literary theory, and the profession of English studies. A thirty-three credit hour degree, the M.A. requires students to enroll in ENGL 6150: Literary Theory and ENGL 6900–Scholarship and Writing in the Profession. The remaining 27 hours consist of elective credit. While ENGL 6150 introduces students to various schools of literary theory, ENGL 6900 serves as a capstone course where students develop a seminar paper into a potentially publishable article. The Master of Arts in English does not require a GRE. This flexible M.A. program allows students to seek jobs in nearly any occupation, including teaching English at the college level. Graduates from our M.A. program also enter prestigious doctoral programs in English. Our students have gone on to the University of Florida, the University of Washington, Michigan State University, Marquette University, Illinois State University, Southern Methodist University, Purdue University, and the University of Kentucky.The Master of Arts with an emphasis on Medieval Language and Literature is a program track that allows students to pursue focused study on the medieval period in literary history. It does not require a GRE. A thirty-three hour degree program, students who select this track are required to take ENGL 6150–Literary Criticism, ENGL 6900–Scholarship and Writing in the Profession, ENGL 5300: Medieval Literature, ENGL 5760–Introduction to Old Norse, and ENGL 6760–Old English. From a menu of other medieval classes, students elect two other courses to round out their focus area these include other literature courses as well as continued study in either Old Norse or Old English. The remaining twelve hours in the program can be filled with any of the department’s other course offerings.

College of Arts and Sciences