English - MA/MS

Master of Arts/Master of Science in English Requirements

The English Department at Utah State University offers a master’s degree (MA or MS) that allows students to do advanced work in the fields of Literature, Culture, and Composition or in the field of Creative Writing. The aim is to professionalize students and to help them to become scholars and teachers of English. Any student with a strong undergraduate education in English or related fields and a desire to pursue that education further is welcome to pursue the master’s degree in English. The degree caters directly to future Ph.D. students in English, future two-year college instructors, and secondary educators. For up-to-date information, including advice for submitting a competitive application, refer to the English graduate program. For more comprehensive information about graduate programs in the English Department, refer to the English Graduate Handbook. To apply, go to the graduate school admission page. 

Applicants will be admitted to either the specialization in Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC) or the Specialization in Creative Writing (SCW). The GRE, MAT, or GMAT are not required to be considered for the English graduate program. Applicants need to have a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in the last 60 credits taken in order to be considered. International applicants from non-English-speaking countries should see the additional requirements described on the Graduate School Admissions Policies.

All coursework can be completed within the English Department. However, students may take one course outside the department if it is relevant to their Program of Study and they have received permission from both the DGS and their Supervisory Committee chair to take it.    

Although most of their courses will be completed within the English MA/MS curriculum, students may also take courses in the department’s other master’s programs (Folklore and Technical Communication). Coursework may include some online courses; however, the MA/MS in English is an on-campus degree and may not be completed by taking only online classes.

Specialization in Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)

The MA/MS in English with the specialization in Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC) study subjects as varied as Nordic mythology, the influence of reggae in contemporary world literature, and agency in the teaching of composition. Students with a strong background and interest in critical thinking, reading, and writing are encouraged to apply.  

In this specialization, students are required to take at least one course in each area—literature, culture, and composition—and concentrate in one area for their thesis, which they develop in collaboration with a faculty mentor and a thesis committee. In addition to traditional projects, students have written theses on the intersection of Harry Potter and social media, Star Wars as it moves from the screen to the page, and how race factors into writing instruction. The degree caters especially to those who plan to continue their studies by seeking a Ph.D. in English education, rhetoric and composition, literature, or cultural studies, as well as to future two-year college instructors and secondary educators.  

Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits (including thesis credits) for the Master of Arts or the Master of Science degree.  

Students’ Program of Study should include at least one in-person course in each area: one Literature class (3 credits), one Culture class (3 credits), and one Composition class (3 credits). Courses may not be double-counted. For instance, a student taking ENGL 6350  (American Literature and Culture) to count for their “Literature” category requirement may not also use it to count for their “Culture” category requirement, even though the course is classified in both categories. 6820  Practicum in Teaching English (a pedagogy class for new Graduate Instructors) does not count for the “Composition” category requirement.  

Students must complete a thesis project. Most students complete a Plan B thesis project, a scholarly exploration of an applicable topic that may come in a variety of forms, such as a journal-length essay, a review of literature, a personal essay, or a combination of several forms (e.g., multimedia) that are the equivalent of 30–50 pages of writing. However, a predominantly creative work such as a collection of poems or a creative nonfiction essay, while acceptable in the Creative Writing specialization, would not be appropriate for the Plan B thesis in the LCC specialization.   

Depending on their project, a student’s Supervisory Committee chair may encourage them to do a Plan A project, a critical study of 50–100 pages in length that involves 3 additional credits of Thesis and one fewer seminar. 

Students should take coursework that supports the topic of their thesis. For example, if they want to write a thesis on science fiction literature, they should take as many literature courses as possible.  

Specialization in Creative Writing (SCW)

The MA/MS in English with a Specialization in Creative Writing allows students to do advanced work in creative writing, concentrating on poetry, fiction, and/or creative nonfiction. Students with a strong background in creative writing who desire to continue on that path are encouraged to apply. In this specialization, students take creative-writing workshops in all three of the genres before concentrating on one genre for their thesis on which they work closely with a faculty member and their thesis committee. Hybrid theses that cross genre boundaries are also welcome. The aim of this specialization is to allow students additional time after their undergraduate work to hone their craft, continue their apprenticeship as a writer, complete a substantial body of work, and pursue publication. The degree caters especially to those who plan to continue their studies in creative writing by seeking a Ph. D. or MFA in creative writing, as well as to future two-year college instructors and secondary educators. For more details, refer to the Creative Writing Specialization.

Students should take graduate creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (one workshop per semester) as well as other coursework that supports their theses. For example, if students want to write a poetry thesis, they will benefit from enrolling in as many poetry-oriented literature courses as possible.

Requirements for MA/MS Degree in English

Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of B- or lower will not be accepted for an English graduate degree.

The Program of Study for the English master’s degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. Refer to degree requirements above for more information. To count toward degree requirements, courses numbered below 6000 must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and Supervisory Committee chair.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

At least 24-semester credits for the English master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.

Students may take a one-week ENGL summer credit workshop at the master’s (6000) level with the approval of their supervisory committee; however, summer workshops are not covered by tuition waiver.

In addition to the minimum 30 credits of coursework, Plan A Masters students must take Responsible Conduct of Research training, a brief online training on ethical conduct in research that the university requires.

All English graduate students must successfully defend their thesis and submit the thesis to the library. An oral defense typically takes place in the last semester of study. For details on the thesis writing and defense process, refer to the English Graduate Handbook.

An English graduate student will be required to complete the following academic forms during their time of study:

• Supervisory Committee
• Program of Study
• Thesis/Project Approval
• Appointment for Examination
• Record of Examination
• SGS and library review and approval
• Other forms may be required; for details refer to the English Graduate Handbook

Additional Requirements for MA Degree

To obtain an MA (Master of Arts) degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Students in English must pass a language requirement in order to receive an MA degree. Without a foreign language, students will receive an MS (Master of Science). 

The language requirement for the MA degree may be completed in the following ways: 

Test: Pass a test of written and oral comprehension in an approved foreign language through the Department of Language, Philosophy, and Communication Studies at Utah State University. 

Coursework: Students may satisfy the requirement through one of the following forms of coursework: 

• Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020 level or higher (or its equivalent) 
• Demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level (or its equivalent) in one language and the 2020-level (or its equivalent) for the other 
• Complete an upper-division (3000-level or higher or the equivalent) in a foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Note: Conversation courses do not satisfy this requirement. 

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree or who have passed coursework in a foreign language within the past five years from the date of matriculation into the English graduate program may petition for acceptance of coursework to fulfill the language requirement for the MA degree. Please see the English Department’s Director of Graduate Studies for more information.