About This Program

The English M.A. program offers advanced study in literature, writing, and critical thinking. With a focus on small class sizes and mentorship from experienced faculty, you'll hone your analytical and creative skills and advance your career opportunities. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Mark Bracher | mbracher@kent.edu | 330-672-2665
  Bee Viton | bviton@kent.edu | 330-672-1708
• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Writing sample (8-15 pages) relevant to the field of study (writing sample waived for Concentration for Teachers)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 587 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 82 MELAB score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 Duolingo English Test score

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: January 15
    Applications must be submitted by this deadline to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
ENG 61000	INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH AND PEDAGOGY IN CRITICAL READING	3
ENG 61094	INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN THE TEACHING OF COLLEGE WRITING 1	0-3
Concentrations
Choose from the following:		30
Concentration for Teachers
Literature and Writing
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		33

¹

Students who will serve as graduate assistants are required to take ENG 61094. Students who are not graduate assistants do not have to take the course; however, they must complete an additional 3 credit hours of additional coursework to meet the minimum 33 credit hours to graduate.

Concentration for Teachers Concentration Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Concentration Requirements
Choose from the following (three courses, each from a separate area):		9
Literary Traditions
Rhetoric and Composition
Literary Criticism and Theory
Creative Writing
Electives 1		18-21
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		30

¹

Elective courses may include 9 credit hours taken outside the Department of English, 6 credit hours of graduate workshops, and 6 credit hours of master's project.

Literature and Writing Concentration Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Concentration Requirements
Choose one focus from the following:		30
Literary Traditions Focus
Literary Traditions courses (12)
Literary Criticism and Theory course (3)
Electives and/or Thesis (15)
Theory and Criticism Focus
Literary Criticism and Theory (12)
Literary Traditions courses (6)
Electives and/or Thesis (12)
Rhetoric and Composition Focus
ENG 65012	READING AND INTERPRETING RESEARCH ON WRITING
ENG 65044	RESEARCH DESIGN
Literary Traditions courses (6)
Literary Criticism and Theory course (3)
Elective (3)
Choose from the following (12):
ENG 65022	RHETORICAL THEORY:GREEK AND ROMAN
ENG 65023	RHETORICAL THEORY:18TH, 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES
ENG 65027	ROLE OF COMPOSITION
ENG 65035	LINGUISTICS FOR RHETORICIANS
ENG 65051	LITERACY:FUNCTIONS, PRACTICES AND HISTORY
ENG 65052	WRITING ACTIVITY AS SOCIAL PRACTICE
ENG 65053	WRITING TECHNOLOGIES
Elective (3)
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		30

Graduation Requirements

Students are required to complete 33 credit hours of graded coursework to earn the M.A. degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to think critically about the literary texts they read and interpret.
2. Demonstrate how to write coherently and clearly about research topics and other topics.
3. Demonstrate an understanding on how disciplines are interconnected.
4. Apply appropriate research methods to objects of study.
5. Demonstrate effective teaching skills and knowledge of appropriate teaching theories, if on appointment.

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in English offers students broad learning in English studies while providing concentrated study in one area.

The English major comprises the following concentrations:

The Concentration for Teachers is for educators interested in advanced study of literature and writing. Coursework focuses on current scholarship and approaches to literature and writing. While not a degree in literary and composition pedagogy, the concentration is designed to encourage the application of current literary and writing research to the work responsibilities of the practicing teacher.

The Literature and Writing concentration prepares students for further graduate study in English and related fields, for professional training in such fields as library and information science and for careers in teaching. The program achieves this goal with distribution requirements, electives and a required focus in either literary traditions, critical theory or rhetoric and composition.