Master of Arts in English Emphasis Options
We offer four emphases for students to choose from: Creative Writing, English Education, English Studies, or Literature. With our Creative Writing emphasis, you can hone your creative work, explore new forms and genres, and engage with our award-winning creative writing faculty and fellow students. The English Education emphasis is geared towards students interested in becoming secondary-level English teachers, and in-service teachers looking to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge of literature. Our English Studies emphasis is designed for students pursuing a more generalized master’s degree in an online environment. With our Literature emphasis, the study of literature is the core of what we do.
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Master of Arts in English: Creative Writing Emphasis
Our creative writing program was ranked second in the country by CollegeRank.net!
MA in English, Creative Writing Emphasis: Full Program Curriculum
Creative Writing students will take courses such as:
- Creative Nonfiction Writing
- Creative Writing Forms and Crafts
- Fiction Writing
- Poetry Writing
- Screenwriting
Creative Writing Thesis:
The thesis includes a manuscript of original writing with a critical foreword, both requiring extensive research and substantial writing on the thesis topic. The manuscript can be a creative response to literary works or original creative poetry, fiction, and/or nonfiction. The critical introduction will situate the creative component within the literary, historical, and/or theoretical context(s) of the creative component.
Master of Arts in English: English Education Emphasis
Teaching is one of the most in-demand professions in Utah. Nothing is more important to shaping the next generation than inspiring them to love learning.
MA in English, English Education Emphasis: Full Program Curriculum
English Education students will take courses such as:
- Foundations of Professional and Technical Writing
- Language and Sociolinguistics for Teachers
- Literary Curriculum Design
- Selecting and Teaching Texts, Speaking and Listening
- Teaching College Writing and Practicum
Teaching Licensure:
Students pursuing the English Education emphasis who are seeking teaching licensure from the State of Utah should enroll in the Graduate Certificate of Teaching through the Moyes School of Education. You will need to apply for that program separately from the MA program, but the courses taken in that program will count as electives toward your degree.
Professional Project Thesis:
Theses should address a specific problem/issue in the field, be written in academic prose as appropriate to the area, and adhere to the stylistic conventions of the sub-discipline. As some projects may include components that are not traditional forms of writing, such as the creation of teaching lessons/units/modules/materials, translations of works, charts/graphs, etc., the workload should be the equivalent to that of a publication in the specific sub-discipline, or the equivalent of 6,000-7,000 words in length.
This may include a critical introduction to the project that is written in academic prose, utilizes secondary research in a professional manner, and is 10-12 pages (or 2500-3000 words) in length. The thesis should be formatted consistently using whichever style guide is most appropriate to the sub-discipline.
Master of Arts in English: English Studies Emphasis
The same great courses and award-winning faculty, the same affordable tuition, but no commute. Deepen your knowledge of the English discipline without ever setting foot on campus.
MA in English, English Studies Emphasis: Full Program Curriculum
English Studies students will take courses such as:
- Seminars in Literature
- Rhetoric and Writing Studies
- Teaching English
- Creative Writing
- Thesis or professional project
English Studies Thesis:
In their final semester, students pursuing the English Studies emphasis can choose to submit a portfolio of their work or complete a thesis. Thesis projects are original works of literary criticism and/or analysis, publication-length (6,000-7,000 words), and approaching publication quality.
Thesis projects are completed via independent study with a faculty mentor, with two additional faculty members comprising the thesis committee. Students wishing to continue their studies in a PhD program are highly encouraged to consider the thesis option.
Master of Arts in English: Literature Emphasis
From "classic" writers such as Shakespeare and Dickinson to contemporary artists such as Viet Thanh Nguyen and Taylor Swift, this emphasis will give you new insights into the value of literature in our world.
MA in English, Literature Emphasis: Full Program Curriculum
Literature students will take courses such as:
- Global Gothic Literature
- Jhumpa Lahiri and Viet Thanh Nguyen
- Moby Dick
- Queer Literature
- Shakespeare on the Contemporary American Stage
Literature Thesis:
Literature theses should be written in academic prose, adhering to the stylistic guidelines of the discipline as modeled in peer-reviewed publications. Three (3) credit theses should be approximately 6,000-7,000 words in length including in-text references and works cited/bibliography. The thesis should be formatted consistently using whichever style guide is agreed upon with the committee.