2025-2026 Graduate Catalog English

The Department offers a master's degree in English, with emphases by advising in English studies, children’s literature, creative writing, linguistics, literary and cultural studies, rhetoric and composition, technical writing and rhetorics, and TESOL. ENG 402 is required for students with teaching assistantships in the writing program.

Option 1 - Non-Thesis

This degree option, made in consultation with the advisor, requires 11 courses and either a comprehensive examination or a portfolio, the contents of which are to be determined by the student, also in consultation with the advisor.

Option 2 - Thesis

This degree option, made in consultation with the advisor, requires 10 courses and a thesis. The typical program is approximately 34 semester hours.

The Master of English Education is a professional degree designed to improve the content and pedagogical knowledge of in service teachers of English language arts (ELA) who already possess a bachelor’s degree in English Education. The 34 credit hour degree requires core coursework in English Education and elective coursework in English or related disciplines. It also requires a thesis.

Students who wish to complete degree requirements for a Master of Arts rather than Master of Science, must complete the Graduate School Master of Arts degree foreign language requirement.

English Education Content:

• 15 credit hours of the following: ENG 435, ENG 436, ENG 437, ENG 438, ENG 439.

Elective Content:

• 15 credit hours from 400-level courses in English. Students may take graduate courses in other related disciplines such as Educational Administration and Foundations, Special Education, Teaching and Learning, Theater, and Communication. Written permission must be received prior to enrollment from the English Education Graduate Program Coordinator.

Required Thesis

• 4 credit hours of ENG 499 under the direction of English Education graduate faculty advisor or thesis chair.

The Ph.D requires a minimum of 12 courses (exclusive of ENG 591 and ENG 599).  A full-time student should normally complete coursework in two calendar years, a part-time student, in four years. Other university requirements for Ph.D. degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog.

Course requirements include: 

• 3 hours: ENG 402 for students with teaching assistantships in composition 
• 18–21 hours: in area of specialization
• 9–12 hours: in areas outside of specialization
• 6 hours: pedagogy 
• comprehensive examinations: specialization exam and English Studies presentation 
• 4 hours: ENG 591 
• 15+ hours: ENG 599, dissertation that connects research in language, literature, or writing with pedagogy

The graduate certificate requires 15 hours to consist of ENG 461, ENG 442 or ENG 443, ENG 444, ENG 423, and ENG 441. Students desiring to acquire the certificate should consult the Graduate Program Director.