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MALP

The Master of Arts in English Literature and Publishing program (formerly the Master of Arts in English) offers graduate courses in all periods of English and American literature as well as professional training in teaching, publishing, creative writing, and/or pre-PhD scholarship, if desired. The curriculum offers flexibility so that students may tailor their program to their professional needs and includes options for independent study, internships, and thesis research.

Elective courses in the MA in English Literature and Publishing may be expanded to include graduate certificate programs. With planning, combined MA + certificate programs may require no additional coursework to fulfill all requirements.

Students participating in a combined MA + certificate program should consult with their academic advisor to determine what coursework might count toward both programs. A separate application process for the certificate is required. Students who are interested in any of the following combination programs should contact the Graduate Student Services Office for additional information.

  • Literature and Publishing + Teaching English in Two-Year Colleges Certificate
  • Literature and Publishing + Digital Humanities Certificate
  • Literature and Publishing + Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate
  • Literature and Publishing + Women’s and Gender Studies Certificate
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Degree Requirements 48
Total hours required 48

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate in their writing the ability to interpret and analyze literature within its diverse contexts (historical, cultural, theoretical, or generic).
  • Conduct literary research and write analytical essays that incorporate primary and secondary scholarship sources.
  • Demonstrate analytical writing skills in professionalization contexts such as pedagogy classes, creative writing workshops, publishing or editing courses, Pre-PhD preparation theory courses, and/or internship experience.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements​

48 hours of graduate credit in English

Two Professional Development Courses in English, Publishing, Teaching:  8 hours

Course Title Quarter Hours
Any two courses from the following:8
LITERARY THEORY (If desired)
TEACHING CREATIVE WRITING
TEACHING LITERATURE
TOPICS IN PUBLISHING
TOPICS IN TEACHING
INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
WRITING WORKSHOP TOPICS
TRAVEL WRITING
WRITING THE PERSONAL ESSAY
SCREENWRITING
WRITING FOR MAGAZINES
SCIENCE WRITING
WRITING FICTION
WRITING POETRY
NOVELS I
NOVELS II
TOPICS IN EDITING
WRITING THE LITERATURE OF FACT

Five Courses in English Literature:  20 hours

At least one pre-1800 course:

  • Medieval Literature
  • Renaissance Literature
  • Restoration/Eighteenth-Century British and/or Early American Literature

At least one pre-1900 course:

  • Any of the above
  • Nineteenth-Century British (Romantic and Victorian)
  • Nineteenth-Century American Literature

Five Electives:  20 hours

Students may choose from

  • English and American period courses
  • Studies in Literature 
  • Language and Style
  • Creative Writing courses in Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction (including Memoir, Personal Essay, Science and Nature Writing, and Travel Writing)
  • Independent Study (maximum of four hours)
  • Internship (maximum of four hours) 
  • Thesis Research (maximum of four hours; available for students exercising the thesis option)

Good Standing

To achieve good standing in the program, students must:

  1. Complete at least three courses within twelve months of their admission to the program, and
  2. Maintain an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation and given two quarters to raise their average to the minimum 3.0 level. Students on probation are required to consult with the program director before registering for classes. Failure to meet these requirements constitutes grounds for dismissal.

Thesis Option

A thesis option is available to students who have a promising idea for an appropriate project. Proposals must earn the approval of an English Department graduate faculty member, who will serve as project director, and of the Program Director. Credit is earned through ENG 501.  Please see the Program Director for more information on this option.