Master of Arts with a Major in English
The graduate faculty in English seek to prepare graduate students whose knowledge of language and literature will inform their intellectual and ethical understanding, and whose communication and critical thinking skills will allow them to contribute to the region and beyond in a variety of careers and positions. We share a strong commitment to keeping the program flexible enough to provide more advanced study for those who wish to further their intellectual development and rigorous enough to prepare students for doctoral work or other professional fields such as teaching, business, and law.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
The M.A. program in English is designed to cultivate advanced mastery of content within the discipline, refined skills in professional and scholarly writing, comprehensive knowledge of critical practices, and a keen awareness of contemporary issues in the study of literature. Graduate students will be able to demonstrate advanced mastery of content within the discipline by answering comprehensive questions about specific writers, genres, texts, and literary periods that they have studied and that they have achieved refined skills in professional and scholarly writing. This expectation presumes a command of pertinent critical assumptions, methodologies, and practices.
Career Opportunities
Buzzfile - Careers by Major:
http://www.buzzfile.com/Major/English
External Resource
Program Location
Carrollton Campus
Method of Delivery
Classes are 100% Face-to-face.
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 30/36
Maximum Hours Transferable into program: 6
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
Students accepted into the program may choose either a thesis (Plan I), nonthesis (Plan II), or capstone (Plan III) option. Students enrolled in the M.A. English degree program must take at least 80% of their coursework at the 6000 (graduate seminar) level.
Plan I consists of 30 credit hours, of which 27 are course work and 3 are thesis (ENGL 6399). A minimum of 24 hours must be in English. Of the 27 credit hours (9 courses), 21 credit hours (7 courses) must be at the 6000 level.
Plan II consists of 36 credit hours, of which a minimum of 30 must be in English. Of the 36 credit hours (12 courses), 27 credit hours (9 courses) must be at the 6000 seminar level.
Plan III consists of 30 credit hours (10 courses), of which a minimum of 27 hours (9 courses) must be in English. Of the 30 credit hours, 21 credit hours (7 courses) must be at the 6000 level.
The Director of Graduate Studies must approve all courses taken outside of English or they will not count toward the degree. Students must provide an acceptable rationale for courses taken outside of English that indicates how the courses relate to their overall professional goals in completing the degree.
General
A tightly focused examination of some aspect of pre-nineteenth-century British literature in its historical, ideological, and/or cultural context. The topic for this course varies. May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
A tightly focused examination of some aspect of pre-Civil War American literature in its historical, ideological, and/or cultural context. The topic for this course varies. May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
A tightly focused examination of some aspect of post-nineteenth-century British literature in its historical, ideological, and/or cultural context. The topic for this course varies. May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
A tightly focused examination of some aspect of post-Civil War American literature in its historical, ideological, and/or cultural context. The topic for this course varies. May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
Study of a specific theme, critical approach, and/or concept that transcends boundaries established by the other 6000-level offerings in the program. Typical offerings may include Transatlantic Influences in Modernist Literature, Literature of Migration and Settlement, and Theory and Praxis of Creative Writing. May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
Research and preparation of an M.A. thesis under the supervision of an approved faculty advisor. Must be taken in the semester(s) the thesis project is prepared and submitted.
Kevin Casper, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Chad Davidson, Ph.D.
School of the Arts Director and Professor of English
Patrick Erben, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Matt Franks, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Gregory Fraser, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Rebecca Harrison, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Leah Haught, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English & Coordinator for Publishing and Editing Certificate
Angela Insenga, Ph.D.
Professor of English and Director of General Education Assessment
Joshua Masters, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Laura Miller, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Margaret Mitchell, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Erin Lee Mock, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English & Director of Film Studies Minor
Alison Umminger, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Guidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Graduate Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
To be considered for regular admission, applicants must have an undergraduate degree in English or equivalent course work in English, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2.
- Three positive letters of recommendation from professional sources qualified to address the candidate's specific disciplinary strengths.
- A persuasive narrative statement that articulates the candidate's reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in English.
All decisions on admission will be made by the Graduate Program Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies, subject to final administrative approval.
Application Deadlines
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
* Application, app fee, and document deadline
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here
One exception: If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.
Contact
Graduate Admissions
678-839-1394 (phone)
678-839-1395 (fax)
graduate@westga.edu
Graduate Admissions
Mandeville Hall
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, GA 30118-4160
For program specific information:
Director of Graduate Studies in English
Dr. Patrick Erben
678-839-6144
perben@westga.edu
Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate Only), Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
Graduate students will demonstrate advanced master of content within the discipline by answering comprehensive questions about specific writers, texts, and literary periods in four major areas: British Literature, American Literature, and a Specialist Area (e.g. theory, pedagogy, film, creative writing, publishing and editing)
Graduate students will demonstrate an advanced facility in connecting literary works to their specific historical and cultural contexts in four major areas: British Literature, American Literature, and a Specialist area.
Graduate students will demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary critical and theoretical methodologies that are applicable to the study of literary and cultural texts.