Graduate Concentrations

We're pleased to offer graduate concentrations in Creative Writing, Literary Studies, and Rhetoric & Professional Writing.

Creative Writing

Our professors specialize in realistic fiction, speculative fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.

We’ll help you identify your creative strengths, articulate your artistic visions, and engage with local, national, and international literary and publishing communities.

We also host the Meacham Writers' Workshop every semester to connect students with writers working within and beyond the academy.

Degree Requirements

Prose Track - Fall 2020

15 hours

• ENGL 5500r - Novel Writing Workshop
• ENGL 5510r - Fiction Writing Workshop
• ENGL 5520r - Poetry Workshop *maximum of 3 hours
• ENGL 5530r - Speculative Fiction Workshop
• ENGL 5550r - Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop
• ENGL 5600 - Literary Citizenship
• ENGL 5950r - Creative Writing Workshop

12 hours
Elective English courses

6 hours
ENGL 5999r - Thesis

Thesis Defense
Oral Comprehensive Exam

33 total hours

Literary Studies

Our faculty members are experts in American and British literature, literary theory and criticism, women, gender, and sexuality studies, and children's and YA literature.

We’re passionate about helping graduate students develop advanced research and academic writing skills.

As a graduate student in the English Literary Studies track, you'll engage with professional organizations, peer-reviewed journals, and regional and national conferences, joining existing academic conversations and introducing new ones.

Degree Requirements

Literature Track - Fall 2020

3 hours
ENGL 5000 - Introduction to Graduate Studies in English

3 hours
ENGL 5050 - Theory and Criticism or another Literary Theory course

6 hours
Two courses in English literature before 1800

9 hours
English literature electives

Thesis Option

• 6 hours
  • Elective English courses
• 6 hours
  • ENGL 5999r - Thesis
• Thesis Defense
  • Oral Comprehensive Exam

Scholarly Project Option

• 9 hours
  • Elective English courses
• 3 hours
  • English 5996r--Scholarly Project

33 total hours

Rhetoric & Professional Writing

Our faculty's academic interests are varied, from the rhetorics of identities, class, food, pop culture, and animals to digital literacy, visual design, grant proposals, gender studies, rhetorical history & theory, and the theory and practice of teaching writing.

We'll guide you through in-depth studies of ancient argument strategies to current issues in public rhetoric and design.

And we maintain community partnerships to promote civic engagement and offer project-based writing experiences on and off campus.

Degree Requirements

Rhetoric & Professional Writing Track - Fall 2020

3 hours
ENGL 5000 - Introduction to Graduate Studies in English: Methodology and Bibliography

3 hours
ENGL 5115 - History of Rhetorical Theory I: Ancient Greece to Renaissance

3 hours
ENGL 5125 - History of Rhetorical Theory II: Early Modern to Contemporary

12 hours
Rhetoric & professional writing electives

Thesis Option

• 6 hours
  • Elective English courses
• 6 hours
  • ENGL 5999r - Thesis
• Thesis Defense
  • Oral Comprehensive Exam

Scholarly Project Option

• 9 hours
  • Elective English courses
• 3 hours
  • English 5996r--Scholarly Project

Capstone Internship in Writing Option

• 9 hours
  • Elective English Courses
• 3 hours
  • English 5295r-- Capstone Internship in Writing

33 total hours

If you have questions, please consult the MA English Handbook or contact Dr. Heather Palmer, Graduate Director.