English M.A.

About the Program

Earn your degree completely online.
Our 8-week, asynchronous courses are offered in the fall, spring and summer terms to give you the flexibility to plan around your schedule.
Work with faculty mentors on funded independent study projects in our close-knit and dynamic department community.
Our program consists of 36 credit hours (12 courses) and a comprehensive exam. You can complete your degree in as little as two years, or at your own pace.

Quick Links

Whether you’re interested in literature, advanced writing and communication skills, or a deeper understanding of the human condition, our M.A. in English program will allow you to gain skills and advance your career with the flexibility offered by an online program.

On-campus students can apply for paid positions as a graduate assistant (GA) or teaching assistant (TA) to work as a Tutor in our Writing Center or as an instructor in teaching first-year composition.

We also offer an integrated program that allows you to earn your Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and your M.A. in English in as little as five years.

Program Faculty

Our faculty are dedicated to your success. They are award-winning teachers and actively publishing scholars in their fields, which include British and American literature, technical writing, rhetoric and composition, writing pedagogy, and more.

Career Opportunities

Earning your M.A. in English will prepare you for careers in higher education, high school teaching, nonprofit organizations, technology companies, publishing and marketing firms, politics, linguistics, sales, research, advising, human resources, and others. It can also prepare you to advance to a Ph.D. program or law school.

<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “The strength of the English Department was really the quality of the professors and their willingness to meet with students outside of class.” Alex Barchet, Class of 2013 & 2016 </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I began my master’s degree at ASU, but the classes and the professors equipped me for even greater challenges.” Lydia Nixon, English M.A. Program </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “The English faculty at ASU are both brilliant and down to earth. The graduate classes are rigorous, but the professors make the material engaging and accessible.” Lydia Nixon, Class of 2020, English M.A. Program </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “Dr. Laurence Musgrove played his ukulele and read poetry, and most of our assignments involved drawing pictures. The crazy thing is, I learned more about English grammar in that class than 12 years of school.” Erica Lopez, Class of 2013, Educational Diagnostician </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “Dr. Hama was probably the most impactful professor that I had at ASU. He was, and still is, a role model for me.” Alex Barchet, Class of 2013 & 2016 </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “ASU prepared me for graduate school and then for my first corporate career as a technical writer at National Instruments. I use my B.A. degree from ASU every day.” Amanda Ownbey, Class of 2011, English/Technical Writing </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “The English Department community is diverse, kind and insanely knowledgeable. This department has an amazing and small graduate program with eclectic class options and subjects.” Lacy Larsson, B.A. & M.A. in English, English Teacher, San Angelo Central High School </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “There is almost never going to be a teacher’s assistant leading your class. It’s always going to be a professor who’s still active in their field and who wants you to be active in that field” Luke Meyer, Class of 2018, English </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “Dr. Kevin Garrison’s passion for technical writing and usability is infectious! I use the skills that he and my other English instructors taught me on a daily basis, and I’m not sure where I’d be if it weren’t for his guidance, wisdom and excitement for the technical side of writing.” Farrah Lokey, Class of 2011 & 2015 </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “Dr. Kevin Garrison’s classes are fun and engaging, and the personal relationship even set me on the path to my current place of employment.” Gloria Doss, ASU Alumna, Nonconformance Lead, Ethicon </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “Dr. Erin Ashworth-King always goes above and beyond to help students in and out of class. She always makes herself available to students to help with schoolwork or even to advise them on career paths.” Nicole Stevens, Class of 2013 & 2015, English Instructor, Howard College </blockquote>
<blockquote class="quote-block--simple"> “ASU’s program in English allows for a healthy mix of survey and in-depth coursework. I was able to take classes that interested me while still gaining a good understanding of the discipline as a whole.” Jodi Meyer, Class of 2018, B.A. in English/Philosophy </blockquote>

Students listen to the instructor and take notes with other students in the background.

Our Courses

Gain practical experience through our Writing Center and campus literary magazines, and interact with professionals at our annual ASU Writers Conference. You can also experience European language and culture in our summer study abroad program.

ENGLISH Graduate COURSES

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Contact our program advisor