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M.A. Program Graduates

We are very proud of all of the students who have graduated from our M.A. program over the years. Many have gone on to earn Doctoral degrees in English, and others have taken professional positions as writing teachers, writing center administrators, and non-profit organization directors.

We offer a few alumni portraits below to help you gain a sense of what you can accomplish as a graduate of our M.A. program.


Cynthia Burkhalter

Cynthia Burkhalter (1994)

I suppose I am one of those people who can’t decide what I want to be when I grow up.  After pursuing a career in counseling and raising three kids, I went back to school for a Masters in English. I have always had a fascination with the English language, and my hope was to achieve a lifelong dream of helping people learn how to write effectively.  At that time, I was able to realize my dream by teaching at ASU for several years.

The knowledge and skills that I gained in the Masters program at ASU have served me well and will continue to do so, wherever life takes me.

Then, life called me away to other ventures, such as managing a butterfly house, working at a wildseed farm, and serving as the office manager of a medical practice. Now, I am happily back at ASU where I teach writing and critical reading. When I’m not busy doing that, I serve as the director of our campus Writing Center. The knowledge and skills that I gained in the Masters program at ASU have served me well and will continue to do so, wherever life takes me.


Cynthia Burkhalter

Angela Shaffer (2008)

After graduating from ASU in 2008, I chose to stay on and teach as a lecturer at ASU for three more years. In 2011 I decided that it was time to further pursue my education. I applied and was accepted as a PhD student into Texas Tech’s Technical Communication and Rhetoric program. Currently I’m in my first year of graduate work, and am teaching first year composition. I recently accepted a position as the new Assistant Director and Program Coordinator for the national Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association conference. It’s an exciting opportunity that will allow me to meet all kinds of cool people and get some impressive real-world technical writing experience.

Program Description

Learn more about the M.A. curriculum by visiting our Program Overview page

Course descriptions

Get more detailed information about the English Graduate Courses you will take.

apply to our program

Learn more about how to apply to the English and Modern Language Department’s graduate program by visiting our Program Admittance page.

Consider an Assistantship

Learn more about our paid graduate and teaching assistantships by visiting our Assistantships Overview page.

contact us

For more information about the English and Modern Language Department’s graduate program, contact:

Dr. Mary Ellen Hartje, Graduate Advisor
Office: A 039A
Phone: 325-486-6148
Email: me.hartje@angelo.edu