MA in English
Master of Arts in English
The Master of Arts in English is a 30-hour degree comprising advanced coursework in
research methods and content areas. The program is designed primarily for teachers
in high schools and middle schools, prospective postsecondary instructors, students
who want to lay foundations for doctoral work, and persons who simply love literature.
It may be completed in as few as two years and is available on-campus or fully online.
Tuition for 2020-21 is $544 per credit-hour on campus and $594 per credit-hour online.
Two Routes--Traditional and 4+1
The traditional, self-contained program is for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. An accelerated 4+1 route allows
undergraduate English students to complete the BA in English (Area) with the MA in
as few as five years. Please see the current Academic Bulletin for more information
on the 4+1 route.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants must comply with the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter
2). Non-native English speakers must have a TOEFL score of 20 for each section of
the iBT, an IELTS score of 6.5 with no band lower than 6.0, or a previous degree earned
from an accredited U.S. institution or successful completion of Level 6 of the Murray
State ESL program. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission
are:
Unconditional
- Undergraduate major or minor in English
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Conditional
- Departmental judgment of probable success based on Graduate Record Examination scores,
letters of recommendation, or other evidence such as a planned program of prerequisite
courses.
MA Core and Other Degree Requirements
The core of the MA in English comprises 15 hours of coursework and provides a solid
foundation in research methods and broad preparation in English and American literatures.
Total Course Requirements..............................................30 hours
ENG 600 Research and Bibliography (3 hrs)
American literature courses (6 hrs)
British literature courses (6 hrs)
ENG electives (15 hrs)
Oral comprehensive examinations over the common reading list
Comprehensive Examination Information
Near the end of each student's degree program, each student must pass an oral comprehensive examinations over the texts in the Common Reading List. The Common Reading List can be found here.
- Dr Kevin Binfield
- Director of Graduate Studies in English
- 7C Faculty Hall
- Murray, KY 42071
- kbinfield@murraystate.edu
- 270.809.2401