Master of Arts In English

Overview

The MA in English is designed to enable students to learn about, critique, and work in teaching, research, writing, or other fields that value a strong grounding in language, literature, rhetoric, and the study of culture through texts.

About The Program

The MA program provides a strong grounding in scholarly methods and in theory, making it an ideal preparation for doctoral study; it is also useful for teachers who want to sharpen their ability to teach literature and writing and for professionals who want to improve their writing skills. MA students benefit from

• Award-winning faculty recognized for excellence in teaching and research
• Low faculty-to-student ratio and small class sizes
• An individualized program of study
• A higher average salary for their future careers than those of students who do not earn an MA
• Flexible scheduling

Career Opportunities

• Teaching
• Educational administration and services
• Publishing
• Technical writing
• Law
• Media and public relations
• Journalism
• Other business fields that require excellent writing and communication skills

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Degree Options

English - MA - Thesis Option

The thesis option is a 30-credit-hour program and requires 24 hours of coursework (a three-credit-hour core course and 21 hours of electives) and at least six hours of thesis. The degree culminates with a defense of the thesis.

English - MA - Non-Thesis Option

The non-thesis option requires a 36-credit-hour program of coursework (a three-credit-hour-core course and 33 hours of electives). The final requirement for a non-thesis MA is the submission of a portfolio, which will consist of a variety of writing assignments designed to prepare the student to enter the professional and/or academic workplace.

Why Choose Us?

• Research-1 Doctoral University (Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education)
• No. 7 nationally for master’s degree programs (Intelligent.com)
• Awarding-winning faculty recognized for excellence in teaching and research
• Low faculty-to-student ratio and small class sizes

Admission Requirements

In addition to the basic graduate admission requirements of UT Arlington described in this Catalog in the Admission section under University Policies & Requirements, the Department of English requires all international students to have speaking, reading, and writing competence in English. For both the MA and the Ph.D., we consider four different admission criteria:

• GPA
• GRE
• Writing sample
• Letters of recommendation

Prospective students must submit all the required materials and scores—i.e., official transcripts, GRE scores, a writing sample, and recommendation letters—in order for their application to be processed. All criteria are considered together, in a holistic way, and no single factor will eliminate a prospective student from consideration. For unconditional admission, candidates must meet the following standards for at least three of the four criteria.

Criteria for Admission: MA Program

1. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate work, with a minimum of 3.4 in the English major or upper-level English courses. Applicants who did not major in English should have at least 12 hours of upper-level undergraduate coursework in English. Non-majors who do not meet the upper-level English coursework requirement may still apply, but will likely need to take leveling courses (see below).
2. GRE scores: a minimum of 153 on the verbal scale and 4.5 on analytic writing. We will not consider the math scores. We do not require the English subject test.
3. A writing sample of 10 to 15 pages demonstrates a sophisticated prose style and the ability to construct complex arguments.
4. Three letters of recommendation that attest to the prospective student’s intellectual and scholarly potential. At least two of these should be from former professors.

GRE Waiver

UT Arlington undergraduates whose GPA equals or exceeds the minimum described above and who have graduated in the last three years with a major in English (or closely related program) qualify for a waiver of the GRE admissions requirement.