From Chaucer to Brontë to Robinson, explore beautiful literature that continues to captivate us. Our master’s degree in English lets you deepen your understanding and appreciation of literature and language. Learn from our distinguished faculty as you refine your writing and research skills. Whether you desire to write the next Pulitzer or report on current issues, you can make an impact one narrative at a time. No matter your professional goals, we’re here to walk with you along the way. Our program prepares you for further graduate work or careers in education, grant writing, marketing and communications, journalism and more. Turn your love of literature into a profession. Take the next step and apply today!
Where It Is Offered Commerce, Online
Duration2 Years
Foreign LanguageForeign language required for MA
Delivery 100% Online, Face-To-Face
Total Credit Hours30-36 Hours
Thesis Requirements Thesis and non-thesis options available
English(MA/MS) :: 1.3 SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A DEGREE IN…
SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A master’s DEGREE IN ENGLISH
Dedicated Faculty
Work alongside exceptional faculty who will improve your reading, writing and analytical skills. You’ll receive one-on-one mentorship as you explore the literary world.
Enrich Your Education
Our multidisciplinary department offers a diverse range of specialties from applied linguistics to film studies. Discover a topic that interests you.
Grow in Knowledge
Engage in meaningful discussions that deepen your understanding of cultural and social differences. We challenge our students to broaden their appreciation of literature and become globally-minded citizens.
Career Readiness
Thinking critically and communicating effectively. That’s what employers are looking for. The College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts is dedicated to providing you the knowledge and resources for excelling in the workforce.
The Department of Literature and Languages offers several different areas of study towards earning your master’s degree. Each area of study has the option of being completed with or without a thesis. Explore what option works best for your career interests and research goals.
Thesis (MA/MS)
Interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in English? Our thesis track prepares you for achieving that goal. Work alongside faculty as you gain experience in literary research, interpretation and analysis.
Non-Thesis (MA/MS)
Earn your master’s degree in English with our non-thesis track. Designed for educators and working professionals, this focus provides a thorough understanding of literature and languages. Completing the non-thesis track opens doors to careers in education, journalism and writing.
This certificate is ideal for students who either already hold a completed graduate degree or are actively in the process of earning a graduate degree and wish to earn this certificate in conjunction with their degree. In addition to the enhanced professional status that the Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) brings, this Certificate will enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the College level.
The Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate provides students with the necessary English hours for students who wish to teach dual-credit or college-level courses in a field other than English. Students who pursue this certificate should already have a bachelor’s, master’s or PHD in a discipline other than English.
Earning your master’s degree in English prepares you for a wide variety of professions. Whether you desire a career in freelance writing or high school teaching, our program equips you with the skills to succeed.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
Writers and Authors
$62,170
Professors
$78,470
Editors
$61,370
Technical Writers
$72,850
Public Relations Specialists
$61,150
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
This course examines the rise of American narrative through the nation’s colonial and early national periods, especially in British North America between 1620 and 1820. Topics for consideration could include exploration of how such narratives as the memoir, captivity narrative, sermon, and novel fostered the invention and formation of Americanness and American literature, examination of the fundamental ideas, myths, and intellectual concepts that still influence the ways in which Americans think about themselves and their societies and consideration of how anxieties about race, class, gender, and religion informed the creation of literary texts in early America.
American Modernists ENG 521
Studies in various aspects of the period in American writing from the turn of the century to the Second World War. Special emphasis will be placed on the multifaceted and experimental nature of American literary modernism and the ways in which it was informed by the various social and art movements during this period.
Problems in Adolescent LiteratureENG 506
An overview of the various problems associated with adolescent literature including the problem novel and new realism, how adolescent literature is defined issues associated with censorship and the problems adolescents experience in the texts.
Earning your master’s degree just got easier at A&M-Commerce. Our flexible program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and future educators. Our online courses allow you to attend classes when you have time each week. We also offer face-to-face courses at the main campus to fit your lifestyle and personal commitments.
Sigma Tau Delta is an International English Honor Society open to graduate students. Membership in the Upsilon Beta Chapter opens doors to scholarships, internships, publication, fellowship and student leadership at A&M-Commerce.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “English MA or English MS” as your “Major.”
Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School PO Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Letter of Recommendation
Request one signed letter of recommendation, on letterhead, from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:
If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School PO Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
Writing Sample
Submit an academic paper no more than 10 pages in length.
Statement of Goals
In no more than two pages explain;
What is your area of study (literature, composition, etc.)?
Why do you want to study that particular area? “I am interested in these types of questions/theories…”
What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals? Short term education goals, long term career goals.
Do we have any specific professors that you’d like to study under?
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
GRE Scores
You do not need to submit GRE scores if you have:
a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a 3.00 GPA overall or higher
a completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a 3.00 GPA overall or higher
3.00 GPA or higher on last 60 hours of undergraduate degree
If you do not meet the GPA exemption criteria, request that your GRE® scores be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “English, MA or English, MS” as your “Major.”
Pay the $75 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to: Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School 2600 S. Neal St. Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Letter of Recommendation
Request one signed letter of recommendation, on letterhead, from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:
If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School 2600 S. Neal St. Commerce Texas 75428
Writing Sample
Submit an academic paper no more than 10 pages in length.
Statement of Goals
In no more than two pages explain;
What is your area of study (literature, composition, etc.)?
Why do you want to study that particular area? “I am interested in these types of questions/theories…”
What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals? Short term education goals, long term career goals.
Do we have any specific professors that you’d like to study under?
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
GRE Scores
You do not need to submit GRE scores if you have:
a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a 3.00 GPA overall or higher
a completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a 3.00 GPA overall or higher
3.00 GPA or higher on last 60 hours of undergraduate degree
If you do not meet the GPA exemption criteria, request that your GRE® scores be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.
English Proficiency
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:
TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Official Sponsor Documents
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
Official sponsor statement
Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
The MA (Master of Arts) and the MS (Master of Science) differ in a foreign language requirement. To pursue an MA, you need to meet one of the following conditions:
Successful completion of 12 undergraduate semester credit hours (approximately four courses) of a foreign language
Completion of 6 graduate semester credit hours (approximately two courses) of a foreign language
Demonstrate through a proficiency test in a foreign language
Completion of 3 semester hours above elementary courses if the student presents 3 or 4 years of high school credit
American Sign Language (ASL) is considered an acceptable foreign language. Students should consult with departmental Director of Graduate School regarding this requirement.
Fall and spring: Our fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long. Occasionally, we offer flex-term courses in the fall and spring semesters that start four weeks later than the usual 16-week start date. Flex-term courses are 12 weeks long.
Summer: Summer is split into two terms, Summer I and Summer II, each five weeks long. On occasion, we offer ten-week courses that run for the duration of Summer I and Summer II.
Minis: On occasion, we offer mini-terms (August, May, and December) that are three weeks long.
You do not need to decide right away whether to pursue the thesis or non-thesis option. You can make that decision after starting the program and working with your advisor. Most students intending to earn their Ph.D. pursue the thesis track, but this is not always the case.
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