Program of Study for the Master of Arts in English

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree* from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; statement of intent; writing sample.

*An applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree in English but who has exceptional qualifications should contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam requirement may be waived for applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Location: On Campus

Additional Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application.  More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

Accelerated Master’s Program

This program offers an Accelerated Master’s  option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in English

Concentration Requirements (23 Hours)

• ENG 5150 - Teaching Literature (3)
• ENG 5160 - Teaching Apprenticeship (1) (1 + 1 = 2)
• ENG 5200 - Issues in Teaching English (3)
• R_C 5300 - Studies in Rhetoric and Composition (3)
• R_C 5400 - Rhetorical Theory (3)
• 9 hours of literature courses chosen with approval of the graduate director - selection must cover three national literatures, of which at least 3 hours should be in a period prior to 1789 (for British) or 1900 (for American), predominantly not in translation.

Electives (7 Hours)

7 hours of additional graduate electives chosen with approval of the graduate director; courses from other disciplines must be approved in advance.

Other Requirements for the MA in English

• Thesis: Optional
• Proficiency: Required for the Literary Studies Concentration; reading knowledge of a foreign language demonstrated by transcript evidence of two years undergraduate study of a foreign language or by examination arranged in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
• Candidacy: Required; see the program director for specific timeline and requirements
• Comprehensive: Presentation of teaching portfolio required for the Teaching Literature and Writing Concentration. See the program director regarding portfolio requirements.
• Product of Learning: Not required