Program Overview
Master of Arts in English (MAE)
The MAE degree requires the minimum completion of 30 course credits and a successful thesis/professional paper defense. MAE students build a degree plan consisting of required courses (3 credits), electives (18-21 credits), and a culminating degree project (a scholarly thesis, 9 credits, or a professional paper, 6 credits). MAE Advisors assist graduate students in developing their degree plan to ensure that the coursework and culminating project enhance their knowledge as well as build and sustain their research interests.
Prior to admittance, students are expected to have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree in English. Students with undergraduate degrees other than English are encouraged to apply; however, they may be required to take additional English courses as a condition of their acceptance. Students entering the program with a BA in hand often complete the program within two years, taking six to nine credits per term, with summer study as a possibility for facilitating progress toward the degree.
Accelerated Master of Arts in English (AMAE)
The AMAE, a version of the Master of Arts in English, is available to MSU undergraduate English majors who would like to complete a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Arts in five years instead of the standard four years for an BA and two years for an MA. The AMAE focuses on “Literary Landscapes” both literal and figurative. Students build their program of study across the final three to four semesters of their undergraduate careers, followed by one year spent exclusively at the graduate level. With a wide array of courses available in English and outside the department (e.g. History and Native American Studies), students select coursework suitable to the development of their areas of interest and expertise.
Eligibility for the program requires students to have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and the ability to enter their senior year with at least 100 credits already completed towards their BA.
The Accelerated MA in English degree requires the completion of 30 course credits and a successful thesis or professional paper defense. Students in the program build a degree plan consisting of one required course (3 credits), electives (18-21 credits), and a culminating degree project (either a scholarly thesis, 9 credits; or a professional paper, 6 credits). Over the course of their last three undergraduate semesters, students must complete at least 12 of these 30 credits "on reserve", meaning that they do not count toward the student’s undergraduate degree but are set aside for the student’s graduate degree. The student then completes the remaining 18 credits during the final two semesters of study at the graduate level. Advisors assist students in developing their program of study and ensuring the coursework and culminating degree project meet the requirements of the program in a timely manner.
Course Requirements
Students enrolled in the MAE or AMAE program take one required course for a total of three credits (repeatable up to six credits). Elective courses are selected for the remaining 18-21 course credits. These courses vary in particular subject matter but provide foundational knowledge for graduate-level work in the programs.
Required and Elective Courses
Yellowstone Writing Project
The summer courses through the Yellowstone Writing Project are also available to students in the MAE or AMAE programs. These courses focus on building and participating in writing communities and the teaching of writing.
Culminating Degree Project
Graduate students choose to write either a scholarly thesis (Plan A, 9 credit hours) or a professional paper (Plan B, 6 credit hours). In the MAE/AMAE, most students choose the professional paper option. This paper is one that can be delivered at a professional conference and/or, with revision, submitted to a professional journal.