Common Questions for Prospective Students

SO YOU WANT TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN ENGLISH?

There are several programs offered by our department, so there are several questions to ask yourself before applying.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE DEGREE?

  • If you want to be a High School English teacher, you have two options:
    • If you already have a Standard 1 (A) License in English 9-12, the Licensure Concentration of our Master of Arts in English Education (MA) will help you to upgrade that license to a Standard II (M) license. The Thesis Concentration of our Master of Arts in English Education (MA) is also available, if you wish to forego the M license.
    • If you have no teaching license, our Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary English Specialization (MAT) will leave you with a Standard 1 (A) license.
  • If you want to teach in some other venue (private school or community college), you have two options:
    • If you think you might want to teach in the public schools some day, our Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary English Specialization (MAT) will leave you with a license, but also has nearly enough  graduate credits in English to qualify you for community college teaching; one additional course will get you to 18 graduate hours in English.
    • If you are certain that you do not want to teach in the public schools, you can enroll in the Thesis Concentration of our Master of Arts in English Education (MA). Bear in mind that the MA program, unlike the MAT, cannot lead to initial licensure -- if you enter the MA program without a license, you will finish the program without a license. It is possible to apply later to the Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary English Specialization (MAT) and transfer in twelve credit hours from the MA, should you change your mind about the public schools.
  • If you have no interest in teaching, but wish to have a Master's Degree for professional development purposes:
    • If you are quite certain that you will never teach public school, you can enroll in the Thesis Concentration of our Master of Arts in English Education (MA). Bear in mind that the MA program, unlike the MAT, cannot lead to initial licensure -- if you enter the MA program without a license, you will finish the program without a license, unless you return for a second graduate degree.
    • If you imagine that you might like to teach school some day, our Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary English Specialization (MAT) will leave you with a license, as well as a Master's degree.
  • If you wish to prepare for further graduate study in English:
    • Our Master of Arts in English Education (MA), especially the Thesis Concentration, provides excellent preparation for further graduate study.
    • Our Master of Arts in Teaching with Secondary English Specialization (MAT) does not apply a thesis toward graduation, and has fewer English content courses than the MA has, and is thus not as effective a way to prepare for further study.

WHAT IF YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IS NOT IN ENGLISH?

  • We are willing to accept applications from candidates whose previous degrees are not in English, though we do need to see evidence that candidates are prepared for graduate work in this field. Additionally, for the MAT we have a list of undergraduate prerequisites required for full admission, and admission for the Residency Program requires at least 24 hours in field. 
  • If your undergraduate degree is not in English, or is more than ten years old, you might consider enrolling in a few undergraduate courses as a Special Student before applying, to test the waters. This is not a requirement, however.