Contact Information
English at NMU
The master of arts in English allows students to develop their critical thinking, textual analysis and writing ability beyond the baccalaureate level through three tracks: literature, pedagogy and writing.
Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty scholars and practicing writers in advanced seminars and workshops to study texts, hone their editing skills, develop original and researched papers suitable for presentation at professional conferences, create original works for publication and gain experience in the production of a literary journal. For many of our master’s candidates, including our teaching assistants, the program offers both theoretical and practical experience in the development of pedagogical approaches. It also serves as a preparation for further graduate study and an arena for the development of employment skills such as teaching, editing and/or professional writing.
Each student’s program culminates in a thesis, internship or portfolio suited to his or her interest and literary or professional strengths.
Program Requirements
Every degree candidate designs, in consultation with the director of graduate study and his or her adviser, a plan of study that includes a minimum 32 credit hours. Each of the three concentrations has the following requirements:
- EN 504 Principles of Critical Investigation (taken during the first year)
- 12 credits in the area of specialization (at least four credits at the 500-level)
- Four credits of literature at the 500 level (considered part of the 12 credits in the literature concentration)
- Up to four credits in the capstone project
- EN 509 Teaching Colloquium (for teaching assistants only, taken during the summer session and first semester)
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission: Applicants are required to comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. In addition, students must have completed a minimum of 30 hours in English courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and an overall GPA of 2.75.
Conditional Admission: Applicants who do not meet regular admission criteria may apply for conditional admission, in which case they must complete specific courses prior to conversion to regular admission status. These courses, selected from the list of undergraduate courses acceptable for graduate credit, do not count toward the minimum 32 credits of course work required for the master’s degree.
Programs
Bulletin Year: Fall 2007 - Summer 2009 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.