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M.A. in English
Complete the form to receive more information about earning a Master’s in English at ACU.
Ignite your passion at ACU
ACU strives to graduate nurturing leaders ready to serve others across the globe as inquisitive yet decisive and persuasive Christian scholars. We’re one of only three Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) institutions to offer a MA in English, and our connection to our faith frames the program’s structure and curriculum.
Program Structure
What To Expect
These are the important details you will need to keep in mind as you prepare your application and degree plan.
Required Hours
Program length: 2 years
Credit hours: 36
2023/2024 tuition per credit hour: $1,128
Example Coursework
ENGL 610: 21st-Century American Literature
ENGL 612: Victorian Visions of Art and the Artist
ENGL 613: Literary Theory and Faith
ENGL 622: Rhetoric and Belief
Department
Application Deadlines
Priority Review: May 1 (Preferred consideration for Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships)
Standard Review: August 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Features & Opportunities
Develop Meaningful Connections: We understand the importance of mentorship and sharing ideas with others, and in valuing your curiosity and innovative thoughts, we seek to strengthen your God-given gifts. Our MA in English presents such an environment, where you’ll be mentored by distinguished Christian faculty. Small cohort sizes then open up the floor for diverse viewpoints.
Continue the Pursuit of Knowledge: What manifested as a love of books years ago drives you to read and analyze more, to develop stronger arguments and more convincing wording and to engage others through your ideas. ACU encourages your scholarly inquiry, be it delving into the historical and cultural factors shaping literature from Medieval times to the present, helping you better communicate to defend your perspective and analyses or flourish creatively. We also provide direct guidance in the scholarly side of our field, helping students submit abstracts and present their research at regional, national, and international conferences.
Enrich Your Knowledge with Experience: Students enrolling in the Master’s in English program have the opportunity to apply for graduate assistantships. Along with tuition assistance, you’ll continue to build your resume in our Writing Center, working as a research assistant, or teaching students in a freshman-level composition course.
Expand Your Horizon: From Abilene, Texas to Oxford, England, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the history and context of the English language in our study abroad program.
Careers
What Can You Do With a Master’s in English?
MA in English students aren’t a monolithic group. You might be aspiring toward earning a Ph.D., eventually seeing yourself instructing classrooms of college students in discussing and analyzing works of literature or publishing your own definitive research and criticism. Or, you want to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) to continue strengthening your storytelling abilities or are thinking about law school.
You might not be eyeing another advanced degree at all. Instead, you’re ready to jump into a full-time career or advance upon your existing path through more heightened communications and analytical skills. A versatile degree program, ACU’s Master’s in English proves to be an asset for professionals eager to make an impact in:
- communications;
- publishing;
- research;
- education;
- advertising and marketing;
- public policy;
- government;
- nonprofits;
- digital media;
- journalism; or
- business.
“I’m so grateful that I decided to pursue my Master’s in English at ACU. During my time there, I met people – both faculty and fellow students – who were supportive and kind while still challenging me to learn and grow in my knowledge and skills, and with whom I still keep in touch. After I finished at ACU and was starting out in a new Ph.D. program at the University of Oklahoma, I found that I was well-prepared for the requirements of the new program and was ready for the work that was waiting for me at OU. I’m now finished with Ph.D. coursework and working on my dissertation.”
Kimberly Scott
Dr. Todd Womble
Director, Master of Arts in English
Associate Professor of English
Language and Literature
- Complete an online application
- Pay the $65 application fee
- An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended:
- The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent.
- The transcript should reflect 12 hours of upper-division English courses.
- The transcript should reflect a cumulative undergraduate approximate B average or above in the area of focus or related area and evidence of an overall productive GPA.
- Two letters of recommendation (may be submitted through the online application)
- A two-page, double-spaced purpose statement addressing why you want to pursue graduate school, why you chose ACU, and your future career goals
- A writing sample* in either:
- A sample critical essay (maximum of 15 pages) that demonstrates the applicant’s capacity for interpretation and literary analysis, or
- A sample of creative writing in prose or poetry (maximum of 20 pages).
Master’s in English Curriculum
Undergraduate English programs foster student interest in reading and writing, and English majors often emerge with particularly impressive critical thinking and writing skills. ACU’s Master’s in English continues this work, but in more intense and intentional ways. This new endeavor serves to nourish your curiosity while speaking to your more tenacious, steadfast nature. Whether you aspire to attain a doctoral degree, aim to write professionally, or picture yourself uplifting students in the classroom, this generalist program offers a curriculum touching on all areas of English studies, including literature, composition and rhetoric, pedagogy, and theory.