This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Northwest Missouri State University

  • myNorthwest

M.A. in English

Our M.A. programs in English at Northwest Missouri State are designed for students who hope to pursue further studies -- either the Ph.D. or an M.F.A. in creative writing; for present and future teachers at both the high school and college level; and for all students who, having completed the B.A., want more intellectual and creative challenge, more thoughtful discussions about books and writing, more opportunities to be part of a vibrant intellectual community, and more time to read, write, and think, with the support of faculty members who are committed to their students and their discipline. We offer the Master of Arts and the Master of Science In English Education. One of our M.S. Ed. options allows a student to work simultaneously on a master's degree and Missouri teacher certification.

Our newly revised graduate program in English is unique to the region in that most of our literature, writing, and creative writing classes are broadly conceived "umbrella" classes, with changes in the specific content each time the class is offered. This system allows students the variety and depth of experience that characterize effective Master's level programs in English.

Fall 2007 - Summer 2008 umbrella courses include:

In addition to these umbrella courses, we are offering second year students "Pedagogy of College Composition," a class that gives our students both theoretical background and mentored practical experience in teaching college composition, an important opportunity for many of our students. The only course required of all M.A. students is English 610, Introduction to Practical and Theoretical Criticism.

Graduate students generally take a course load of nine hours per trimester, and receive their degrees in 1.5 or 2 years. Our students have been very successful either obtaining jobs in the discipline or entering Ph.D. programs.

The English Department has twelve specialists -- eleven with doctorates and one with an M.F.A. -- teaching in our various areas of literature, language theory and pedagogy, and creative writing. Classes are small (generally five to fifteen students), and the professors are interesting, friendly, and very accessible. The work environment and the classes are very pleasant here, and our English graduate students form close working relationships.  The Department offers five graduate assistantships, and English graduate students have assistantships in other departments around campus as well. The English Department's graduate assistants work twenty hours per week in The Writing Center.

I would especially welcome the opportunity to visit in person with you about our program. If you would like further information, feel free to call me (Nancy Mayer) at 660-562-1389 or email me at nmayer@nwmissouri.edu. Or drop by my office (Colden Hall 2730). I look forward to hearing from you.

Degree Requirements

M. A. in English

Eng 10-610 Intro to Practical & Theoretical Criticism 3 hours
Approved Electives 6 hours
English Electives 23-24 hours
Total 23-33 hours

The following courses cannot be applied toward the English M.A.: Education courses, English 10-580, 10-590, and 10-698, and special topics courses in methods of teaching.

M.A. in English with Speech Emphasis

Students in the M.A. program may elect to take a concentration in Speech by declaring their intention to do so when filing for candidacy. They will be advised to take their six hours of unspecified electives in Speech, and, depending on their backgrounds in English, they may elect to take up to an additional six hours in Speech. In no case will a student take fewer than 14 hours of English.

Students seeking the M.A. in English with a Speech emphasis will complete an English Department portfolio and oral defense and will complete a comprehensive examination in the area of Speech. Each department will be responsible for constructing and evaluating its part of the final assessment.