The English Graduate Program prepares students for the next step in their careers, whether that be teaching at the college level, entering into a field of professional writing, or continuing scholarly or creative pursuits. The curriculum is founded on courses in literature, language, writing studies, and pedagogy. Recent MSU graduates have used their degrees or certificates to establish careers in the arts, business, communications, education, government, law, publishing, and writing.
- Master of Arts and Master of Science: Students can choose to complete either the MA or MS. The two 30-hour degree programs differ only in that to pursue an MA, students need to meet a foreign language requirement.
- English Minor: A master’s candidate in another field may obtain a minor in English by completing a minimum of 12 semester hours approved by the English Graduate Coordinator. Students seeking a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction can minor in English under Option I and II.
- English Graduate Certificates: We offer two 9-hour English certificates in Professional Studies and in Literature and Language Studies. Students can complete one or both certificates and later apply the course work to a master’s degree. For high school instructors who already have a master’s degree in another area, the credits can be applied toward faculty credential requirements for teaching dual credit English courses. For information on dual credit teaching, see the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges FAQs and the Texas Education Agency Dual Credit.
- With approval from their advisor, students can apply graduate English courses to the Master of Professional Studies (MPS), an interdisciplinary program.
Contact Dr. John Schulze, English Graduate Coordinator.
Prospective graduate students interested in applying for a graduate assistantship should contact Dr. John Schulze. Students are accepted as graduate assistants on the basis of academic merit and availability. Graduate merit scholarships also are available on a competitive basis.
Summer-I 2026
ENGL 5953 - Special Topics Contemporary Literature: Perspective
- Students and faculty meet synchronously in Zoom for discussion each Monday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm (CST) for a background lecture. This is only a five-week course, so these meetings will be very helpful.
- Course Description: A selective study of recent literature. Reading list below.
- James by Percival Everett
- Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
- Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
- Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
- Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
- Contact Dr. John Schulze if you have any questions about the course: schulze@msutexas.edu.
Fall 2026
ENGL5043- Introduction to Graduate English Studies
- Students and faculty meet synchronously in Zoom for discussion each Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm (CST).
- Course description: this course introduces students to the key scholarly conversations in English Studies as well as the primary forms of academic research and scholarly writing in the discipline. This course should be taken in the first year of coursework.
- If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Melissa Nivens: nivens@msutexas.edu.
ENGL5233- Publishing & Editing
- Students and faculty meet synchronously in Zoom for discussion each Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm (CST).
- Course Description: This course is will be a hands-on learning experience that will function as a survey of contemporary editing and publishing, as well as a practicum focused on real world applications.
- If you have any questions, please contact Dr. John Schulze: john.schulze@msutexas.edu.
ENGL5553- Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
- Students and faculty meet synchronously in Zoom for discussion each Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm (CST).
- Course Description: Introduction to theories of rhetoric and examination of different critical lenses for analyzing the persuasive or contextual elements of written or spoken texts.
- If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Hillary Coenen: hillary.coenen@msutexas.edu.
If you would like more information on the graduate program, please contact Dr. John Schulze, English Graduate Coordinator.
Note: In addition to those seeking an English MA/MS or graduate certificate, the courses above could be of interest to (1) MSU graduate students seeking the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (under Option 1 or II) or the MPS in Professional Studies, and/or (2) high school teachers who already have a master’s degree in another field and are seeking English graduate credit to meet credential requirements for teaching English dual-credit courses.