The online graduate program in English offers study leading to the Master of Arts or Master of Science degree. The two 30-hour programs differ only in that to pursue an MA, students need to meet a foreign language requirement. (Information on English Graduate Certificates)

The purpose of the MSU graduate English program is to prepare 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 to establish careers in the arts, business, communications, education, government, law, publishing, and writing.

Admission requirements

Unconditional Admission may be granted to an applicant who has met the following criteria:

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The Office of Admissions must receive official transcripts from each institution attended other than MSU.
  • GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
  • Undergraduate background judged by the English graduate coordinator to be adequate for success in the program
  • Academic essay or professional writing sample
  • Letter of interest (500 words): A brief introduction of yourself, your background, and motivation or interest in pursuing a graduate degree in English.
  • International applicants should contact International Student Services for assistance on any additional requirements. 
  • GRE not required

For Conditional Admission and Admission by Review refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Apply now
  1. Complete the McAda Graduate School Application for the semester that you would like to begin your studies.
  2. After you submit your application, pay the $50 application fee required for all prospective students.
  3. Request official transcripts from each institution that you have attended (other than MSU Texas). Official transcripts may be sent electronically by institutions to admissions@msutexas.edu or mailed to the Office of Admissions at MSU Texas, 3410 Taft Boulevard, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76308.
  4. Email other application requirements, below, to the Office of Admissions:
  5. If you are applying for financial aid, contact the MSU Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Once your application is complete, a review will be sent to the graduate coordinator for consideration. The graduate dean reviews all admission decisions and will send you formal notification.

Graduate assistantships and scholarships

Prospective graduate students interested in applying for a graduate assistantship or scholarship should contact Dr. Sally Henschel. Students are accepted as graduate assistants on the basis of academic merit and availability. Graduate merit scholarships also are available on a competitive basis.

Degree requirements

Students can select from three options to complete the 30-hour MA or MS degree: Scholarly Thesis Track, Creative Thesis Track, or Professional Development Track. All three options require ENGL 5043 Introduction to Graduate English Studies (3 hours) and at least one (3 hours) of the research courses listed below:

  • ENGL 5243 Usability and User Experience Research
  • ENGL 5533 Literary Theory and Criticism
  • ENGL 5553 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
  • ENGL 5563 Research Methods in Writing Studies

Option 1: Scholarly Thesis Track: Students complete 30 hours of approved graduate English courses, including ENGL 5043, at least one research course, and 6 hours of thesis: 

  • ENGL 6983 - Thesis
  • ENGL 6993 - Thesis

Option 2: Creative Thesis Track: Students complete 30 hours of approved graduate English courses, including ENGL 5043, at least one research course, and 6 hours of thesis: 

  • ENGL 6983 - Thesis
  • ENGL 6993 - Thesis

Option 3: Professional Development Track (Non-Thesis): Students complete 30 semester hours of approved graduate English courses, including ENGL 5043, at least one research course, and a 3 hour culminating project. Or students complete 24 hours of graduate English courses (including ENGL 5043, at least one research course, and a 3 hour culminating project) and 6 hours of approved graduate courses outside of the English Department. Culminating project:

  • ENGL 6963 - Non-Thesis Applied Project
or
  • ENGL 6973 - Comprehensive Written Exam

Catalog Course Descriptions (2024-2025): At the top of the graduate course description page, from the Prefix dropdown, select ENGL, and then click Filter.

Questions?

If you have any questions related to the MA/MS in English, please contact Dr. Sally Henschel, English Graduate Coordinator.