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The English Department’s online Master of Arts program is designed to make the UNO M.A. in English more accessible to students. It provides students with advanced subject-matter expertise in American literature, British literature, and rhetoric/professional writing. To earn this degree, students must complete 33 credit hours of coursework, all of which can be completed online. Up to nine of these hours may be taken on campus. The degree can be completed in 2-3 years, depending on how many hours a student takes and whether or not summer courses are taken.

 Most students in the program hold undergraduate degrees in English, but students with degrees in other fields may be admitted upon condition that they take additional coursework to provide sufficient background.

Core Courses

Students begin their study with four core courses (12 total hours):

• Introduction to Graduate Studies in English (ENGL 6280)
• A course in British Literature,
• A course in American Literature,
• A course in Rhetoric or a course in Writing.

Concentrations

The Online Master of Arts program requires students to choose one concentration: Literary and Cultural Studies or Professional Writing. For each of these concentrations, a student works with the Graduate Coordinator to choose three additional courses beyond the core (9 hours).

Electives

In addition to the core and concentration, a student in the Online M.A. chooses four additional courses (12 hours) to complete the 33 hours for the degree.

Portfolio and Optional Thesis

The capstone requirement for the M.A. in English is a portfolio. A sample portfolio could include a reflection essay, a revised research paper from a course, a curriculum vitae (or academic résumé), and a teaching statement and syllabus or a professional writing portfolio

Students (particularly those planning to pursue a Ph.D.) may write a thesis in addition to the portfolio. The M.A. thesis (usually 30-40 pages long) is written under the supervision of an advisor assigned to the student by the Graduate Coordinator. Thesis defenses can be held either on campus or long distance via web conference.

Career

The Master of Arts program is sufficiently flexible to accommodate a range of academic interests and to help prepare students for several different career paths. Most of our graduates have gone on to choose one of four options: to pursue the doctoral degree; to teach in secondary schools, junior colleges, colleges, and universities; to undertake further professional training, most often in law; or to work as professional or technical writers.

Careers in English | Research