Affiliation: School of Arts & Letters
Truman’s Master of Arts in English invites you to explore literature, literary studies, critical theory, pedagogy, creative writing, and linguistics.
Options for the Culminating Project
Working closely with the Director of English Graduate Studies and your advisor, you can personalize a course of study to suit your interests, values, personal goals, and professional aims and choose which culminating project best matches your aspirations:
- a critical thesis that displays the close reading, analytical skills, and research tools you have acquired
- a portfolio that showcases the breadth and variety of the creative and analytical work produced in the program
- a creative thesis (a novel, memoir, collection of short stories, a cycle of poems, or other creative work) that has benefitted from the intensive feedback, revision, and reflection on the artistic process
Pathways to Attaining the Degree
We welcome students who demonstrate interest in English graduate study. Students aren’t required to have an English BA or Creative Writing BFA degree to apply.
Students can pursue their degrees as either part-time or full-time students. Part-time students who are pursuing their degrees while working full-time especially appreciate the flexibility of our online synchronous and a synchronous courses.
Career Opportunities
We prepare our students to be scholars, teachers, creative writers, and editors. We nurture their lifetime commitment to writing and literature, and, for those who desire it, we offer preparation for further graduate work in English and in other areas.
Graduates of the English master’s program often pursue careers in editorial work, higher education administration, and business; are accepted into doctoral programs; or go on to attain another professional degree in law, fine arts, or education.
Graduate Assistantships
The English master’s program offers two kinds of assistantships that help fund students’ education and provide sought-after professional skills that make their resumes stand out. Truman’s English M.A. graduate administrative and editorial assistants (GAAs) work closely with their supervisors to gain specialized training in the areas of student advising, event planning, public relations, and editing. Likewise, Truman’s English M.A. graduate teaching assistants (GTRAs) work closely with their GTRA coordinator to hone their professional skills and shape their philosophies of teaching and composition while teaching at the college level.
Pursuit of Dual English MA and MAE Degrees
Truman is known nationally for its Master of Arts in Education program, and English MA students may apply to simultaneously work toward a Master of Arts in Education. Adding the MA degree to a Truman MAE degree program is an especially attractive option because all the graduate English electives students take in fulfillment of the MAE - at least 12 credits and usually 16 - count toward the MA degree as well. Students interested in adding the MA degree to their MAE should discuss the option with the MAE program coordinator.
Students graduating with the combined degrees of Master of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Education with an English specialty are highly qualified to teach English in many different contexts, including: Secondary English/Language Arts, Dual Credit English courses, Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, and a wide range of courses at 2-year and 4-year colleges. Those who have served as teaching assistants while completing their graduate work are especially well qualified and are sought-after candidates for those teaching positions.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
In addition to fulfilling Truman’s general Graduate Programs: Admission Requirements, applicants to the Master’s program in English generally meet the following eligibility guidelines:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 or above in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework (for applicants without a graduate degree)
- NOTE: Applicants who do not meet this GPA requirement but have have a strong interest in this program should contact the Director of Graduate Studies for further discussion and may be encouraged to apply based on their whole application package. English graduate faculty consider all components of the application –not only GPA– when making admission decisions.
- Successful applicants demonstrate clear communication; attention to audience and nuances of expression; intellectual curiosity; awareness of how Truman’s program will help them meet their academic and professional goals; and evidence that they will thrive in the program.
Application Materials
An application will only be reviewed by English graduate faculty once all required materials are submitted as part of the online application for Non-Degree-Seeking Graduate Students. International students can find additional information here.
- Professional Statement (four-page maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) that discusses:
- the scholarly, creative, and/or professional goals that you plan to pursue in Truman’s M.A. program in English
- the research and/or creative projects that you have pursued in the past and/or expect to pursue in the future
- the literary topics, creative projects, critical approaches, genres, forms, and cultural or historical contexts that interest you
- Resume or CV that highlights your academic degrees, research or scholarly experiences, awards, or distinctions, and all paid or volunteer work experiences from the past 5-10 years
- Three Letters of Recommendation from faculty or professionals who can assess your potential as a graduate student. NOTE: recommender information will be requested in the online application and a separate form will be sent to each recommender via email.
- Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities from which you have earned college credit
- Optional: Application Materials for all Graduation Administrative Assistantships (GAA) and Graduate Teaching Research Assistant (GTRA) for which you are applying:
For more detailed information and current deadlines, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can application fees be waived? For international students and McNair Scholars, yes. See application options on the Graduate Programs page for more information.
Can I contact English graduate faculty before I submit an application? Absolutely – we encourage this! Please contact the departmental secretary who will put you in touch with the current Director of English Graduate Studies.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV – and how do I choose which one to submit? Check out this resource from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University for an overview and examples. Generally, graduate programs look for academic qualifications and experiences, and so a CV is recommended.
Something isn’t working on the online application. What do I do? Contact the Admissions office - Email: admissions@truman.edu, Phone: (660) 785-4114.
How do my recommenders submit letters for me? They do so online after you enter their contact information in your application. Each recommender should receive an email with instructions.
Is it possible to pursue both the English MA and the English MAE? Yes, many students do, and there are real advantages in pursuing both. Please contact the departmental secretary who will put you in touch with the current MAE in Secondary English Program Coordinator.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
