Arizona State University (West Valley Campus)
Arizona State University (West Valley Campus)

Arizona State University (West Valley Campus)

4701 W Thunderbird Rd, Glendale, AZ 85306, United States Arizona, Glendale, USA Visit web page

English, MA (Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies)

Study detals

: Master's degree : English, MA ASENGLMA : Full time : 24 Month

Requirements

Admission requirements
  • Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
  • Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. statement of purpose
  4. two letters of recommendation
  5. an academic writing sample (preferred) or professional writing sample
  6. resume or curriculum vitae (optional)
  7. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information

An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency (TOEFL 80 (no band below 20) (IELTS 6.5 at least 6.0 in all skills)) regardless of their current residency.

The statement of purpose should describe the educational background, scholarly interests and academic and professional goals of the applicant.

It is preferred that the letters of recommendation are from faculty members who know the applicant's work well; if such faculty are not available, then recommendation letters from individuals in supervisory or professional roles are acceptable.

Additional information

Program description

Degree awarded: MA  English 

The MA degree program in English addresses the many facets of English: its literature; its linguistic, social and cultural histories; and its capacities for persuasion, exposition and elucidation.

The program is grounded in scholarly tradition but designed for the demands of today's world. Its innovative curriculum has been developed to train present and future educators as well as individuals pursuing careers in the wide variety of professions that value advanced critical thinking, research and communication skills.

World-class faculty is ready to help enhance skill sets, deepen knowledge bases and prepare students to put the Master of Arts in English degree to work in their chosen professions.

Accelerated program options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

  • Applied Science, BAS
  • Communication, BA
  • Communication, BS
  • Disability Studies, BA
  • English, BA
  • Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, BS
  • History, BA
  • Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance, BA
  • Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, BA
  • Latin American Studies, BA
  • Philosophy, Religion and Society, BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (American Studies), BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (Ethnicity, Race and Indigenous Studies), BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (Latin American Studies), BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (Peace Studies), BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (Queer and Sexuality Studies), BA
  • Social and Cultural Analysis (Women and Gender Studies), BA
  • Spanish, BA

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program.

Career opportunities

The ability to influence and motivate behavior through the power of well-crafted language is a skill valued in every industry dependent upon customers, employees, suppliers or investors.

Graduates with a master's degree in English are able to use language to accomplish organizational goals; utilize advanced critical thinking abilities and advanced skills for clear and effective verbal communication; construct well-supported and persuasive arguments; and perform complex textual analysis. They are knowledgeable about historical trends in written discourse, have an awareness of the role of literary discourse in broader social and historical contexts, and have the ability to engage in big-picture thinking.

Career fields are many and varied. Examples include:

  • business communication
  • community college teaching
  • editing
  • grant writing
  • journalism
  • nonprofit consulting
  • public relations
  • publishing
  • secondary education and continuing education
  • technical writing
  • web (content management, social media management)
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