Refine Your Craft

From Chaucer to Brontë to Robinson, explore beautiful literature that continues to captivate us. Our online master’s degree in English lets you deepen your understanding and appreciation of literature and language. Learn from our distinguished faculty as you refine your writing and research skills. Whether you desire to write the next Pulitzer or report on current issues, you can make an impact one narrative at a time. No matter your professional goals, we're here to walk with you along the way. Our program prepares you for further graduate work or careers in education, grant writing, marketing and communications, journalism and more. Turn your love of literature into a profession. Take the next step and apply today!

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See Yourself Succeed with a Master’s Degree in English

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Dedicated Faculty

Engage with exceptional faculty who will teach you to read well and write often. Our faculty are committed to improving your analytical skills and offer insight into the use and structure of language, literature and film.

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Enrich Your Education

Our multidisciplinary department offers a range of specialties from applied linguistics to film history. Our diverse programs will enable you to understand cultural and social differences within the framework of literature and languages.

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A male and female writing at a table.

Writing Resources

Improve your writing skills through the Department of Literature and Languages. You'll have access to writing resources to strengthen your talents and sharpen your communicating skills.

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A female educator with big smile reading a poem to audience.

Career Readiness

Thinking critically and communicating effectively. That's what employers are looking for. The College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts is dedicated to providing you the knowledge and resources for excelling in the workforce.

Focus Your Passion

The Department of Literature and Languages offers several different areas of study towards earning your master's degree. Each area of study has the option of being completed with or without a thesis. Explore what option works best for your career interests and research goals.

Thesis (MA/MS)

Interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in English? Our thesis track prepares you for achieving that goal. Work alongside faculty as you gain experience in literary research, interpretation and analysis.

Non-Thesis (MA/MS)

Earn your master’s degree in English with our non-thesis track. Designed for educators and working professionals, this focus provides a thorough understanding of literature and languages. Completing the non-thesis track opens doors to careers in education, journalism and writing.

Areas of studies Include

Critical Literacy

  • American Literature
  • British Literature
  • Children's Literature

Written Discourse

  • Theory and practice
  • Composition
  • Rhetoric
  • Digital Humanities

Pedagogy

  • Teaching English, Reading, and Writing

Study What Interests You

Earn a certificate as part of your graduate curriculum. Certificates recognize your skills and expand job opportunities.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Graduate Certificate

This certificate is ideal for students who either already hold a completed graduate degree or are actively in the process of earning a graduate degree and wish to earn this certificate in conjunction with their degree. In addition to the enhanced professional status that the Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) brings, this Certificate will enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the College level.

what you will learn

A master’s degree in English will offer you the opportunity to:

  • Apply analytical and critical thinking skills to American and British literature
  • Explore the use and structure of language
  • Study film as a form of narrative
  • Learn the methods and techniques of research
  • Participate in conferences and panel discussions
English professor sitting with books in the library.

Careers

Earning your master’s degree in English prepares you for a wide variety of professions. Whether you desire a career in freelance writing or high school teaching, our program equips you with the skills to succeed.

Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries

Writers and Authors
$73,150
Professors
$78,470
Editors
$73,080
Technical Writers
$79,960
Public Relations Specialists
$67,440

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022

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Course Delivery and Resources

Earning your master’s degree just got easier at A&M-Commerce. Our flexible program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and future educators. Our online courses allow you to attend classes when you have time each week. We also offer face-to-face courses at the main campus to fit your lifestyle and personal commitments.

Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times.  Locations and times are subject to change.

Student Organizations

Sigma Tau Delta is an International English Honor Society open to graduate students. Membership in the Upsilon Beta Chapter opens doors to scholarships, internships, publication, fellowship and student leadership at A&M-Commerce.

English students standing together on campus.

Graduate Program Cost

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.

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Admission

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “English MA or English MS” as your “Major.”

Domestic Application Fee 395064

  • Pay the $50 application fee.
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Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Provisional Status

After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100

Your Graduate Coordinator

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Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.

  • We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Request one signed letter of recommendation, on letterhead, from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

Submit an academic paper no more than 10 pages in length.

In no more than two pages explain;

  • What is your area of study (literature, composition, etc.)?
  • Why do you want to study that particular area? “I am interested in these types of questions/theories…”
  • What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals? Short term education goals, long term career goals.
  • Do we have any specific professors that you'd like to study under?

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

  • Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
  • Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
  • Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Graduate Enrollment Specialist Jennifer Faunce

Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

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Deadlines

  • Fall admission consideration: May 10
  • Spring admission consideration: October 15
  • Summer admission consideration: March 15

Applicants must have a completed admissions file by May 10 for fall consideration.

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “English, MA or English, MS” as your “Major.”

International Application Fee

  • Pay the $75 application fee
Back to menu

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100

Your Graduate Coordinator

Back to menu

  • Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
    Texas A&M University-Commerce

    Attn: Graduate School
    2600 S. Neal St.
    Commerce, Texas 75428

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

Request one signed, and dated letter of recommendation; on official agency or organization letterhead, preferably from a past professor, college instructor, or from a professional who currently supervises the applicant or who has in the past and can attest to their academic preparedness to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce Texas 75428

Submit an academic paper no more than 10 pages in length.

In no more than two pages explain;

  • What is your area of study (literature, composition, etc.)?
  • Why do you want to study that particular area? “I am interested in these types of questions/theories…”
  • What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals? Short term education goals, long term career goals.
  • Do we have any specific professors that you'd like to study under?

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:

  • TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
  • IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
  • PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
  • Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)

*Scores must be less than two years old.

Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted

  • Official sponsor statement
  • Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

MA/MS, what’s the difference?

The MA (Master of Arts) and the MS (Master of Science) differ in a foreign language requirement. To pursue an MA, you need to meet one of the following conditions:

  • Successful completion of 12 undergraduate semester credit hours (approximately four courses) of a foreign language
  • Completion of 6 graduate semester credit hours (approximately two courses) of a foreign language
  • Demonstrate through a proficiency test in a foreign language
  • Completion of 3 semester hours above elementary courses if the student presents 3 or 4 years of high school credit
  • American Sign Language (ASL) is considered an acceptable foreign language. Students should consult with departmental Director of Graduate School regarding this requirement.
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How long are the semesters?

  • Fall and spring: Our fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long. Occasionally, we offer flex-term courses in the fall and spring semesters that start four weeks later than the usual 16-week start date. Flex-term courses are 12 weeks long.
  • Summer: Summer is split into two terms, Summer I and Summer II, each five weeks long. On occasion, we offer ten-week courses that run for the duration of Summer I and Summer II.
  • Minis: On occasion, we offer mini-terms (August, May, and December) that are three weeks long.
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Do I want the thesis or non-thesis option?

You do not need to decide right away whether to pursue the thesis or non-thesis option. You can make that decision after starting the program and working with your advisor. Most students intending to earn their Ph.D. pursue the thesis track, but this is not always the case.

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