English, MA

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in English requires 30 hours of coursework

See All Program Requirements

Courses You'll Take

• ENG 5000 Practical Literary Criticism

• This course offers the opportunity to research and study selected works of literature from a variety of contemporary theoretical approaches. It aims to increase students’ ability to evaluate and apply these approaches.
  
  

• ENG 6700 Thesis Prospectus and Research
  Directed by the faculty mentor, the student undertakes the research and other forms of preparation necessary to write the thesis.

• ENG 6800 Thesis
  Directed by the faculty mentor, students complete all the requirements for the thesis, including a formal public presentation of their finished work.
  
  
• ENG 5800 Readings in World Literature I
  This course presents important works of literature of the world from beginnings to Enlightenment. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

• ENG 5810 Readings in British Literature I
  Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from Old English up to the Elizabethan period.

• ENG 5820 Readings in British Literature II
  Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Elizabethan period through the eighteenth century.

• ENG 5830 Readings in American Literature I
  Readings emphasizing the historical development of American literature from a broad spectrum of representative works, from beginnings through the Civil War.
  
  
• ENG 5840 Readings in World Literature II
  This course presents important works of literature of the world from the Enlightenment to the present. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

• ENG 5850 Readings in British Literature III
  Readings emphasizing the historical development of British Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Romantic period through the present.
  
  
• ENG 5860 Readings in American Literature II
  Readings emphasizing the historical development of American Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Civil War to the present.
  
  
• ENG 6000 Single / Double Author Seminar
  Each offering of this course will be devoted to the in-depth study of one, or at most two, author(s). These authors range from Chaucer and/or Shakespeare to Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Joan Didion, as examples, etc. Deep knowledge of an author’s (or two author’s) oeuvre, not historical coverage, is the chief goal of the course.
  
  
• ENG 6100 Genre Seminar
  Each offering of this course will provide a critical introduction to a single genre of writing. Seminar topics may include everything from the novel, short story, poetry and drama, to nature or travel writing, the graphic novel, ethnography and memoir, etc. Deep knowledge of the genre, not historical coverage, is the seminar’s chief goal.
  
  
• ENG 6000 Single / Double Author Seminar
  Each offering of this course will be devoted to the in-depth study of one, or at most two, author(s). These authors range from Chaucer and/or Shakespeare to Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Joan Didion, as examples, etc. Deep knowledge of an author’s (or two author’s) oeuvre, not historical coverage, is the chief goal of the course.
  
  
• ENG 6200 Creative Writing Seminar
  Each offering of this course will explore the theory and practice of creative writing and an emphasis on revision. Offerings will rotate between Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, Writing and the Creative Process, and other possible genres or topics. Deep experience in writing in particular genres is the chief goal of this seminar.
  
  
• ENG 6000 Single / Double Author Seminar
  Each offering of this course will be devoted to the in-depth study of one, or at most two, author(s). These authors range from Chaucer and/or Shakespeare to Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Joan Didion, as examples, etc. Deep knowledge of an author’s (or two author’s) oeuvre, not historical coverage, is the chief goal of the course.
  
  
• ENG 6100 Genre Seminar
  Each offering of this course will provide a critical introduction to a single genre of writing. Seminar topics may include everything from the novel, short story, poetry, and drama, to nature or travel writing, the graphic novel, ethnography, and memoir, etc. Deep knowledge of the genre, not historical coverage, is the seminar’s chief goal.
  
  
• ENG 5720 Practicum in Pedagogy
  Under the supervision of faculty who are teaching an undergraduate course, students will assist and participate in all phases of the teaching process: preparation, classroom instruction, evaluation, etc. The supervising faculty member and student should develop a contract about work to be completed by the student and the study / reading component to be undertaken together, taking into account the number of credit hours; students taking 3 credit hours in the Practicum, making it the equivalent of a full course, should also write a substantial essay about teaching, their own teaching experiences and learning processes, etc.
  
  
• ENG 5730 Pedagogical Studies
  This course introduces students to pedagogies used in teaching literature, language and/or writing. In addition to reading and discussing the various pedagogical approaches, students will apply them by assisting a professor in teaching, tutoring and/or conferencing with students on their papers. Other related assignments will include writing learning goals, designing assignments, developing rubrics and other assessment tools, etc.
  
  
• ENG 5040 History of the English Language
  The origins and development of the English Language are studied in the context of linguistics and socio-political influences. Attention is also paid to the ongoing processes affecting modern English.

• ENG 6420 Composition Theories
  The course provides a basic overview of composition theories: audience analysis, writing process theory, writing to learn theory, discourse theory, invention in the rhetorical tradition. Other topics include evaluation, electronic discourse and grammar.

Application Deadlines

Fall: August 1
Spring: November 15
Summer: May 1

Graduate English Admissions Requirements

• Application Form: Apply Online using the BU4U application portal. 
• Application Fee: Submit a $50 non-refundable application fee. 
• Official Transcripts: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0. Official transcripts showing all collegiate work should be sent to: Belmont University Office of Admissions, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville TN 37212-3757. Official electronic transcripts can be accepted, and must be sent through a secure third party (i.e. Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment). Request them be sent to: belmontadmissions@belmont.edu.  
• Recommendations: Two academic and/or professional recommendations are required. These are only received through the online application portal. Neither recommendations may be from a relative and at least one must be from a professor.
• Statement of Purpose: Submitted as part of the application, the statement of purpose is an essay of less than 500 words from one of the following topics: 1) Your goals for an M.A. in English 2) Your reasons for pursuing an M.A. in English 3) Your interest in literature or specific area of literary study 4) If your background is not in English, your strengths in preparation for this program.
• Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a critical essay or research paper, preferably one focused on literary criticism or rhetorical analysis. Please contact the director of the program if you have questions.
• Interview: Applicants may be invited to interview with us as part of the application process. This informal interview will give us a chance to answer any questions, and will help us learn a little more about you and your interests in writing and literature.

Application Status: Applicants are accepted on a rolling admissions pattern; thus, you will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions portfolio is completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U portal.

International Students: International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official TOEFL scores (required minimum of 550 PBT or 80 iBT) or other university accepted proficiency exam. Learn more about International Admissions

Questions?

Financial Aid

There are several types of federal financial aid available to graduate students. Please visit our Graduate Tuition & Aid website to learn more.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are available through the Office of Student Organization and Activities each year. Applications are due in early Spring.

Internships, Fellowships and Employment

Internships, fellowships and part-time employment help fund the cost of graduate school while giving valuable career enrichment experience. Opportunities include tutoring positions and summer teaching associateships at the writing center, employment at the library and internships at local independent schools. Application deadlines vary, but most applications are due in early Spring. Please contact the director of graduate studies for more information.

Scholarships

We offer partial scholarships to full-time students on a competitive basis. In addition, we also offer partial reimbursement for research and conference travel.

There are also several sources of external scholarships available, such as these scholarships offered by West End United Methodist Church for those who are in or pursuing careers in teaching. For more on external scholarships, visit Belmont’s English Graduate scholarship website.

Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement for graduate school, including Vanderbilt University, Comcast, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, UPS, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Best Buy. Check with your employer to see if they offer reimbursement.

Military Benefits

Military members qualify for financial assistance, and Belmont University is a Yellow Ribbon University. For more on military benefits, please click here.

Tuition and Fees

Click here to determine your total estimated costs per semester for courses in the Graduate English program.