Pursue Your Passion for Language and Literature: Take on a Master's Degree in English Online Program
Do you have a passion for language, literature and writing? Are you interested in teaching composition and literature courses? Perhaps you want additional preparation for a PhD program?
At the University of Southern Indiana, our 100% online master’s program in English offers advanced studies in composition, literary and rhetorical history, and theory and practical applications for teaching English. You’ll increase your knowledge and advance your professional aspirations as you prepare to pursue jobs for master’s in English graduates.
So, why should you pursue an English master’s degree online program at USI? You’ll enjoy a flexible master’s program in English that features small classes — our student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1 — and advance your professional aspirations in as little as two years.
You’ll work alongside experienced faculty members who have expertise that spans American, English and world literature; cultural and literary theory; composition and rhetoric; and creative writing. Faculty within our graduate English programs will also be there to answer your questions and help you find the career path that best fits your interests.
When you graduate from USI, you’ll be prepared to tackle jobs for master’s in English alumni or pursue a terminal degree. Advance your career aspirations today with an English master’s degree online
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Jobs for Master's in English Degree Graduates
Did you know that careers requiring a graduate degree — including a master’s program in English — are expected to grow by nearly 17% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics?
As a graduate of USI’s master’s degree in English online program, you can expect to find positions in K–12 schools or in higher education environments. Jobs for master’s in English graduates may include community college professor, content writer, post-secondary instructor and survey researcher or analyst.
Some of USI’s master’s program in English graduates also go on to doctoral programs. Whether you want to pursue terminal studies with a PhD or consider another career path — such as art or museum studies — our master’s degree in English online program will provide you with the knowledge and abilities to succeed in nearly any area.
“As a student in USI’s master’s program in English, I took a wide range of classes — from Teaching Composition to Workshop in Creative Writing. I know that these courses, along with the support I received from faculty and peers, provided me with the skills and confidence to complete the program.”
– Kathleen Bolander, USI Master’s Degree in English Online Graduate ’19
Academic Mentor, Purdue University
Instructor, University of Southern Indiana
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution. Although applicants do not need to hold an undergraduate degree in English, preference will be given to those applicants with an educational background or work experience in English or a related field.
- The MAE includes courses in Literature, Rhetoric and Writing, and Creative Writing. The Graduate Faculty in the English Department prefers to admit those students who appear to have the best chance of successfully completing the Master’s degree, and we assume the most successful students will be those whose educational backgrounds or work experiences indicate that they possess the abilities to examine, analyze, and write critically about a diverse range of texts in English.
- The MAE includes courses in Literature, Rhetoric and Writing, and Creative Writing. The Graduate Faculty in the English Department prefers to admit those students who appear to have the best chance of successfully completing the Master’s degree, and we assume the most successful students will be those whose educational backgrounds or work experiences indicate that they possess the abilities to examine, analyze, and write critically about a diverse range of texts in English.
- Applicants must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. However, applicants with an overall undergraduate GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may also apply to the program, provided that the student majored in English and has a GPA in the major of 3.25 or higher.
- Submit an online application, $40 application fee, and the name and contact information of a professional reference.
- Upload the following to your application account:
- A well-written cover letter of approximately 500 words indicating how your education or work experience has prepared you for graduate studies and how the Master of Arts in English degree fits with your personal or professional goals.
- A writing sample of approximately 3,500 words. Examples include literary analyses, rhetorical analyses, grant applications, or any other kind of professional writing. If necessary, you may submit two documents totaling 3,500 words.
- Submit transcripts to Graduate Studies.
- Official transcripts are required only from the institution at which your highest degree was earned. Electronic transcripts are preferred and can be emailed from the previous institution to Graduate.Studies@usi.edu
- Unofficial transcripts from other institutions attended can be submitted via email by the applicant to Graduate.Studies@usi.edu
- Applicants who wish to seek transfer credit for graduate coursework must submit an official transcript from the institution where that work was completed.
- Mailed transcripts can be sent to this address:
Graduate Studies
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
- Read the full transcript policy by clicking here.
- International applicants may be required to submit additional information.
Courses within the MAE are offered entirely online using a learning management system. Some courses will require synchronous learning on either Monday or Tuesday evenings. Access to a reliable computer with internet access is required.
Upon completion of the MAE program, students should be able to do the following:
- Read, interpret, and write about a diverse range of texts in English.
- Demonstrate a solid grounding in Literature, Rhetoric and Writing, and Creative Writing.
- Conduct independent research.
- Write critically and effectively in specific professional contexts.
- Critically examine and analyze texts critically from a diverse range of perspectives and through the lens of history and theory.
- Participate actively in academic discourse communities in written form, engaging in the theoretical discussions central to the field with current and relevant research-based information.
Our highly trained faculty are here to help you succeed.
Graduate Studies Graduate Assistants
Students admitted to the MAE program and enrolled in at least six graduate credit hours per semester may qualify for a limited number of graduate assistantships through the Office of Graduate Studies. In addition to pursuing a formal program of graduate study, a graduate assistant performs professional duties and assumes responsibilities commensurate with their educational background and experience. A graduate assistant receives a fee waiver and is paid wages for work performed.
University Scholarships and Grants
Eligible students must be enrolled in no fewer than three (3) graduate level credit hours during the funding period. These awards are not automatically renewable. Recipients are selected by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Director of the MAE program.
Since the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic year, the MAE program has awarded more than $27,000 in scholarships to students in varying amounts.
Our students have published their scholarship and presented papers at conferences around the country.
Program Curriculum for the Master of Arts in English
The program is comprised of 30 credit hours of coursework leading to a Master of Arts degree in English. The program includes 12 credit hours in English Core Classes, 15 credit hours in Additional English Classes, and 3 credit hours of a Capstone Project including a research paper and presentation at an end-of-semester Capstone Symposium.
English Core Classes (12 credit hours)
- ENG 501 – Information Literacy and Research
- ENG 512 – Advanced Academic Composition
- ENG 644 – Literature: Theory and Pedagogy in Higher Ed
- ENG 646 – Composition: Theory and Pedagogy in Higher Ed
English Elective Classes (15 credit hours)
American Literature
- ENG 632 – American Literature to the Civil War
- ENG 634 – American Literature from the Civil War to the Present
- ENG 636 – Multiethnic American Literature
British Literature
- ENG 624 – British Literature of the Middle Ages
- ENG 626 – British Literature of the Early Modern Period
- ENG 628 – British Literature of the 18th and 19th Centuries
World Literature
- ENG 672 – World Literature
Writing Studies
- ENG 617 – Professional and Technical Writing
- ENG 618 – Public Digital Rhetorics
Advanced Theory
- ENG 612 – Rhetorical Theory
- ENG 615 – The History of Rhetoric
- ENG 652 – English Language and Linguistics
- ENG 679 – Studies in Literary Theory
Electives
- ENG 599 – Seminar in Language and Literature
- ENG 609 – Workshop in Creative Writing
- ENG 642 – Teaching Creative Writing
- ENG 674 – Women Writers
- ENG 676 – Contemporary Literature
Capstone Project (3 credit hours)
After completing 27 hours of coursework, students will be required to enroll in:
- ENG 695 – Capstone Project
Earn Your Master of Arts in English on Your Time
Our 100% online Master's degree gives you the freedom to schedule your coursework around your availability. With 3 starts a year, you don't have to wait to begin the journey towards career advancement.
| Course Start | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline |
| 01/13/25 | 12/27/24 | 01/03/25 | 01/10/25 |
Student Project Highlight
The Impact of Rhetorical Choices on Game Controllers
By: Claire Ellis, USI Master's of English student and Adjunct English Professor
Project Abstract: Video games are a dynamic, interactive media, which require participation from the audience in order to function. Through the use of video game controllers, acting as non-human appendages, players act upon the digital world to exhort their will and influence within the scope of the game, while the digital world uses video game controllers to communicate information about the game with the player. This rhetorical situation created by the interaction between player, controller, and game may be subjected to rhetorical velocity, as video game controllers employ rhetorical strategies to be maximally engaging. By understanding video game controllers as rhetorical objects, we may better understand their role in the success and consumption of video games.
Flexible Coursework to Fit Your Career Needs
At USI, our master’s degree in English online program provides you with a broad-based understanding of creative writing, literature, rhetoric and writing. Our 30-credit-hour English master’s degree online starts with four core classes, but the rest of your studies are what you make them.
Our graduate students frequently say some of the courses they enjoyed most — you can choose a total of six electives — include American Literature to the Civil War, British Literature of the Early Modern Period, Teaching Creative Writing, Women Writers and World Literature Writing Studies.
Complete Your Graduate Degree with a Personalized Capstone Project
After completing 30 hours of coursework, all our English master’s degree online students complete a capstone project. You can choose to take on a research paper and presentation, conduct independent research and more to help you prepare to take on jobs for master’s in English graduates