Master of Arts in English
VCU Department of English

The Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University offers a thirty-hour Masters degree in two concentrations: literature or writing and rhetoric. The flexible degree program enables students to develop intellectually in a stimulating and supportive environment. Designed for students seeking study beyond a bachelor’s degree, the program prepares graduates subsequently to pursue a doctorate, teach in secondary or higher education, or obtain other positions in the public and private sector.

The Master of Arts in either concentration requires thirty graduate hours. Six of those hours may be devoted to the completion of a thesis. Courses are taken primarily within the department, although appropriate course work in other departments may be counted toward the degree with permission of the MA director. All Masters students, regardless of concentration, are encouraged to expand their understanding and knowledge of literature and writing, and the degree requirements are designed with that breadth in mind. Full-time students generally complete the program in two years, part-time students in two to five.

Degree Requirements, MA in English

Application to the MA in English is made through the School of Graduate Studies, with applications accepted for spring (deadline November 15), summer, and fall (deadlines March 1).

Find the latest MA news on the VCU English News blog.

Katherine Bassard, Program Director
Thom Didato, Graduate Programs Coordinator