By pursuing an M.A. in English, you will sharpen your analytical skills, develop an advanced writing style, and improve your close-reading ability. Our program prepares students for high-level careers in teaching, law, business, publishing, writing, and administration. Teachers with master's degrees often earn higher salaries than those with only bachelor's degrees. In Massachusetts, earning an M.A. is one of the requirements for moving from an initial license to a professional license. The M.A. also serves as excellent preparation for a Ph.D. program.

The English department offers a Joint Master of Arts program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies that integrates the study of women's experiences and gender roles with the English course of study. This joint program may be a terminal degree or may be earned as part of the Ph.D. program. The joint M.A. is for full-time students only.