Online option for the M.A.
As a regional institution serving a geographically isolated region, MSU has long made an investment in various forms of Distance Learning and currently offers a number of programs, including the Master of Arts in English, entirely online. Like our traditional program, the online program offers students a solid background in English language and literature, and it includes thesis and non-thesis options. The only difference between the degrees lies in method of delivery. Students who take courses online are offered the flexibility of a virtual environment. [A student in the on-line program may include some face-to-face classes when feasible.]
General overview of program requirements:
The M.A. degree requires 33 hours of course work in English and related fields. Of these 33 hours, 27 must be in graduate English courses, and these English courses must include 12 hours in literature (with at least 3 hours in American and 3 hours in British literature), 3 hours in linguistics, 3 hours in writing, and 3 hours in the introduction to graduate studies course (bibliography).
Outline of required courses:
- ENG 603: Bibliography (3 hours)
- Writing course (3 hours)
- Linguistics course (3 hours)
- Literature coursework (12 hours, with at least 3 hours British and 3 hours American)
- English electives (6-12 hours, depending on coursework in related fields)
- Coursework in related fields (6 hours) [optional]
Coursework in related fields: Students enrolled in the program can take up to 6 hours in a related field of study. Many of our students choose to take coursework in Education, but History, Communication, Art, and Music are also viable related fields.
Thesis option: The thesis option is open to both online and on-campus students. Students who pursue this option will receive 6 credit hours (hours that count as English electives) for successfully writing and defending a critical or creative thesis.
Exit exam: All students are required to pass a written exit exam. A description of the exam, including a required reading list, is available on our department website. Students have the option of either traveling to MSU’s campus on the announced date of the exam or arranging with the graduate coordinator for a proctored exam at an institution close to home.
For more information on requirements: Please see the Graduate Catalog, which is available online. The first part of the catalog outlines general rules and regulations of graduate study at MSU; pages 108-110 outline the M.A. in English in particular.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How do I apply to the program?
All students who apply to a graduate program at MSU complete the same graduate application form, which can be accessed online. All completed forms are processed by the graduate office and passed along to individual programs. Because the online M.A. is only a different delivery option, not a distinct program in and of itself, students do not have to specify “online MA” on the application form. All they need to do is apply to the English program. Once they are admitted to the program, they can then take all of their coursework online.
What are the admission requirements for the online degree?
The admission requirements for the online degree are the same as those for the traditional degree. In order to be unconditionally admitted to the program, students must have: (a) general admission to graduate study, (b) an undergraduate major or minor in English, (c) a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 on all undergraduate English courses above a freshman level, (d) an accumulated (or a total of) 12 credits of upperdivision English and American literature courses completed prior to admission, and (e) a minimum score of 400 on the verbal section and 400 on the quantitative section of the GRE.
What if I do not yet meet the admission requirements?
Lack GRE:
Students may be admitted conditionally to the MA in English program if they have not yet taken the GRE. Students who are conditionally admitted may take up to twelve hours of courses until they are able to meet the GRE requirement. Conditionally admitted students should take the GRE as soon as possible and not wait until the end of the 12 hours to do so. Please note that the completion of 12 hours of course work as a conditionally admitted student does not guarantee full admission to the program.
Lack Undergraduate English major/minor on transcript:
Students whose undergraduate transcripts do not contain a major or minor in English, but the undergraduate transcripts reflect “ENG” pre-fix course work which parallels the Morehead State undergraduate catalog minor in English may be admitted.
If the student whose transcript does not indicate a major or minor in English lacks course work to parallel that required in the Morehead State minor, that student may take the needed undergraduate courses and submit the supplementary transcripts to meet major/minor requirements for admission to the MA in English program. For example, if that student lacks the foundational courses for our MA in English courses as British Literature survey or American literature survey, that student can take the courses needed to finish equivalency with minor in the Morehead State undergraduate catalog and be admitted to the program, provided the GPA requirement is also met.
What are the technological requirements for completing an online class or program?
Online courses at MSU are offered through the BlackBoard delivery system. A wealth of information about BlackBoard is available on MSU’s Distance Learning website, which includes a list of the minimum software and hardware requirements for online access, general tutorials on how to use BlackBoard, frequently asked questions about BlackBoard, and a checklist for the successful online student.
What type of course offerings are available?
Although not all course offerings are taught online, the English department offers a wide variety of internet courses that enable a student to fulfill all of the program requirements for the M.A. completely online. Currently, an online student can complete the entire program within a 3-4 year period. As members of the department continue to convert courses and offer more online instruction, internet students will have more course options and be able to finish the degree in a shorter amount of time.
Graduate Courses Offered to Date:
ENG 601 Semantics
ENG 603 Bibliography
ENG 612 Theories of Teaching Writing
ENG 620 Major American Poets
ENG 624 American Writers in Perspective
ENG 628 Literary Criticism
ENG 632 The English Novel (Summer II 2008)
ENG 634 Chaucer
ENG 638 Milton
ENG 648 English Romantic Period
ENG 650 Victorian Period
ENG 652 Modern British Literature
ENG 666 Contemporary Literature (Summer I 2008)
ENG 683 Advanced Poetry Writing (Summer II 2008)
ENG 684 Advanced Fiction Writing (Fall 2008)
ENG 690 Technical Writing
ENG 697 Sociolinguistics
Whom do I contact for more information?
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact the graduate coordinator, Dr. Fran Helphinstine (f.helphi@moreheadstate.edu)
