Degree Specific Information: The Master's Programs

Overview of the Programs within the Department

The English Department at USU offers graduate education in several different subject areas: Literature, Culture, and Composition; Creative Writing; Folklore; and Technical Communication. These subjects are offered through different degrees:

  • MA/MS in English
    • Specialization in Literature, Culture, and Composition (LCC)
    • Specialization in Creative Writing
  • MA/MS in Folklore
  • Master of Technical Communication (online only)

Our master's programs provide a broad education beyond a bachelor’s degree. They prepare students for a variety of careers, including teaching at a two-year college, pursuing a PhD, working in or with museums or archival collections, or doing writing-intensive work outside academia.

While the different degree programs in which students are enrolled each have their own programs of study, students in all these degree programs are united as members of the English Department.

Descriptions of Degrees Offered

MA/MS in English: Literature, Culture, and Composition

The master’s programs in English with a specialization in LCC allows students to do advanced work or teach in the fields of literary criticism, cultural studies, and/or rhetoric & composition. 

Refer to the LCC website for more details.

MA/MS in English: Creative Writing

The master’s programs in English with a specialization in Creative Writing allows students to do advanced work in creative writing, concentrating on poetry, fiction, and/or creative nonfiction.

Refer to the Creative Writing website for more details.

MA/MS in Folklore

Folklore Studies is located between the disciplines of literature and anthropology, and it includes the study of traditional beliefs, stories, legends, songs, festivals, and arts of a given group. Students will engage in both library research and hands-on fieldwork.

Refer to the Folklore website for more details.

Master of Technical Communication (MTC)

The Master of Technical Communication is a professional degree that can be completed entirely online. Students will study communication and writing that gets things done—in business, community activism, government, and other contexts—and also social media technologies, editing, inclusive communication, and more.

Refer to the MTC website for more details.

Note: Occasionally a student admitted to one program/specialization finds it necessary to transfer to another program/specialization within the department. If you should find yourself in this situation, contact the DGS.

Important Degree Information

Students in the English Department (other than of MTC students) can earn either an MA or an MS degree in their chosen subject. An MA degree if often considered better for students hoping to continue on to a PhD program, and it is distinguished from an MS degree by indicating proficiency in one or more foreign languages. This means you must pass a language requirement in order to receive an MA degree. Without a foreign language, you will receive an MS degree.

For more information on degree information refer to the "Important Degree Information" page.

The Thesis

For any MS/MA degree you must complete a thesis. You do not complete a thesis for the MTC program. The English Department offers two thesis options: Plan A and Plan B.

  • Plan A theses require 6 credits and are typically longer written works, ranging from 50-100 pages, divided into chapters
  • Plan B theses require 3 credits and are typically shorter written works, ranging from 25-50 pages, or may take another form: two related, shorter articles; an exhibit combined with an analytical paper; a podcast or video production with an accompanying academic commentary; etc.

As you begin thinking of a thesis topic, you will choose a thesis chair (a faculty member who will advise you), and form a supervisory committee (a group of additional faculty who will help guide you and assess your thesis when it is complete).

Students who intend to pursue either thesis option should complete a thesis proposal and have their master’s Thesis/Project Approval Form signed by their committee and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the end of their second semester. Once you have completed your thesis proposal, you can sign up for thesis credits, which are typically taken in the fourth semester.

For more advice about forming a committee, writing a thesis proposal, and writing the actual thesis, refer to the "Thesis" page.

Timelines

Most students will take two years to complete their master’s degree. While each student will move through their program at their own pace, there are several key moments that will occur in all students’ timelines.

You will want to have decided on a thesis topic and written a thesis proposal (which will require you to have chosen a thesis chair ad supervisory committee) by the end of your second semester.

You should pan to defend your thesis in your final semester of graduate school. You will need to plan in advance for this, as you’ll need to coordinate with your entire committee to schedule a defense date, and you’ll need to get your committee a completed copy of your final thesis draft at least two weeks prior to the defense date.

Stay in close contact with your thesis chair and the DGS to make sure that you aren’t missing major deadlines.

For a detailed outline of the typical first and second years for master’s students, refer to the “timelines” page.