MA in English

The Master of Arts in English at Northeastern University offers students a range of rich course-based experiences that challenge students to read critically and put their ideas to work in public and academic writing. The MA program also offers a variety of experiential opportunities where students learn professional skills while pursuing their MA degree.

Experiential pathways include:

Digital Humanities: With the DH Certificate, complete a DH project and take courses that provide training in the use of digital tools for the study of texts and maps. Work as a NU Lab RA
Teaching: Prepare for teaching of writing and literature by taking coursework on the teaching of writing, pursuing a teaching practica with one of our English faculty, and/or tutor in the Writing Center
Academic: Prepare for a PhD program by completing a MA thesis with one of our English faculty and/or assist a faculty member with research
Professional employment through co-op

The program is designed so that students obtain the 32 semester hours required for the degree while also pursuing experiential learning opportunities. The degree may be completed in three semesters without a Co-op or four semesters with a full semester, paid co-op.

The program offers certificates in digital humanities and women and gender studies.

Since 2018, 40% of our MA graduates have found employment in industry. Recent placements have included AI Quality Analyst, AGI Data Services, Amazon, Communications Content Coordinator, Fresenius Medical Care North America (hired out of co-op); Communications Associate, Office of the Chancellor at Northeastern University (hired out of co-op); Associate Technical Product Manager at National Geographic Learning (hired out of co-op). About 25% of our graduates have gone on to leading PhD programs, such as Emory University, Syracuse University, and UT Austin. Other students have pursued opportunities in private and public K-12 schools as well as 2-year and 4-year colleges.

Graduates of our M.A. program are able to:

Employ primary and secondary materials to analyze critical debates and positionality within subfields of English.
Formulate and defend original and critically significant arguments, communicating them effectively in genres relevant to English studies (e.g., research papers, conference presentations, digital projects).
Demonstrate expertise in theories; methods; and social, cultural, and political histories of English studies pertinent to the student’s goals.
Design and conduct sustained, sophisticated, independent research to make a critical contribution to subfields within English studies by engaging in analytical thinking, investigating relationships between language and power, or critiquing inherited social structures and hierarchies within and beyond the field(s).
Reflect on an experiential learning opportunity and relate that experience to the student’s current learning and future career goals.

Prospective students can consult our FAQs or contact the department’s Graduate Office for more information about applying to our MA in English program.