Wondering whether a master’s degree in English might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our faculty.
Phone: 530-898-5124
Email: lsparks@csuchico.edu
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English MA
Program Type Graduate
Delivery Type On Campus
Dive into advanced study with a Master of Arts in English! If you are passionate about English, this program is for you, offering in-depth exploration of literature, rhetoric, composition, literacy, and creative writing.
Students in the MA in English are given a variety of professional opportunities, including attending and presenting at academic conferences, teaching lower-division composition, creative writing, and literature courses, and organizing an annual research symposium.
Through internships and seminars in pedagogy, our Teaching Associateship Program and Certificate in Teaching College-Level Writing provide teacher training and help our students develop their teaching philosophies and hone their professional skills.
Skills That Translate
Students hone their reading, writing, editing and analytical skills, which are invaluable in any career. They continually curate their own work in the program, looking for connections among the different courses and projects they complete to identify significant patterns, trends, and trajectories.
Diverse and Engaging Coursework
The MA in English offers a rich, integrated curriculum in English Studies, including graduate coursework in literature, rhetoric, composition and pedagogy, literacy studies, and creative writing.
Creative Writing
The creative writing program offers students a chance to concentrate on poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction, drafting and revising poems, short stories, and stand-alone essays. Students work on advanced craft issues, writing theory, and pedagogy, which includes an opportunity to train to teach college-level introductory creative writing. This degree also prepares the student for a career in business, editing and publishing, education, marketing, or communications.
Literature
Through advanced literary study, you’ll engage with classic and contemporary works, mastering diverse media and genres. You’ll develop analytical skills, lead discussions, and complete a capstone essay. Graduates excel in PhD applications and professional fields, with secondary-school teachers gaining a competitive edge in subject knowledge.
Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy
Strengthen your writing skills while deepening your understanding of theories of writing, from the fields of rhetoric, composition, and literacy. This emphasis supports a range of professional pursuits, including university-level teaching, tutoring and tutor-training, professional writing, and PhD of composition and rhetorical studies.
Good Writers Can Do Anything
The modern work world thrives on effective written communication. With your top-notch reading and writing skills, your professional options will be endless. A master’s degree in English can lead to careers where skills in creative problem solving and clarity in written communication are essential. Potential career paths include education, publishing, journalism, corporate communications, and public relations. Additionally, some people who earn their master’s go on to earn a Ph.D. in English to pursue careers in academia or research.
Funding to Be Creative
Alondra Adame (MA, English, ’21) was a fellow in the Graduate Equity Fellowship Program where she was given a stipend to support her research and writing for her collection of essays “The Audacity to Live” which won the 2020-2021 Outstanding Project Award.
Plentiful Options
Jobs for English majors with a master’s degree are varied and plentiful. You can teach, write professionally, work in the communications department of a nonprofit or a corporation—what you do with your Master’s in English is really up to you.
Small Class sizes
Our graduate courses usually have fewer than 10 students, providing students with
exceptional learning opportunities.Teaching Experience
Graduate students have the option to enroll in coursework that prepares them to teach lower-division courses for the English Department.
Contribute to The Watershed Review
Work as an editor and publisher of The Watershed Review, one of the oldest, continuously published, student-edited literary magazines in the nation.
Added Value
The English MA is designed to coordinate with the graduate certificate in teaching college-level writing so that students can complete the certificate as part of the MA curriculum.
Show Off Your Writing
The English Graduate Student Council offers students opportunities to build community through communal study sessions, writing workshops, and social events. The club coordinates the annual EGSC Symposium, where graduate and undergraduate students present their research and creative projects to the larger campus community.
Application Information
Are you eager to spend more time reading, writing, discussing, and presenting with like-minded peers? Do you have a passion for completing that short story or poetry collection you’ve started? Would you love a job utilizing your excellent writing skills? Apply for the Master of Arts in English at Chico State and turn your passion into a profession!
All prospective students must first apply for graduate admissions through Cal State Apply. Supplementary materials will either be collected electronically via Cal State Apply or sent directly to the program department.
Application Deadlines
Fall: April 1
Spring: November 1 (October 1 for international applicants)
Supplemental Materials
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Analytical writing sample
- A 5-10 paged writing sample from coursework in English Studies. In addition, please include a brief (no more than one page) explanation of the context and aims of the writing sample.
OR
- A portfolio of 2-3 representative academic and/or industry writing samples totaling no more than 12 pages. This may include multimodal or reflective writing samples, but please no creative prose or poetry (see separate section for uploading optional creative writing samples). In addition, please include a brief (no more than one page) explanation of the context and aims of the portfolio contents, especially for multimodal texts or writing outside of English Studies.
- Additional creative writing sample (optional)
- Applicants interested in creative writing are highly encouraged to upload a creative writing sample of 8-12 pages of poetry or 10-20 pages of creative prose (fiction and/or creative nonfiction), in addition to the analytical writing sample.
For applicants who have not completed a baccalaureate degree (or three years of full-time academic study at the post-secondary level) in Australia, Great Britain, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States, completion of one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 580 or Internet-based score of 92
- Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 120
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7.0
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 65.
A significantly low score on any part of these required exams will require that a student enroll in coursework appropriate to the area of weakness as specified by the Graduate Advisor.
Learn more about the prerequisites for English MA.
How to Apply
We're here to help! Reach out to graduate program coordinator Laura Sparks at lsparks@csuchico.edu with any questions.
Graduate students can qualify for traditional financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
Scholarship Opportunities
California State University, Chico, provides merit and scholarship awards to deserving students for graduate studies, and many go unfilled. Scholarships are provided based on a variety of criteria, including academic merit, financial need, participation in clubs and activities, volunteer and community involvement, major and career goals, etc.
The typical feeder major for this master’s program is English. If you don’t have the equivalent of a major in English, you may be eligible if you complete the equivalent of a general English minor, and you can be admitted to the program while you’re still finishing your requirements. Talk with the graduate coordinator for details.
The 30-unit program can be completed in two years.
Related Programs
English Department
Wondering whether a master’s degree in English might be right for you? Contact our office to ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our faculty.
Phone: 530-898-5124
Email: lsparks@csuchico.edu