Master of Arts Program

The M.A. in English is a standalone, two-year program that provides a challenging and wide-ranging intellectual experience rooted in the richness of literary study.

Overview

M.A. students have access to a full range of courses across genres and historical periods, from medieval poetry to the contemporary American novel, as well as seminars in a variety of theoretical approaches including performance and post-colonial studies. The program encourages interdisciplinary study in American Studies and Irish Studies, and our faculty regularly introduce new courses, drawing on their research interests in areas such as visual culture, literary non-fiction, and digital humanities.

M.A. Opportunities

This M.A. concentration allows you to design an interdisciplinary course of study drawing from literature, Irish language, history, women's studies, American studies, fine arts, music, and cultural studies.

The M.A. program is committed to teacher training. We offer opportunities for the study of pedagogy, practical instruction in course design, and hands-on teaching experience.

The American Studies program connects scholars pursuing the interdisciplinary study of American culture from several departments, including English, History, Art History, Psychology, and Communications.

Additional Programs

Boston College also offers an accelerated B.A./M.A. program that enables qualified undergraduates to earn a B.A. in English and an M.A. in English in five years.

Students in BC's Lynch School of Education and Human Development who are interested in teaching English at the secondary level can apply to earn an Master's of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in English, in collaboration with the English Department.

By the Numbers

2

years

10

courses

50+

full-time faculty

M.A. Graduates

 

Wellesley High School

English Teacher

University of California Riverside

Ph.D. Candidate

Hendrickson Publishers

Associate Editor 

Greenleaf Health

Researcher

Wakefield High School

English Teacher

University of Connecticut

Ph.D. Candidate 

Lesley University

Adjunct Professor of Humanities 

Boston University

Ph.D. Candidate 

United States Military Academy at West Point

Visiting Assistant Professor

Meet Our Students

M.A. students hail from a wide range of backgrounds and conduct scholarly work on diverse genres, authors, and periods.

Current M.A. Students