English: Literature, M.A.


Master of Arts in English: Literature


About the Degree

The Literature Track is intended for students who wish to pursue the study of literature. Most graduate courses in English meet once or twice weekly in the late afternoon or evening, and on Saturday, for scheduling convenience and efficiency. The program offers both a 33 credit hour thesis option and a 36 credit hour non-thesis option.

Students study literacy criticism, British and American literature, and linguistics.


Salary and Career Outlook

The MA in English may or may not lead to a specific job. Some graduates already work as teachers; some plan to apply for teaching jobs; some plan to go on for the PhD; some pursue other communication-related work.


Why Akron?

The following makes this degree distinctive:

  1. High faculty-student ratio for a more personal approach to graduate English education than is usually available in programs that offer a PhD as the terminal degree.
  1. Strong appeal to local teachers pursuing graduate English credit to further their careers.
  1. Strong international appeal for already-funded students pursuing the English master’s degree who then return to teach and work in their home countries (for example, Saudi Arabia, France, among others).
  1. Excellent preparation for graduate students desiring to pursue a PhD at another university, after obtaining this master’s degree.
  1. Depending on student demand, an accelerated, fully online 18-credit cohort program available for Ohio high-school teachers preparing for dual-enrollment teaching assignments at their home institutions.

Recent employers include:

  • Akron City School District, English Teacher.
  • Stark State College, Assistant Professor of English.
  • Omega Laboratories, Inc., Regulatory Affairs.


Contact Information

Contact Information:

David Giffels, Graduate Coordinator

(330) 972-6604

dg36@uakron.edu