English, Accelerated Master’s BA/MA

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The accelerated B.A.+M.A. program draws on two existing degree programs: the B.A. in English and the M.A. in English. The program is designed to bridge newly graduated, licensed teachers directly into the M.A. in English, but all English majors are eligible and can benefit from the program. Undergraduates will complete nine credit hours that count toward both the B.A. and M.A., allowing for a more efficient path to graduate study. After students graduate and begin teaching (or working in other professional capacities) full-time, they can continue seamlessly as graduate students in the M.A. in English. To better accommodate full-time work, students will take six credit hours per semester instead of the typical nine. By reducing the graduate workload for full-time teachers, this program increases the likelihood that students will complete their M.A. within two years. Graduate training will support newly licensed teachers in their new roles while allowing them to continue their academic development. Additionally, teachers with M.A. credentials have the opportunity for higher pay and the ability to teach a wider variety of classes.

For English majors not pursuing teaching, the accelerated program also provides a seamless transition from undergraduate study to professional careers in fields such as publishing, communications, and information work. An accelerated program offers a streamlined path for highly qualified undergraduate students to complete both a B.A. and an M.A. while gaining valuable credentials for career advancement or further study. The main goal of the program is to provide graduates with strong preparation for employment and additional teaching and professional credentials. The program can also prepare students for a Ph.D. program in English or a related discipline. Ultimately, this program equips students with advanced credentials and a strong foundation for their careers or further academic pursuits.

Admission to Program

The following are the minimum requirements for undergraduate students to be admitted to the accelerated B.A.+M.A. in English program:

Ordinarily, the applicant will have completed 60 credits prior to admission in the program
Declared English major at CSU and
Cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75, with minimum 3.0 GPA in English courses.

Before applying, an interested applicant must consult with the director of the English Program, a faculty member who is actively associated with the English Program, or the Graduate Director of the Department of English.

A student applying must submit the following materials during the spring semester of their third undergraduate year, from January to May, on a rolling basis. These materials can be submitted via email to the program director (letters of recommendation can be directly submitted to the program director via email from the recommenders).

Personal statement detailing qualifications for the program;
Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with his or her academic abilities;
Undergraduate transcript(s)

Program Requirements

For a student in the accelerated program, the B.A. is awarded after completing at least 120 credit hours and all General Education, University, College, and Major Field requirements. Up to 9 credits of 500-level courses may count toward both the B.A. degree and the M.A. degree.

The M.A. degree is awarded after the student has completed all of the requirements of the M.A. in English- thesis track.¹

A student must earn a grade of B or better in each graduate-level course in order for the courses to be counted towards the M.A.

¹The MA in English: thesis track requires a total of 33 credit hours.

Courses During Undergraduate Study (3 Courses/9 Credits)

The program allows nine credits of graduate coursework to be applied toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees.

Students take three 500-level ENG courses (9 credits). The courses count towards the Elective requirements.

ENG 500-level Elective
ENG 500-level Elective
ENG 500-level Elective

Core Requirements (2 Courses/6 Credits)

ENG 600 - Literary Analysis
ENG 601 - Critical Approaches to Literature

English Seminars (4 Courses/12 Credits)

English seminars are taken four times with a change of topic.

ENG 695 - Graduate Seminar
ENG 695 - Graduate Seminar
ENG 695 - Graduate Seminar
ENG 695 - Graduate Seminar

Thesis (2 Courses/6 Credits)

To earn these credits, the student must prepare an acceptable master’s thesis of 30 to 50 pages, written under the direction of a committee of three English graduate faculty members. Students should submit a thesis proposal approved by a committee of three English graduate faculty members after completing 18 credits of graduate work in the program.

ENG 699 - Thesis
ENG 699 - Thesis