Truman’s Master of Arts in English allows you to explore literature, literary studies, composition theory, pedagogy, creative writing, and linguistics. Working closely with your faculty advisor, you can personalize a course of study to suit your interests and professional goals and choose which culminating project best matches your aspirations:
Graduates of our program often pursue careers in:
They are also accepted into doctoral programs or go on to attain an additional professional degree in law, fine arts, or education.
À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ is known nationally for its Master of Arts in Education program, and our English M.A. students may apply to simultaneously earn a Master of Arts in Education.
Adding the M.A. degree to a Truman M.A.E. degree program is an especially attractive option because all the graduate English electives students take in fulfillment of the M.A.E. (at least 12 and usually 16 hours) count toward the M.A. degree as well.
Students interested in adding the M.A. in English to their M.A.E. should discuss the option with the M.A.E. program coordinator.
Students graduating with the combined degrees of Master of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Education with an English specialty are highly qualified for a variety of teaching positions:
Those who have served as teaching assistants while completing their graduate work are especially well qualified and are sought-after candidates for those teaching positions. About the MAE Program
The flexibility of our online synchronous and asynchronous courses allows you to pursue a Master of Arts in English by taking classes that fit your schedule.
You’re busy with competing demands on your time, and we get that! You can apply for spring, summer, or fall admission. During Fall and Spring semesters, we offer a mix of synchronous and asynchronous courses, and you can choose from 1-, 2-, or 4-credit variations of most of those courses. Lower credit hour variations of the 4-credit course are clearly explained in registration materials. During the summer, we typically offer at least one creative writing course and one or two literature courses with unique topics. And you can move back and forth between part-time and full-time enrollment depending on your needs.
* The English MA degree program is delivered online with the following exceptions:
Develop your skills and experience as a funded Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA) or Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTRA). Students who apply for admission and for graduate assistantships by Feb. 15 will be given priority consideration.
À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ by August 1
À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ by November 1
À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ by April 1
In addition to the to apply for the Master of Arts in English Program, you’ll need to submit the following:
*Total estimated tuition based on 2026-27 academic year. Tuition subject to change.
Degree-seeking students taking at least six credit hours per semester are eligible for federal financial aid programs. For more information, see our Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Studies page or contact the Financial Aid Office at (660) 785-4130 or finaid@truman.edu.
Get an inside look at the online learning environment, meet your professors, and get all your questions answered during a virtual visit.