Master of Arts in English

Trinity’s master of arts in English develops writing and critical thinking skills through the intense study of literature, history, theory, and methodological approaches.

At a Glance

Our graduates work in fields including teaching, publishing, government, law, communications, and nonprofits.

You can complete the degree in two years as a full-time student; three to four years as a part-time student.

Your total cost is $33,000 (excluding fees), based on 2023-24 tuition rates.

Submit your application by August 1 for fall start, December 15 for spring start, and April 15 for summer start.

About the Program

The master of arts in English is a two-year, 10-credit program culminating in a thesis project. Our aim is to train students to write and think clearly with a sense of style and imaginative subtlety. To this end, we ask students to read broadly, to practice thoughtful interpretation, to produce precise arguments, and to foster an appreciation of texts written in English. We believe that the professional study of literature and culture requires a strong sense of historical periods, theoretical paradigms, and methodological approaches. Through close interaction and mentorship with our renowned faculty—recognized for their innovative research, excellent scholarship, and creative teaching—our program encourages students to embrace intense intellectual experiences and to produce work that reflects their own personal interests through a general foundation in literary studies.

While the M.A. in English is ideal for a student contemplating a career in teaching or seeking further study of literature at the graduate level, the variety of the endeavors of our alumni speaks to the value of a degree that hones students’ critical thinking and writing skills. Our students enjoy careers as librarians and digital archivists, as journalists and professional writers, as administrators at universities, museums, nonprofits, and public offices, as editors and publishers, and as professionals in public relations and marketing.

Our department culture is supportive and inclusive. We foster an intellectual and social community, aided by our unparalleled access to area resources. From campus treasures including the Watkinson Library and Cinestudio to our proximity to The Mark Twain House & Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History to our A.K. Smith speaker series of world-renowned writers and scholars, our English M.A. program is prominently situated in the intellectual life of the Hartford area.

Next Step: Start Your Application

Our program encourages you to embrace intense intellectual experiences and to produce work that reflects your own personal interests through a general foundation in literary studies.

Dan Mrozowski Director, English Graduate Studies Program

The Curriculum

The master of arts in English consists of 10 course credits (eight or nine courses). Students choose either a thesis or a pedagogical project as their capstone in the degree.

Most students complete the degree within three years at a fraction of the tuition costs of an undergraduate degree. We offer eight to 10 courses per year, including summer classes, with options for independent studies, transfer credits, and undergraduate courses adapted to the graduate level. Our courses reflect the diversity and expertise of our faculty. Our curriculum allows for great flexibility and individuation in both the time to degree completion and in the concentration of study.

See the Trinity College Bulletin for detailed course descriptions.

Master of Arts in English Requirements
1 foundational course	Introduction to Graduate Study in English (fall) Composition Pedagogy or Specialized Elective (spring) 19th Century Short Fiction or Specialized Elective (summer)
1 or 2 core courses	Introduction to Literary Theory (for students completing a thesis) Composition Pedagogy (for students completing a pedagogical project)
2 specialized electives (Samples)	1 course in British literature (Milton or Shakespeare’s Poetry) 1 course in American literature (Black Women Writers in the 20th and 21st Centuries or Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson)
4 generalized electives (Samples)	Sample courses: Food Writing in the English Renaissance Modern Poetry What is Romanticism?
Capstone	Thesis (2 credits) Pedagogical project (1 credit)