Multicultural English Literature and Language, M.A.

Master of Arts in Multicultural English Literature and Language

The M.A. in English program maintains a multicultural emphasis and blends studies in literature (including American, British, Chicano/a, African American, Native American literature, and various world literatures, as well as literature by women and a variety of specialized genres), linguistics, and writing. The program’s flexibility allows students to design their individual programs to meet their long-term goals and to choose special topics directed toward their thesis. Students can elect to concentrate their studies in multicultural literature, or writing, or they can build a generalist program from courses that fall into each of these categories.

The M.A. in English program is designed to allow students to earn their degree while continuing to work. All courses are offered both online and (for core courses) in traditional classrooms on the Toppenish campus. Online courses are available around the clock, and courses taught on the campus are held predominately during the weekends (or occasionally in the evening). Students may attend campus courses in person or online (either sychronously or asynchronously) and may move freely from one to the other.

Heritage University’s Master of Arts in English Program is for students teaching or seeking to teach at the college level, as well as for those who wish to prepare for Ph.D. studies in English literature, linguistics, or composition theory. It may also be the program of choice for those who already hold a State of Washington English Language Arts (5-12) endorsement and simply desire more knowledge in their subject area or to become eligible to teach at the college level. Students holding teaching certificates may also pursue the English Language Arts 5-12 endorsement in the course of their program since the M.A. Program can be specifically tailored to include all the coursework required to earn the endorsement (though students must still meet all other State of Washington certification requirements). It may also be adjusted to permit the coursework required to enter a particular Ph.D. program.

Alternate Assignments for ENG Survey Courses

In the case of graduate students who were undergraduate English majors and already completed multiple survey courses in American, British, or World literature, Heritage offers two alternative pathways:

1) Research and write a publication-quality essay for submission to a jury-reviewed academic journal or for submission to a conference, or

2) Prepare teaching materials for a future secondary or post-secondary course or a unit in a course in the subject area.