Master's Degree in English

The mission of the MA in English program is fourfold:

• To develop students' knowledge of current critical and scholarly approaches to the study of literature and language.
• To enhance their knowledge of the structure and history of the English language.
• To clarify problems and issues raised by contemporary research in the teaching of composition.
• To reinforce students' knowledge and application of primary and secondary sources.

The Master of Arts in English provides the following: (1) a carefully planned and integrated program ensuring a foundation of professional skills through a common core of courses; (2) some uniform degree of coverage in British and American literature; (3) more intensive training in reading, critical analysis, research, and writing than is possible in undergraduate work; and (4) breadth through an emphasis on the fields of literature, language, and composition.

To meet these objectives, the English graduate program has been designed primarily to provide the following: (1) a well-balanced program for those who wish to terminate their studies at the master’s level and whose primary aim is to teach in a community college; (2) advanced training for teachers who wish to improve their professional skills and status; (3) a variety of courses for students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. degree at another institution; and (4) continuing education for those who wish to extend their knowledge as an end in itself through an interesting and stimulating series of classes in literature, criticism, and language, as well as the teaching of composition and English as a Second Language.

The MA qualifies students to teach in the California community college system and prepares them for careers in editing, advertising, and public information. The MA is also excellent preparation for teaching in secondary schools for those who have or are planning to pursue a teaching credential.

1. Linguistics
1.1 Linguistic Analysis
Students will be able to analyze the grammar of English.

2. Composition
2.1 Theories and Practices of Composition Instruction
Students will be able to apply current theories and best practices in the teaching of composition.
2.2 Discourse Analysis
Students will be able to analyze linguistic and rhetorical patterns in different modes of discourse.

3. Literature
3.1 Analyzing Literature
Students will be able to compose an original essay on a literary text.
3.2 Applying Critical Theory
Students will be able to examine literature using specific critical approaches.
3.3 Researching Criticism
Students will be able to exhaustively survey the existing criticism on any literary text.

How do I apply? 
Prospective students may find and file their applications online at www.calstate.edu/apply. After the application is reviewed by Admissions and Records at CSUB, it is forwarded to the Department of English.

What are the admissions requirements?
Students are admitted to the university with a 2.5 average in the last ninety units of work at an accredited college or university. If you have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and the same in the major, the English Department will admit you as a Classified Graduate Student. Students without a GPA of at least 3.0 will need to score at or above the 70th percentile on the GRE verbal measure or present an approved statement of purpose and writing sample to the graduate program director.

What if I didn't major in English in college?
Before beginning graduate classes, you will be asked to complete seven undergraduate courses in English, including one course in linguistics. Generally, upper-division courses in English that you have taken elsewhere count towards this equivalent.

Do you offer graduate courses in the evening after work?
Yes. Graduate classes are offered in the evening, once a week Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. We also offer classes twice a week in the late afternoon from 4:15 to 5 p.m.

What is the normal course load for graduate students?
Most of our graduate students take two to three classes every semester.

Do you have a summer program?
Summer classes operate independently of the regular academic program; since courses "make" only with sufficient enrollment, summer offerings in graduate courses in English have been infrequent.

How long will it take me to get my M.A.?
Eleven graduate courses are required to complete the MA. Students who take three to four classes per semester complete basic course requirements in three semesters. Students usually devote one semester to the final course requirement—the culminating experience of a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination—for a total of four semesters or two years.

How large are classes?
Most graduate classes enroll from 10-20 students; the ratio of faculty to students is high, allowing students to get individual attention and help on their classes and research interests.

Do you offer graduate work in creative writing?
Unfortunately, our department is not large enough to offer separate tracks such as creative writing, linguistics, or writing studies. However, we do offer a Certificate in Writing designed to help students in the teaching of composition, thus making them more marketable.

Do I have to take a comprehensive examination?
After finishing their course work, students either write a thesis/complete a project, a prospectus of which must first be approved, or take a written comprehensive exam.

Is there financial aid for graduate students?
Federally backed loans are available from the Office of Financial Aid (654-3016).

Persons seeking graduate study in English must apply online through Cal State Apply at www.calstate.edu/apply. Admission to graduate study by the university does not constitute acceptance into the English MA Program.

Students must also notify the English Department’s Graduate Program Director of their intention to pursue the MA degree. The Graduate Program Director will familiarize the student with the requirements and timetable of the MA Program.

Detailed information on Application Procedures and Policies can also be found at www.csub.edu/catalog/2024-2025-admissions-procedures-and-policies.

Requirements for admission to CSU Bakersfield are in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, of the California Code of Regulations. Complete information is available at www.calstate.edu.

Admission to the graduate program leading to the Master of Arts in English requires the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree in English from an accredited college or university:
2. A 3.0 GPA (A=4.0) for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted, and a 3.0 GPA in upper-division English courses.
3. Students who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement for upper-division English courses can qualify for the program by scoring at or above the 70th percentile on the verbal measure of the Graduate Record General Test OR by presenting an approved personal statement and writing sample to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
4. For international students whose first language is not English, a minimum score to 550 on the paper-based TOEFL exam, 80 on the internet-based TOEFL exam, or 6.5 on the IELTS. Documentation must be provided in original form by the testing institution; copies submitted by the applicant are not acceptable.
   
   

Students who have a baccalaureate degree in a subject other than English will have to complete up to seven courses (21 units) that comprise the undergraduate core requirements for English, with a GPA of 3.0, before being considered for admission to the master’s degree program in English. The undergraduate core requirements are described below. All courses are to be selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Director for English.

1. One upper-division course in linguistics, such as ENGL 3610 or 3620 or its equivalent.
2. Any six other upper-division courses in English, which may include courses in genre, major figures, periods, or creative writing; ENGL 3000 is highly recommended.

There are three classifications for students in the English graduate program:

Classified
A student who meets all the requirements for admission to the master’s degree program in English will be admitted as a Classified Graduate Student. A Classified Graduate Student may take any graduate-level course meeting the requirements of his or her plan of study as long as the appropriate prerequisites have been met.

Conditionally Classified
A student who meets most but not all of the requirements for admission as a Classified Graduate Student may be admitted as a Conditionally Classified Graduate Student. The letter of acceptance will list the conditions that students must fulfill to become classified. A Conditionally Classified Graduate Student may take no more than two three-unit courses that count towards the requirements for the MA in English while meeting the specified conditions.

Candidacy
Classified students who have maintained a 3.25 GPA will be advanced to candidacy in the term in which they intend to graduate.

For a copy of the MA in English Graduation Outline for students enrolled from Fall 2025 and after, click on the links below:

• MA in English Graduation Outline - 2025-2026 - Word format
• MA in English Graduation Outline - 2025-2026 - .pdf format

For a copy of the MA in English Graduation Outline for students enrolled before Fall 2025, click on the links below:

• MA in English Graduation Outline - Word format
• MA in English Graduation Outline - .pdf format

For a copy of English Course Descriptions, click on the link below:

• English Course Descriptions

Time Limitation on Course Requirements
State law mandates a seven-year limitation on course credits. Students who fail to complete their degree programs within the seven-year limit may petition the Department’s Graduate Studies Committee to permit the revalidating of outdated courses. If granted, such revalidation will normally require an oral or written examination on the course content, supervised by a specialist in the field.

Maintaining Graduate Student Status
All graduate students are required to maintain continuous enrollment through completion of degree requirements or lose graduate student standing at CSUB.  A student who does not enroll for two consecutive semesters loses graduate student standing and must reapply for admission to the University and to the major department. For this reason, it is important for you to sign up for English 7000 through Extended University when you are not enrolled in any other courses but need to maintain continuous enrollment as you complete your thesis, project, or comp exams. There is a minimal fee.

The CSUB Graduate Student Center (GSC) serves all prospective, current, and past (alum) graduate students in an effort to help them reach their professional goals via a Doctoral degree, Master’s degree, second Bachelor’s degree, post Baccalaureate degree, and/or Credential program at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB).

To visit their website, click on the link below:

• CSUB Graduate Student Center (GSC) webpage

The CSU System also offers various Graduate Resources. 

To visit their website, click on the link below:

• CSU System Graduate Center webpage

Thesis or Project Requirements

The Thesis or Project – Master of Arts, English

Theses, projects, and comprehensive examinations count as required MA program culminating experiences. For more information, download Doing and Finishing a Thesis or Project.

The following lays out a few rules and guidelines for the Thesis or Project (English 6720):

Theses typically run around 50 pages. Project length should be determined in consultation with the thesis/project committee chair. 

You must submit your fully completed thesis or project to the Walter Stiern Library by the deadline during the term in which you graduate – you cannot graduate without having finished the entire thesis/project process, which includes an oral defense – here is the link and the welcome text from the library webpage:

https://csub.libguides.com/etd

Welcome!

Electronic theses, projects, and dissertations are also known as ETDs. This guide contains all of the information that you will need to submit your thesis, project, or dissertation. Please be aware that this process may take several days. DO NOT wait until the last minute!

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) requires electronic submission/availability of completed master’s theses, culminating, and dissertation projects by CSUB students. Students will self-submit their scholarship via the ProQuest ETD tool available on the library website.  Submitted master’s theses, culminating, and dissertations will be made available globally to students, researchers, and the general public through ProQuest, the Walter W. Stiern Library catalog, and CSU Bakersfield’s Institutional Repository: Runner Scholar. Access to student submitted scholarship will be unrestricted. If desired, either for their personal use or in response to a departmental request/requirement, students can have print copies of their theses or projects bound at their own expense.

Since you might not finish your thesis or project in one term, be sure to enroll in English 7000 through Extended University to maintain continuous enrollment during terms in which you are not enrolled in any other courses. You must maintain continuous enrollment at the university as you work on your culminating experience; you will not be able to file for graduation unless you are enrolled.

All students choosing to write a Thesis or complete a Project for their culminating experience must have a three-professor committee. Your primary advisor/committee chair will be the professor whose specialization is closest to your topic. Then, you will have two additional readers. Requirements (e.g., length) for the thesis and project differ. For the thesis, plan on around 50 double-spaced pages (Times New Roman font), divided into chapters (and an introduction), not including your Works Cited pages. MLA style throughout. You will also need an abstract of your thesis (or project).  

Before you begin your thesis/project, you must complete a Prospectus and get it approved by your committee. All three committee members must sign off on the Prospectus and this must take place in a term BEFORE you plan on finishing your thesis. See the Instructions for Writing a Prospectus on our website.

You must also defend your thesis or project. Oral defenses can take place in a graduate seminar or other English Department course (talk to your Graduate Committee chair). A conference paper delivered at an approved disciplinary conference can take the place of an Oral Defense. Consult with your committee as well as the graduate program director if you plan to present at a conference in lieu of defending on campus.

Your thesis will have to have an approved Signature Sheet – see the sample theses on our website for creating your signature sheet and be sure to ask your committee chair to send the sheet to the department administrative coordinator for distribution to the other members of your committee. Once all committee members have signed, you can finish assembling your thesis/project front pages and submit the thesis/project to the library.

You can read past MA theses and projects: they are all available through CSU Bakersfield’s Institutional Repository: Runner Scholar (and a few have been uploaded to our website).

Theses, projects, and comprehensive examinations count as required MA program culminating experiences. Download the Graduate Student Culminating Experience Checklist - Finishing & Getting the Degree.

For the Comprehensive Examination you must take three essay tests in three different fields that correspond to our comp exam reading lists (see our website for the lists). Students usually take the tests on separate days. For each test you will be given a choice of two questions (that you will not see in advance) and you will have two hours to write (bring a bluebook). You can take the tests in fields of your own choosing, including in fields in which you have had a seminar/course. Once you know your areas, ask the professors who specialize in those fields to be members of your Graduate Committee.

You are not likely to be able to take all the exams in one term unless you began the reading well in advance of that term. If you have finished course work and are working on completing your exams, be sure to enroll in English 7000 through Extended University: this allows you to maintain continuous enrollment at CSUB and gives you library privileges, etc. A minimal fee is charged for English 7000. You will not be able to file for graduation unless you are an active student, so continue to enroll in English 7000, every consecutive term, until you finish. Again, you need to enroll in English 7000 only when you are not enrolled in any other courses.

For a copy of the MA in English Reading Lists, click on the links below:

• MA in English Reading Lists - Word format
• MA in English Reading Lists - .pdf format

Your prospectus is a plan of research. You are identifying your topic, reviewing the relevant literature and criticism for that topic, stating your purpose (which logically follows from the literature review), and supplying a list of references containing all the sources that you included in your review.  

Technical Advice

• Adhere to the MLA style.
• Use a 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman (or another standard serifed font) and one-inch margins all around.
• Use consistent double-spacing throughout the prospectus and thesis.
• Use indented paragraphs, not block paragraphs.
• Consult the library for any further information about style and format.
• The prospectus does not have a definite length; most are from 12 to 15 pages.

Structure of the Prospectus

The prospectus should have the following sections:

• A title page with a meaningful title
• A very brief introduction
• A review of literature/criticism
  • The length of the lit/crit review will vary depending on topic.
  • Make sure that all items in the review appear in the list of references.
• Statement of purpose
  • State your reasons for writing the thesis; this statement should logically follow from the review of literature/criticism. The reader should be able to see that there is a gap in the criticism or a controversy that you are helping to resolve.
  • Remember that you are adding something new to the field; a review of criticism in itself is not a thesis. Make sure that your reader can see what you are hoping to achieve.
• List of References
  • There must be a one-to-one relationship between the items discussed in the review of literature/criticism and those on your list of references.
  • Do not pad the list of references; if a source does not occur in the review of literature, you cannot put it in the list of references.

Readers and Prospectus Coversheet

You will have three faculty readers for the prospectus and the thesis. Make sure that you consult with them all about both. Once the readers have approved the prospectus, they will sign the “Prospectus Coversheet.” It is the responsibility of the graduate student to send a copy of the approved prospectus (with the signed Prospectus Coversheet included as first page) to the Graduate Program Director for placement in the department's records.

Projects

Some of you will be doing a project instead of writing a thesis; if you are, consult with your project supervisor to determine if the prospectus needs to be modified.

For a copy of the Prospectus Cover Sheet, click on the links below:

• Prospectus Cover Sheet - Word format
• Prospectus Cover Sheet - .pdf format

For a copy of a Sample English Prospectus, click on the link below:

• Sample English Prospectus - Wood
• Sample English Prospectus - Karpe

For a copy of the Signature Page for Thesis or Project, click on the links below:

• Signature Page for Thesis or Project - Word format
• Signature Page for Thesis or Project - .pdf format

For a copy of a Sample English Thesis or a Sample English Project, click on the link below:

• Sample English Thesis - Ganger
• Sample English Project - Karpe
• Sample English Thesis - Whitaker
• Sample English Thesis - Wong

Graduate Student Culminating Experience Checklist - Finishing & Getting the Degree

Download the Graduate Student Checklist - Finishing and Getting the Degree AND read everything on our website and in the CSUB catalog about this program and about graduate studies at CSUB. The information on the checklist and on our website overlaps but is also complementary.

Link to English MA page in the 2024-2025 University Catalog

Link to Division of Graduate Studies in the 2024-2025 University Catalog

CSUB's Certificate in Writing is the perfect supplement to your Bachelor's or Master's degree, regardless of your area of study. Holders of a BA or BS pursuing a credential may earn in-service units and improve their own writing skills at the same time; those in a Master's Program may benefit from an additional emphasis on writing when they enter the job market.

This certifies the completion of specialized training in writing by those who hold a BA or an MA degree, whether or not they are involved in a graduate degree program. Candidates for this certificate must complete with a B or better four specific graduate writing courses selected from the following five: ENGL 5110, 5120, 5130, 5140 and 5150.

Please contact Dr. Kim Flachmann, Writing Program Coordinator (661-654-3083) if you have additional questions about this certificate.