English (Accelerated MA)

Program Availability

The English Accelerated Master’s program is offered on campus at Indiana State University. It is open to eligible undergraduate students at Indiana State pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English or a related field.

Why Choose the English Accelerated MA Program at Indiana State?

Whether your goals include teaching, writing, research, or further graduate study, this program gives you a head start by combining undergraduate and graduate coursework into a unified, five-year experience. You’ll earn a Master of Arts (MA) in English just one year after completing your bachelor’s degree.

Explore What Moves You

Indiana State’s English MA program offers broad flexibility and faculty mentorship in key focus areas:

Literary Studies
Creative Writing
Linguistics
Professional and Technical Writing
Rhetoric and Composition

Additionally, as a student in the English Accelerated MA program, you will select a concentration option, either Literature or Writing. You will complete a culminating experience (not a thesis) based on your focus: a Master’s Paper for the Literature concentration or a Creative Project for the Writing concentration.

Throughout the program, your advisor will support you in navigating course requirements and ensuring a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate study.

Learn from Faculty Who Inspire

At Indiana State, you’ll study with award-winning scholars, writers, and educators who are committed to your growth as a thinker and communicator. Small graduate seminar courses create space for lively discussion, peer collaboration, and faculty feedback. You’ll also have opportunities to engage in research and creative projects.

What You'll Learn in the English Accelerated MA Program

Our graduate courses emphasize theory, analysis, and application, with an emphasis on:

Critical reading and writing
Rhetorical and linguistic theory
Literary interpretation across genres and periods
Research methods and academic writing
Optional creative or professional writing tracks

Students typically complete:

15 credit hours of graduate coursework during their senior year (shared with the undergraduate degree)
15 additional credit hours in the fifth year to complete the MA

You will benefit from personalized academic advising throughout the program.

Career Possibilities for English Accelerated MA Graduates

Graduates of the English MA program at Indiana State University are prepared for a variety of career paths and professional roles:

Postsecondary teaching
Writing and editing
Corporate or nonprofit communications
Technical and professional writing
Public relations
Publishing
Advanced graduate or professional school (e.g., PhD, JD)

Our English alumni have enjoyed successful careers in education, media, law, government, and more.

Dr. Katherine Lee stands outdoors on the Indiana State University campus, on a pathway between two brick pillars topped with lanterns. The background includes green trees and grass. Dr. Lee is wearing a dark blazer over a light-colored shirt and has her arms crossed.

Prof. Katherine Lee, PhD

A teacher at Indiana State University since 2004, Dr. Katherine Lee engages her students in conversation not only about literature, but also about context – the social or historical dynamics that may have informed or influenced authors and their works. Lee says she enjoys conversing with students about their perspectives on the material.

“The Department of English offers students a chance to learn how to express themselves for a variety of audiences and in a variety of contexts, how to interpret, and how to ask incisive questions rather than accept information passively. These skills appeal to employers in a range of fields.”

Learn more about Dr. Katherine Lee