The Master of Arts in English at Portland State University provides training in British, American, and global Anglophone literatures as well as rhetorical and critical theory, cultural studies, film and new media, and interdisciplinary approaches to literary study. Almost all of our classes are taught as small seminars, creating an intimate and supportive environment of collaboration and exchange. Students learn from faculty who are experts in their fields and passionate about teaching.
Students enroll in the MA program for a variety of reasons. Some wish to teach in primary, secondary, or higher education. Others use the MA to prepare for doctoral study in English and related fields or for further study in law, public policy, or business. Many students enter the MA program simply with an enthusiasm for literature and the activities associated with the study of English: reading, writing, research, discussion, debate, interpretation, and analysis. The MA program trains students to become highly proficient in all of these skills and to apply them in various professional settings.
Outside the classroom, students benefit from a wide range of intellectual and cultural resources and opportunities. The department regularly organizes a variety of events, including talks by visiting academics, readings by writers and poets, research salons, and an annual graduate student colloquium that showcases the work of our students. Beyond campus, the city of Portland beckons with its cafes, bookstores, museums, concerts, and food carts.