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Master's Degree in English
Ishbu
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello all,
More and more I've been considering getting a masters degree in English. I want to use it to teach at the high school level for a few years, and then eventually move to get my PHD in education to try and work to reform education, specifically helping to fight illiteracy, in the United States.
The problem: I majored in computer science for my undergraduate degree. I took very few courses in English while I was in college. Most places need you to major in English as an undergraduate first to get a master's in English. I could get another bachelor's degree, this time in English, but that seems like an awful long time and an awful lot of money. Does anyone know any English programs that offer conditional enrollment to let me take a few undergraduate courses to gain enough preparation for a master's degree? I have no problem with spending a couple of semesters taking undergraduate coursework, but I don't want to spend three years on a B.A. and then another two years to get the M.A.
Don't get me wrong, I'm appreciative that my degree in CS got me a job. But I have a huge passion for literature and literacy education and I want to make that my career. In short, I want to follow my dreams.
More and more I've been considering getting a masters degree in English. I want to use it to teach at the high school level for a few years, and then eventually move to get my PHD in education to try and work to reform education, specifically helping to fight illiteracy, in the United States.
The problem: I majored in computer science for my undergraduate degree. I took very few courses in English while I was in college. Most places need you to major in English as an undergraduate first to get a master's in English. I could get another bachelor's degree, this time in English, but that seems like an awful long time and an awful lot of money. Does anyone know any English programs that offer conditional enrollment to let me take a few undergraduate courses to gain enough preparation for a master's degree? I have no problem with spending a couple of semesters taking undergraduate coursework, but I don't want to spend three years on a B.A. and then another two years to get the M.A.
Don't get me wrong, I'm appreciative that my degree in CS got me a job. But I have a huge passion for literature and literacy education and I want to make that my career. In short, I want to follow my dreams.
Play my game and serve beer to angry dwarves: The Tavern
Ishbu on
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and good luck. having just finished an MA in a very similar field (creative writing) i can assure you that it's worth doing and will be very rewarding, if that's what you're passionate about.
Did you take many literature courses as an undergrad, even though you majored in something else?
I didn't take many literature courses at all. Mainly my experience with literature has been self taught: reading a variety of books (from Vonnegut to Dante), reading nonfiction books on writing/grammar (seriously, who does that for fun unless they really like the English language?
I know this might sound like I don't know what I'm getting myself into, and there may be some validity to that. But I do know that I really enjoy the subject matter, and I have to get out of the soul crushing realm of CS/engineering (no offense to those who enjoy those lines of work, it's just not for me) and start making a positive impact on the world at large through my passion.
Also, why an English Masters? You could probably teach computer science or math once you get the certification. If you specifically want to teach English that's one thing, but if you just want to teach, there are other subjects.
Yeah, it's apparently different here. A lot of people go into PhD programs with only an undergrad degree. In most cases, it's actually a combined Masters/PhD program and you technically get awarded a Masters after 2 years or whatever. But if you want to go for just your Masters, you usually have to pay your own way.
^this.
on the upside, it's quite possible to get extensive funding for an MA in Canada. My MA was fully paid for by an admission scholarship, on top of a guaranteed TAship and a stipend.
I didn't read the whole thread, but like someone above said, call or go visit the schools you are interested in and investigate what you would need to get to get your Masters in English. As far as I know, for several of my mom's English courses she was in the same classes as some of the others, but she was expected to do more and/or more difficult assignments in order for it to count as a master's level class.
If anyone we're from the US and she went to school in Missouri.
A masters doesn't typically take as long to complete as bachelor's so that's a bonus at least.
Do you mind if I ask what your dreams are based on? Do you have any classroom experience?
Actually, one of my best friends did this last month in a Canadian university, so it is possible. If it makes any difference, he's on the sciences side.
If you ever need to talk to someone, feel free to message me. Yes, that includes you.
You can also use your background as a strength, in my opinion. Having a great technical handle on CS stuff combined with a desire to teach for literacy allows you to sell yourself as a prospective student (and eventual employee) that understands the issues of imparting reading and writing skills in a digital world.
Don't go to California to teach.
I just wanted to point out that this is only the case if you're looking at getting a masters only in a graduate program that focuses on PhD students. Obviously the money is going to be going to the phd students (or the ones clearly on the phd track) unless you're god's gift to [insert department]. There has been a solid amount of advice already given here, but looking at schools with a reputable terminal master's grad program is an option if you want to get that first and not have to pay for (all of) it. If your ultimate goal is getting an Ed.D, putting in the effort of applying as a phd english student (with the intention of dropping out after getting the masters) will require a lot more remedial undergrad coursework.