Abilene Christian University

What you'll study

The curriculum is a generalist master’s program covering literature, composition and rhetoric, pedagogy, and literary theory. Example courses listed in the catalog include:

• ENGL 610: 21st-Century American Literature
• ENGL 612: Victorian Visions of Art and the Artist
• ENGL 613: Literary Theory and Faith
• ENGL 622: Rhetoric and Belief

Students may pursue scholarly inquiry across historical periods from Medieval to contemporary literature, develop interpretive and argumentative skills, and receive guidance for submitting abstracts and presenting research at regional, national, and international conferences.

Entry requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Official transcript(s) in English (or translated) showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent
• Transcripts should reflect 12 hours of upper-division English and approximately a B average in the area of focus
• Two letters of recommendation (may be submitted via the online application)
• A two-page, double-spaced purpose statement addressing reasons for graduate study, choice of ACU, and career goals
• A writing sample: either a critical essay (max 15 pages) demonstrating interpretive and analytical ability, or a creative writing sample in prose or poetry (max 20 pages)

Career prospects

The program prepares graduates for varied paths: doctoral study and teaching at the college level, entry into an MFA, law school, or direct employment where advanced communication and analysis are valued. Typical career areas named by the department include communications, publishing, research, education, advertising and marketing, public policy, government, nonprofits, digital media, journalism, and business.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Applicants may apply for graduate assistantships that provide tuition assistance and practical experience in roles such as Writing Center staff, research assistant, or freshman composition instructor. The department uses a priority review deadline of May 1 for preferred consideration for graduate assistantships and scholarships; the standard review deadline is August 10.