English, Bachelor's to English, M.A. Accelerated Program

Saint Louis University’s combined English B.A./M.A. program will allow English majors to begin M.A. coursework as part of their undergraduate degree in order to complete the master's program in one year. SLU's accelerated program provides a master’s opportunity for majors who are interested in teaching in private schools or pursuing other professional careers. It will also offer an opportunity to finish the master’s more efficiently before going on to a Ph.D. program.

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:

B.A. in English 

M.A. in English

Students wishing to apply to this accelerated B.A. to M.A. program should have completed at least 60 credit hours at the time of application. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their overall transcript and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their English coursework.

To apply, students must submit the following materials:

  • A 750-word professional goal statement (a more detailed description is available in the current catalog’s overview of English M.A. admissions criteria).
  • A writing sample of approximately 10 pages.
  • A current CV or resume.
  • The names of at least three members of the English department faculty with whom the student has taken a 3xxx or 4xxx-level course.

Continuation Standards

While students in the accelerated B.A. to M.A. (ABM) program retain undergraduate status, the policies for continuation in the program will mirror those already in place for continuation in the bachelor’s program, except that they must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in both the major and overall transcript with no more than one grade of C or below and carry no more than one I incomplete grade or missing grade into a new semester. Students who drop below these standards while in the ABM program would be able to seek a one-semester probationary period before being dropped from the ABM program. Once formally becoming an M.A. student, the continuation standards of that program would apply. Students must also complete at least 12 graded credit hours per year until coursework requirements have been met.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ENGL 1900 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research 3
Courses for core 12
 Credits15
Spring
ENGL 3000 Encountering English 3
Courses for core 12
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
ENGL 3020 Shapes of English 3
ENGL 3XXXEnglish Major Courses 3
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Spring
ENGL 3XXXEnglish Major Courses 6
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
ENGL 4140 Reading & Writing Justice 3
ENGL 4XXXEnglish Major Course 3
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Spring
ENGL 4960 Senior Capstone Workshop 3
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Seminar 3
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
ENGL 5000 Methods of Literary Research 3
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Seminar 3
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Spring
ENGL 5110 Literary Theory 3
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Course 3
Courses for core 9
 Credits15
Year Five
Fall
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Courses 6
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Course or Thesis 3
 Credits9
Spring
Masters Exam  
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Course 3
ENGL 5/6XXXGraduate Course, Essay or Thesis 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits135