Master’s in English

Our students are part of a devoted community of academics, researchers, practitioners, and activists who think critically and act collectively to advance our fields and enact social change.

In the Anderson House, the late 19-century Colonial Revival that the English Department calls home, students gather to share perspectives, socialize, read, and study. The department hosts events for graduate students throughout the year, including an annual barbecue at the American Antiquarian Society, seasonal parties, and colloquia where students and faculty present work in progress.

The M.A. in English at Clark is distinctive in offering the opportunity for students to complete a longer research project with close faculty supervision and guidance. The thesis project allows students to expand on ideas explored in coursework and to gain valuable experience by working intensively on a single topic through a period of sustained engagement. Clark’s location provides a number of options for working at major research libraries, including the nearby American Antiquarian Society, a world-renowned archive of journals, novels, letters, broadsides, and ephemera.

The experience of studying in courses at the graduate level — along with researching, writing, and defending a thesis — prepares you effectively for many professions. Our graduates have gone on to prestigious doctoral programs and careers in journalism, communications, and print and visual media.

“This program has enhanced my critical thinking and analytical skills, and the verbal and written communication skills I’ve learned are directly transferable to my career coaching college hockey.”
— William Brown, M.A. ’18