MA English

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Michael, Jun 23, 2013.

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  1. Michael

    Michael Member

    Since my state department of education is not currently accepting MFAs for licensure upgrade, I thought I would explore the MA English option -- although I may just disregard my state education department policy.

    Anyone know of any MA in English other than National Univ.?
     
  2. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

  3. Michael

    Michael Member

  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  5. Michael

    Michael Member

  6. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

    Hey Michael,

    I know that last week you were looking at either a Master's in Christian History, a Master's in School Counseling or an MFA. Do any of those areas still appeal to you, or are you looking mainly at English now? I know there are a ton of online English options out there, but wanted to clarify what direction you were looking at. I'm not being critical, as I know the temptation to look at different programs! Good luck on whatever you decide.

    Lance
     
  7. Michael

    Michael Member

    I've always been torn between needing to be practical and doing what most appeals to me. These days I am trying to combine the two.

    That said, I still prefer either an MFA in creative writing over an English degree, despite my state department of education's foolishness. I also have an interest in theology/church history but don't see how I could practically use it at this point in my life.

    The school counselor degree or gifted education degree was a way for me to stay in public education without totally burning out again, but I have almost ruled out counseling, for various reasons, and if I did go with gifted studies at some point, it would be only as an add-on endorsement and not a master's, as that would limit me to staying in the public schools exclusively. I want to at least have a chance at a college position, and I would need a master's for that -- either MA, MFA, or maybe MALS with two concentrations. Although the latter would give me a chance to combine my two main areas of interest, I am thinking at this point that the MFA, being a terminal degree, might give me a better chance at a job, although I've gotten differences of opinion about that from professors I have talked with, and on this forum, too.

    I've thought about it today, and the straight MA English just doesn't interest me. So, I'll either do the MALS or something similar, or the MFA, and maybe at some point do the gifted courses as an add-on endorsement -- I would only need 12 hours for that.

    I have looked at various MALS/MAIS/MLA-type degrees, and to get 18 hours in two areas, I would need to take at least 39 total hours because these degrees have at least one and sometimes more than one required course. The cost of such a degree would equal or exceed what I would pay for an MFA, so it seems to me that to get an MFA, which is a terminal degree, for the same cost as an MALS, or less, might be the wise thing to do.

    I'd still be interested in hearing opinions.

    I meant to have already embarked on this a couple of years ago; I was waiting until I got a full-time job but never did and was lucky to have gotten a TA job at Ashford. But now that's over, and I must get a full-time job, if at all possible.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2013
  8. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  9. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  10. Michael

    Michael Member

    Thanks, Ted!
     
  11. cdw

    cdw New Member

    Northern Arizona University On-Line

    They have 3 MA's in English: General, Professional Writing, Rhetoric and the Teaching of Writing.

    I have just applied for the General.

    Smooth sailing at this point.
     
  12. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  13. Michael

    Michael Member

    Anyone know of an MA in English, emphasis in creative writing, and accepts 15 hours of transfer credit?
     
  14. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    Must it be RA or from a US school ?

    Open U Australia has a Masters in Arts (Writing). They accept Prior learning credits.

    Master of Arts (Writing)

    U of Edinburgh has a Msc in Creative Writing. Assessment base, no modules.

    Overview | MSc in Creative Writing by Online Learning |
     
  15. Michael

    Michael Member

    Yes, I need it to be RA from a U.S. school. Thanks for the links, though -- very interesting.
     
  16. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

  17. Michael

    Michael Member

    Originally one reason I meant to get the degree from a US RA school was so I could get a raise in my public school teaching salary. Also, since I am currently a special ed teacher in a low income district, I could get all of my loan forgiven. However, when I started this, I expected I would be teaching for the required five years or longer, but now I think I'll be lucky to make it two more years till I can retire at 62. My body is wearing out.

    So, actually, come to think of it, I would consider the Edinburgh degree, if I could get it paid for. I am almost seven courses into my MFA creative writing degree, leaving me nine more courses. I wonder if Edinburgh would take transfer credits.

    I would still hope to use the degree for adjunct college online teaching. I wonder which would have greater utility for this -- the Lindenwood U. MFA or the Edinburgh degree.
     
  18. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    Talk with the people at Edinburgh, they are really helpful and honest. If you saw their 2 year curriculum, there's no real modules to take. Just a portfolio to complete as you progress. So i'm not sure how your modules will go into the program in terms of exemptions, but still, just drop them an email, they're really helpful.

    Here are some other UK based distance learning English/Writing programs

    Writing: Imaginative Practice by distance learning (MA) - UEL

    English Language (by distance) Degree Courses | Lancaster University

    Postgraduate degrees in the Department of English and Creative Writing, Lancaster University, UK
     
  19. Michael

    Michael Member

    The page I landed on was about their 3-year part time program. I didn't really see the 2-year curriculum.

    If I could get funding, and they would accept my credits, I would definitely consider this.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 17, 2015
  20. major56

    major56 Active Member

    The University of Texas-El Paso MFA (Creative Writing) 100% online program may be of interest:
    MFA Program Online

    Or maybe:

    Redford University MFA (design Thinking) ... also, 100% online
    MFA in Design Thinking | Online Master's Degree | Radford University
     

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