University Mission Statement

Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good.

Program Mission Statement

The Master of Arts in English program affords students the opportunity to develop their analytical, writing, and editing skills. Its goals are to:

• deepen students' knowledge of English and American literature
• broaden their perspective through multicultural courses
• enhance their understanding of the essential role language has in thought, values, and self-development

The program aims to strengthen and expand participants' personal and professional qualifications, whether this means improving the effectiveness of elementary and secondary teaching, creating an effective bridge between the bachelor's degree and entry into Ph.D. programs, or simply participating in a life-enhancing scholarly community.

Program Objectives

• Improve understanding of the power of language to shape ideas, individuals, values, and societies.
• Foster scholarly habits of critical thinking in speaking, reading, and writing.
• Promote an awareness of current issues and theoretical approaches in the discipline of literary and language studies.
• Cultivate an independent ability to read texts responsibly, comprehensively, and imaginatively.
• Develop skills in formulating sophisticated generalizations about writers, genres, and literary influences and periods.
• Refine the ability to communicate ideas in clear, engaging, and convincing prose.
• Offer an opportunity for sustained engagement with the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of literature, and of writing in general.