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An online master's degree in English explores literary theory and interpretation, language, linguistics, rhetoric, pedagogy, and writing. Students develop critical thinking and communication skills, allowing them to analyze text and explain their findings in an academic setting. Coursework varies based on the concentration, from teaching English to communications and creative writing. Regardless of the area of interest, each master's degree in English teaches research methods, providing students with the expertise needed to complete thesis projects during their final year.

In the modern job market, graduates can pursue English careers as public relations and marketing specialists, writers, journalists, and teachers. Keep in mind that employers will check if the program has been evaluated for quality by a third-party education agency. Therefore, it's important that students only pursue an online master's in English if it's from an accredited school. 

Still undecided? Explore the best master's degrees in communication and the best creative writing programs — all 100% online. 

Yes, there are many English master's degrees available entirely online. These programs deliver coursework through learning management systems such as Canvas or Brightspace. They also feature classroom discussions and lectures led by the same professors who teach on campus, leading online degrees to be just as respected by employers as their in-person counterparts. 

Students who wish to apply to an online college for a master's in English must have a bachelor's in English or a similar field. Admissions counselors look at college transcripts to check applicants' GPAs, which in most cases must reach 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be considered for acceptance. Graduate applications may also require students to submit letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or academic counselors and employment resumes. 

Most master's degrees, whether online or in person, are designed to be completed in approximately two years. This timeline applies to full-time students taking around 12 credits per semester.

Part-time students will likely take additional time to graduate, usually between three and five years. They limit how many credits they take each semester, allowing them to work or take care of personal responsibilities while they study. 

The best online master's in English offers several specializations that narrow coursework to prepare students for specific career paths. If students are still determining their career path, it's best to choose a discipline based on their academic strengths or interests. 

Here are a few examples of English concentrations available at the master's level:

• Creative Writing: A creative writing concentration features several course options, including poetry, screenwriting, and fiction. Students usually choose one or two focus areas, taking intermediate and advanced courses throughout the program. Creative writing majors will not only be prepared to make a living off their works as television scriptwriters or novelists but also be equipped to teach young students about creative writing. 
• Literature: Choosing a literature specialization means having the opportunity to read, analyze, and interpret some of the most well-known books in history. Students learn about literary theory, including analysis methods and the many literary periods and movements that influenced writers working today. Graduates may find work as authors, book critics, and librarians. 
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages: Concentrations in teaching English as a second language, or TESOL, offer students the skills to teach non-native speakers how to communicate in English. Coursework involves the study of linguistics, which explores the patterns and structures of languages, and teaching as a profession through instruction methodologies. 

Another option involves choosing an entirely different major that offers similar coursework, such as an affordable master's degree in journalism.

During an English master's degree, students learn practical skills and undertake theoretical learning. Core coursework will likely include applied learning in communication, teaching, and writing while covering advanced literary theory and language composition. The list below provides a brief overview of courses commonly found in English master's programs.

• Linguistics: Linguistics looks at the history of language and examines the evolution of oral communication. This broad course spans studies of syntax, grammar, typology, and phonetics, among other areas. Through lectures and classroom discussions, students learn how different languages relate to one another and how they've changed over time to form the modern languages spoken today.  
• Research in English Studies: This is among the first courses students take because it provides a strong foundation in research methodologies they'll use throughout their studies. Scholarship, or formal academic research into languages and literature, is a core component of this course. They'll also learn how to conduct research using the internet and public databases and how to compose research papers. 
• Literary Period or Movement: Here, students study literary movements and periods in history, including how they're defined and the works they include. Coursework may cover Shakespeare's plays during the Elizabethan period or the novels of Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation. Students look at the authors, the themes they explored, and the cultural effects of their works. 
• Rhetorical Theories and Practices: This course explores persuasive writing from early texts to its contemporary uses. Students learn how to analyze and interpret rhetorical language and examine its different types of uses, from speeches to essays. By the end of the course, students understand how rhetorical language is developed and how to generate their own persuasive arguments.

A Master's in English online provides training for graduates so they can begin to work in roles that require writing, editing, communications, and research. Many industries offer these types of jobs, including business, government, publishing, and media. Teaching is the only job that requires additional training after graduation through state teacher certifications. To teach at the collegiate level, students must earn a doctoral degree in English, which offers concentrations such as linguistics and literature.

• who instruct English classes use their understanding of language, grammar, and literature to teach students how to write in different mediums. Most importantly, this includes academic essays that prepare students to apply to college. They prescribe reading assignments, grade grammar and language tests, and organize classroom discussions of classic literary works. 
• are responsible for the daily operations of a library. They catalog materials, maintain inventories, research new books, update databases, and train library staff. They also assist readers in finding the books they're looking for, acting as a walking encyclopedia for all facility offerings. They may work in public, school, academic, legal, medical, and corporate libraries. 
• translate technical information from engineers, designers, manufacturers, and developers so that it can be understood by a broader audience. This may include instructional handbooks for consumer products, computer software user guides, or corporate employee handbooks. Their work is cross-collaborative, features visual elements such as video or graphs, and often requires several revisions before reaching the finished product. 
• use their expertise in language and rhetoric to write materials that generate favorable public images. They oversee media-related communications, such as press releases, conferences, and interviews, while helping to raise awareness of a company or individual to specific audiences. 

According to the (BLS) and the most recent data available, English majors have a median annual salary of ~$60,000. Most graduates worked in educational instruction and libraries, which typically require master's degrees. 

A master's is worth it for students who wish to gain a wide array of valuable skills in communication, writing, and cultural studies skills. The critical thinking and organizational experience gained during these programs offers many employment opportunities as teachers, writers, librarians, and researchers. 

Here's a list of pros and cons to better understand what it means to pursue a master's in English: 

Benefits

• It's the perfect mix of practical and theoretical learning. Students may spend one day speculating on the works of Faulkner or Tolstoy and the following day learning editing techniques. An English master's provides students with a well-rounded education that combines critical thinking and analytical skills. 
• Writing jobs can be found in an endless number of industries. From translating technical engineering jargon to writing creative marketing copy, English graduates can use their writing skills based on their interests.
• Graduates can become authors. The coursework in English master's degrees is perfectly designed to prepare students to write their own books. Another way to achieve this would be through a master's degree in creative writing.

Drawbacks

• There is a lot of reading and writing. English students are often required to research and write papers every single week.  Some individuals pursuing an English degree may have a strong preference for a practical application of their skills, such as creative writing or literary analysis, over extensive research and academic writing. They may find the heavy emphasis on research and papers less aligned with their interests and career aspirations.
• Master's degrees are expensive. This expense often includes tuition fees, textbooks, course materials, and potentially lost income if the student is not working full-time while pursuing the degree. This unfortunate reality has led many students to choose more affordable master's degrees in English to save money on rising tuition costs. Online master's degrees are also usually cheaper. 
• English majors earn less than other popular majors. The BLS reports that , for example, earn a median salary of ~$69,000, compared to $56,000 for English majors.

Pursuing an English master's degree online offers several advantages, including flexibility for individuals with busy schedules, accessibility to accredited programs from anywhere, and the opportunity to develop strong research and writing skills. Online master's programs also tend to attract a diverse group of students from varied backgrounds. However, there are potential drawbacks, such as the heavy workload of reading and writing, which can be time-consuming and challenging for those with other commitments. Some individuals may also prefer a more hands-on or creative approach to learning, finding the emphasis on research and academic writing less aligned with their interests.