The Mission

The mission of the Master of Arts program in the department of English is to foster the growth of scholars, teachers, and writers at the early stage of their professional lives. It is also our mission to use literary study to broaden the horizons of students whose work lies beyond the traditional occupations of the English graduate. For these reasons, ours is a rigorous and broad curriculum that endeavors to create for each student the best possible circumstances for intellectual maturation and creativity. We expect all of our graduates to read and think with disciplined insight, to be grounded in literary history, to explore both traditional and non-traditional canons, and to be adept at analyzing new works and understanding various critical perspectives. 

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Brooks Hefner 
Director of Graduate Studies
Room 210, Keezell Hall, MSC 1801
921 Madison Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Office: 540-568-3759
hefnerbe@jmu.edu

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