English (M.S.T.)

The Master of Science for Teachers is a degree designed specifically for practicing English teachers who want to deepen their knowledge of literature and develop their own skills in reading and writing. This program is based on the belief that pedagogy emerges out of firsthand experience in the processes of reading and writing.

The master of science for teachers is designed for practicing elementary, middle, and high school teachers. It is not appropriate for individuals seeking state certification. No foreign language is required, and the GRE is not required in the application.

The M.S.T program requires the completion of 32 credit hours at the 800 or 900 level. At least 24 of these credits must be in the Department of English. Courses taken outside the department must be approved by the student's adviser. Students must complete a capstone experience (creative writing option, teacher inquiry option, or curricular option).

The department offers special summer programs, which can be taken to fulfill some or all of the course requirements for the M.S.T. degree. The New Hampshire Literacy Institutes offer summer courses that focus on the teaching of writing and reading in grades K-12. Summer institutes emphasize writing workshops in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry and may include courses in literature and composition theory and research.

• Compare philosophies of English teaching and learning, and to develop approaches to coaching greater literacy, including both enjoyment of texts and critical reading of them.
• Discuss theoretical and pedagogical ideas centered on student reading, engage in reading and writing exercises.
• Evaluate approaches to teaching literature and literacy, and review state-level standards and tests.
• Reflect and write on the theoretical bases for pedagogical decisions, evaluating professional literature and using appropriate academic conventions.
• Design activities, lessons, and units to meet established standards and objectives in reading, speaking, and media literacy.
• Identify teaching resources among mentors, professional literature, conferences, organizations (e.g., National Council of Teachers of English [NCTE]), technology, and websites.
• Deliver engaging, on-point reading and media literacy instruction appropriate to audience and content; practice a variety of presentation and discussion strategies.

Apply now

Deadlines

 Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: Jan. 15 (for funding); July 1 (final)
• Spring: Oct. 15 (for funding); Dec. 1 (final)
• Summer: April 1 (Admission only)
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1. Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
2. Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

Additional Department Requirements

Applicants are to submit at least two different pieces of writing--one to demonstrate competence in analytical writing, i.e. a research paper, a literary analysis paper, an extended book review; the other piece should demonstrate creative writing ability, i.e. a chapter in a novel, a short story, or a personal essay (recounting or reflecting on a personal experience). A paper previously submitted for a class is acceptable. The samples could total between fifteen and thirty pages.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

This program is specifically for practicing English Teachers. All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.