Public and Professional Writing - YSU Department of English

Still figuring out what you're doing postgrad? Consider an M.A. in English! Get your master's degree debt-free with a graduate assistantship at YSU.

We accept students from a variety of backgrounds, not only those with an English B.A!

With graduation just a few days away let's hear from another one of our graduating English M.A. students! Here's what Anissa Al-Karain has to say:

"My time as a graduate student with the YSU M.A. program has given me a fresh start. Of course, there have been challenges. However, they quickly became opportunities for growth once I realized that graduation was merely the last step. As my mentor, Dr. Diana Awad, characterizes it, the “process of education” is more important than the amount of time it takes. That very process has pushed me to develop resilience and create a clearer sense of purpose.

There are several benefits to a degree in English, but the most important is that this major and program do not confine you to one career choice. Rather, you become marketable for a variety of career paths, from technical & professional writing, editing, teaching, and even law school. I can confidently say this program and department have given me opportunities like no other."

Anthony Savric's advice to people considering graduate school? Jump in!

Hear from another of our recent M.A. graduates here:

"YSU gave me the opportunity to learn what it takes to be an English teacher back in 2014, and now at 30, I’m proud to be graduating from this campus once again with my M.A. in English. If you’re on the fence about applying to graduate school, take my word- do it without hesitation. I’ll always carry Penguin Pride and a deep love for this campus, and the faculty at BCLASSE is truly unmatched. Shoutouts to Dr. Buchanan, Dr. Mercer, Dr. Beadling, Dr. Conti-Maravillas, and Dr. Francisco for challenging me in the best ways—I’m the teacher I am today because of you. Next stop: Doctor of Education!"

Congratulations to Anthony on the completion of your masters!

This week, three professional writing seniors presented their final capstone projects to the PW faculty as they completed the last requirement of their degree. They reflected on what they learned by working on a semester-long writing project for a community partner with a real need:

Katelyn Obermiyer (pictured here, far left) worked with the English and World Languages Department to create a blog-writing guide for faculty and students writing for the new department blog.

Maria Schwartz (pictured here, middle) worked on updating and expanding an employee manual for The Jambar, our campus newspaper.

Maggie Byers (pictured here, far right) collaborated with the Youngstown Business Incubator on an intern onboarding document.

Congrats!

Who says English classes must meet in classrooms? Today, Dr. Awad’s Teaching Practicum class met for lunch on campus to share final presentations about their first semester of teaching composition.

Considering applying for the English M.A. Program next year but unsure if you’ll like it? Check out what our first-year TAs said today about the program:

“This was such a great year! I love the community within the English department. The professors are amazing, and courses are engaging.” - India Gatts

“I was so nervous about this new academic journey, but thanks to the wonderful professors and fellow TAs, I felt both welcomed and supported." - Jessica Quiles

“This program has introduced me to so many great people, and I have met my best friends through this program. I am very glad I accepted the English Department’s offer to be a TA at YSU.”- Frank Bell

“This has been the best year of my life! I feel so supported by my fellow TAs and my professors!” - Bella Davis

Intrigued? Want to learn more about the program? Assistantships to fund your degree are still available. Contact [email protected] for details!

It's a bittersweet day in the EWL Department! 🍰

Today we celebrated Dr. Jeff Buchanan as his time as chair of the department winds to a close, but on the sweet side, there was a cake! While we will miss Dr. Buchanan as the chair, we are excited to start a new chapter! 📖🍎

Our last blog of the semester is here! Read how Dr. Diana Awad Scrocco engages with data to create a narrative and how she teaches her students to do the same!

https://explore.ysu.edu/pathways-to-success/stories-that-create-change/