02/02/2026
Starting this semester, a new online program in SUNY Cortland’s English Department makes it easier than ever for students to earn a master’s degree.
Classes for the 31-credit M.A. in English program can be taken full time or part time. During fall and spring semesters, they are taught during a live, remote classroom that meets once a week for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Summer courses will be offered asynchronously online, without the need to attend a live class by video.
The degree can be completed in two years, with nine credits a semester, but students can choose to take three to six credits per semester based on their schedule.
This latest change builds on another recent graduate-level offering from the department, a 4+1 program that allows qualifying undergrads to complete their M.A. in only one year.
Associate Professor of English Dan Radus, who coordinates the master’s program, said these initiatives are designed to benefit an expanded pool of interested potential students and provide a quality education beyond the Central New York region.
“Many of our students in the graduate programs are working professionally,” Radus said. “So, these are folks that have a normal workday and they are doing a graduate degree for professional advancement or oftentimes due to certification responsibilities and requirements.”
Compared to balancing a job with a commute to campus, remote classes are much more student-friendly, explained Radus, who noted that’s a big reason that graduate-level programs are increasingly online across the country.
Most students in Cortland’s English M.A. program have an undergraduate teaching degree and pursue the master’s for professional certification. But Radus said the department’s faculty see an online degree as something that can potentially appeal to a wider group.
“More broadly, any student who wants to refine their critical thinking, research and writing skills in preparation for doctoral programs or careers in law, business, nonprofits and the arts would benefit from the program,” he said.
Recent English graduate students at Cortland were among those requesting a more adaptable schedule. Faculty began a pilot program in 2024 with one online class per semester.
“The educational tools are available, students are ready and willing to learn online, and there’s flexibility and accessibility inherent in a remote format, especially for adult learners who might not have lives that allow them to be in residence,” Radus said. “All of these factors led naturally to the creation of the program.”
Elective courses are taken from four categories: Theory, Pre-1800, Diversity and Writing. A final thesis project is required.
Summer semester applications should be received by April 1, and students looking to start this fall should apply by July 1. Applications submitted after deadlines may be considered. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.
Interested students can learn more about the M.A. in English and 15 other online graduate programs the university offers on SUNY Cortland’s website.