The master of arts degree in English prepares students for further graduate work, teaching, creative writing, or other related opportunities. Depending on career goals, the student chooses from one of three degree plans: thesis, creative thesis, or non-thesis.

The student is also exposed to many people within the field of English through events such as The Lawrence Clayton Poets and Writers Speakers Series. This series is designed to offer students the opportunity to meet nationally recognized writers and literary critics and hear their work. In spring 2007, the Clayton Speakers Series brought to campus Donald Hall, the 14th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the United States Library of Congress. Also, in March 2007, The C.S. Lewis & Inklings Society held their annual conference on the HSU campus.

Other writers who have given on-campus readings are: Betty Adcock, Max Apple, David Bottoms, Cathy Smith Bowers, Lynn Emanuel, George Garrett, Reginald Gibbons, Andrew Hudgins, Richard Hugo, X.J. Kennedy, April Lindner, Thomas Lux, Walter McDonald, Larry McMurtry, Jack Myers, Naomi Shihab Nye, Linda Pastan, Louis Simpson, David Wagoner, Derek Walcott, and Miller Williams.