Humanities MA to English PhD?

[southernscholar]

I was denied admission to a school's English MA and accepted into their Humanities MA program.  I have looked at this program and their course requirements, and it includes a concentration in Literature.  

 

What I am worried about is if a Humanities MA will inhibit me from getting into English PhD program later.  I am especially worried because my BA is in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Humanities & Social Thought (from a small honors college) rather than the standard English BA, and I wonder if this is what made them think I'm more suited for the Humanities MA over the English.  I feel like I am trapped in the "Humanities" bubble without being able to break into the "English" world.

 

Does anyone have experience with getting a Humanities MA rather than an English MA?  Or experience with these kinds of "broader" degree programs?

 

 

[Horseshoe]

When applying for jobs, I think having a specialized degree listed (like English), is probably more beneficial than an interdisciplinary or general field (like Humanities). 

 

For PhD applications, however, I do not think it matters what your former degrees were called. What's more important is your research and coursework. If you do accept the Humanities MA and are insecure about demonstrating competency in English to PhD acceptance committees, simply include a list of relevant coursework in your PhD application. This gives you the opportunity to show the courses you've actually taken and how they show your background in the field. In all likelihood, you may have more pertinent coursework than some of the other English MA applicants.

[bfat]

I have a BA in film and my MA is in humanities--I actually found it really helpful, since my concentration is in theory, because there was so much overlap. The philosophy requirements for the humanities MA were especially helpful. And my thesis was still in Lit, which I think was most important when talking about the work I've been doing, etc. in the apps.

[Swagato]

OP: I have several friends/acquaintances who earned their MAs at the University of Chicago's MAPH (Master of Arts Program in the Humanities) and then went on to numerous top programs in English (NYU, Johns Hopkins, Chicago, Brown, Cornell, Penn, Berkeley, etc. etc.). I don't think it'd be a problem at all. You would have the responsibility of ensuring that you're taking courses that are beneficial to an English PhD application, of course, but the breadth of a more interdisciplinary program can be a real asset when used wisely.