Graduate Degrees and Programs: College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Department of English

Master of Arts in English

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting college's graduate admission requirements, applicants must fulfill the following minimum requirements:

1.  A minimum of 18 semester hours in literature, writing, or linguistics at the undergraduate or post baccalaureate level, at least 12 hours of which must be upper division or above, with at least a 3.00 (A=4.00) grade point average.

2.  A minimum of 12 semester hours of a single foreign language or a demonstration of a reading knowledge of a single foreign language.

3.  A statement of intent (500 words minimum) and a critical writing sample.

4.  Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be from persons familiar with the applicant's academic work.

5.  Two official transcripts of all previous university work.

6.  GRE General Aptitude score and, except for Applied English Linguistics applicants, GRE Advanced Subject (Code 64) score.

Consult the Department of English graduate office for additional information and more specific requirements.

Conditional admission may be granted to students whose overall grade point average on the last 60 hours of course credit is at least 2.67 (A=4.00), whose grade point average in the discipline is at least 3.00, and whose scores on the Graduate Record Examination are high enough to indicate probable success in the graduate program.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate coursework in English. The program requires that coursework be distributed over the historical periods in English and American literature, bibliography and research methods, literary theory, and rhetoric. Specific requirements are as follows:

1.  3 hours of Bibliography and Research Methods

2.  3 hours of literary theory or rhetoric

3.  30 hours of literature, including (1) at least 9 hours in early British and American literature, (2) at least 9 hours in later British and American literature, and (3) 12 hours of elective courses in literature, linguistics, literary theory, rhetoric, or Master's Essay. Early British literature is defined as British literature before 1800 and early American literature is defined as American literature before 1865. Students must divide the required courses in early and later literature between British and American literature.

Doctor of Philosophy in English

Admission Requirements

The department offers two majors under this degree: English and American Literature, and Literature and Creative Writing.

In addition to meeting the college graduate admission requirements, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements for admission to the program and for the degree:

1.  A reading knowledge of an appropriate foreign language. A paragraph outlining the applicant's foreign language competence should be submitted.

2.  A statement of intent (500 words minimum)

3.  Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be from persons familiar with the applicant's academic work.

4.  Submission of a sample of the applicant's critical writing (either a graduate-level paper that the applicant wrote or the applicant's Master of Arts thesis).

5.  Only for applicants to the creative writing program, the submission of a sample of creative writing (either of 10 pages of poetry or 20-25 pages of fiction).

6.  Two official transcripts of all previous university work.

7.  GRE General Aptitude score and GRE Advanced Subject (Code 64) score.

Consult the Department of English graduate office for additional information and more specific requirements.

Degree Requirements

Beyond the achievement of the master's degree, doctoral students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of approved coursework distributed as follows:

1.  3 hours of Introduction to Doctoral Studies in English

2.  6 hours of bibliography, literary theory, or rhetoric. If students have taken a course or courses in these areas for the M.A., these requirements will be waived, allowing the student an additional 3 to 6 hours of elective course work (but not a reduction in the total hours required).

3.  27 hours of literature, including (1) 9 hours in early literature, (2) 6 hours in later literature, and (3) 12 hours of elective courses, each contributing to the student's areas of expertise. Students should select each of these courses in consultation with the graduate advisor and his/her faculty mentors. Early British literature is defined as British literature before 1800 and early American literature is defined as American literature before 1865.

In addition, students must pass three written doctoral examinations in their areas of specialization and an oral defense of their dissertation prospectus. They will then write and defend the doctoral dissertation for six semester credits.

Catalog Publish Date: January 14, 2013
This Page Last Updated: January 15, 2013