All students are required to meet the general university admission requirements.

Additional Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field. Provisional admission may be granted if you are entering the degree program with no previous coursework in English.

Additional Documentation
Your application must include the following:

• Statement of objectives: The personal statement should briefly describe your interest in the program, previous experience, research or academic interests, and long-term career goals. Most statements are 2-3 pages in length.
• Writing sample of 8-15 pages of analytical or persuasive prose. Note: If you would like to enter the creative writing track, you should submit a writing sample of either 10-30 pages of prose or 6-10 poems, in addition to your analytical writing sample.
• Names and emails of persons qualified to speak informatively about your academic performance and potential for advanced study in English. References will be contacted automatically using the email addresses provided by you, but it is your responsibility to ensure letters are submitted before the program application deadline.
• Unofficial transcripts from each institution attended
• Failure to list any colleges or universities from which you received a degree or enrolled in graduate coursework may result in dismissal from the university.
• If transcripts are not in English, you must furnish a translation by an appropriate authority.
• You will be asked for official transcripts after notification of admission.

Graduates of the program come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds and excel in careers such as:

• technical and professional writing
• publishing and editing
• teaching
• management
• information services and technology
• public relations
• librarianship
• arts and humanities administration
• government and law
• philanthropic and not-for-profit agencies

With assistance from our director of graduate studies, you will design a program of study tailored to your professional and personal goals.

Each fall, spring, and summer semester, you can choose from three to four graduate-level courses offered online. View descriptions of upcoming course offerings. (Note: not all courses listed on this webpage will be offered online or every semester. You should work with your advisor to plan your personal program of study.)

Required Core (15 credits)

• ENGL 801 - Graduate Studies in English (3 credits)
• Three courses in literature; choose from ENGL 605-730 (9 credits)
• ENGL 825 - Seminar in Literature (3 credits) OR
  ENGL 830 - Seminar in Cultural Studies (3 credits) OR
  ENGL 840 - Seminar in Composition and Rhetoric (3 credits)

Track courses (9 credits)

• Three courses to meet the selected track requirements

Electives (9 credits)

• Three courses; choose from ENGL 605-840
  • One course may be ENGL 797 - Professional Writing Internship
  • One course may be from outside the department

Foreign language certificate (or equivalent research tool)

Final writing project or thesis

Final oral examination (a defense and discussion of the writing project or thesis)