prospective students | current students
The application is in two parts: 1) An on-line form, transcripts, GRE Scores and application fee to be sent to the
- Statement of Purpose
- Writing Sample
- Three letters of recommendation
NOTE: If you are applying for a teaching assistantship additional materials need to be submitted. A list of what also needs to be included for teaching assistantship applicants can be found here. The application is available here.
What kind of Writing Sample is required with my application? What kind of Personal Statement is required with the application? What should Letters of Recommendation cover?
The writing sample of 8 to 10 pages, will preferably be academic writing completed within the past two years. For students who completed their undergraduate work more than one year before their application, professional writing of similar length, such as, but not limited to a grant proposal, a newsletter, or a business report may be submitted to fulfill this requirement. The applicant’s writing sample must be accompanied by a brief statement of the context for which the writing was done.
The personal statement should be an essay of approximately five hundred to seven hundred words explaining the applicant’s goals in pursuing graduate study in English and future plans which the M.A. in English will enable you to accomplish.
Letters of Recommendation should speak to your strength as an applicant: your academic aptitude, writing ability, work ethic, and so forth. Most of your letters should be from past instructors who can comment in detail on your strengths as a student.
When is the deadline for applying? Does this deadline pertain to the M.A. as well as M.F.A. degrees?
These deadlines are consistent every year.
- The deadline for entry into the M.A. in English for the Spring Semester is October 15.
- The deadline for entry, with assistantship, into the M.A. in English for the Fall Semester is January 15. This is also the deadline for applications to the M.F.A. program; the MFA program does not admit Spring Semester entrants.
- The deadline for entry only into the M.A. in English for Fall Semester is April 15.
Can I transfer credits from another graduate program to my program of study?
Yes. However, University Rules stipulate that least 2/3 of the coursework for a Master’s Degree must be undertaken at
Do I need to take the GRE to be admitted into graduate study in the English Department? What are you minimum test scores? Average test scores?
Yes. Applicants to the M.A. in English Program must take the GRE General Test and receive a minimum score of 500 on the Verbal portion of the test to be eligible for admission to the program. The average score for applicants accepted into the M.A. in English program in 2007 was 585.
What is your minimum undergraduate G.P.A.? Average G.P.A.?
We require a G.P.A. of at least 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. The average GPA for applicants accepted into the M.A. in English program in 2007 was 3.45.
What are the different emphases for the M.A. degree? How do the degree requirements differ?
Checklists of the three emphases (Literature, Rhetoric & Composition, and English Education) are available by clicking on the emphasis links.
Is there a foreign language requirement?
There is no foreign language requirement either for admission into the program or as part of the M.A. degree. Students considering Ph.D. work should consider investigating the requirements of the programs to which they may wish to apply, however, as most Ph.D. programs do have a foreign language requirement.
Do you provide funding?
The Department of English is able to fund M.A. students through Teaching Assistantships. Approximately ten Teaching Assistantships are offered each year. For more details, including information on how to apply, click here.
How might I arrange to visit the English Department?
Contact the Director of the M.A. in English indicating that you are interested in arranging a campus visit. We will be happy to set up appointments with faculty in the department and meetings with current graduate students. We may be able to assist you with accommodation while you are in
What is the length of the program? Can I complete a graduate degree on a part-time basis?
The degree consists of 33-36 credit hours. Full time graduate students carry nine credit hours (or three courses) per semester and therefore typically take four semesters to complete the degree. Many students pursue the degree on a part-time basis. University rules require that a student must complete all requirements for the degree within a single continuous interval of no more than seven years.
Can I complete a graduate degree by taking courses on-line?
At this time we do not offer graduate-level courses in the M.A. in English program on-line.
Who will be my primary advisor?
The Director of the M.A. in English serves as the default advisor for all students in the M.A. in English program. Once you have chosen your culminating activity you will likely also identify a more specific individual advisor who guide you towards the completion of your degree. The Director of the M.A. remains available to you for advice on your program of study, individual courses, and other matters of concern.
How often should I meet with my advisor?
It is advisable to meet with the Director of the M.A. in English at or near the outset of your program of study. Each semester the Director will arrange a meeting at which information about the courses offered in the subsequent semester will be distributed and discussed. Once you have chosen your culminating activity and recruited a supervisor for that culminating activity you will need to determine with your supervisor the frequency of meetings.
How large are classes? Are classes primarily held during business hours, or are there night and evening classes?
Courses in the M.A. in English program are capped at 15 students. Most classes are offered as seminars meeting once a week for three hours. The bulk of courses are offered in the evening or late afternoon.
How many graduate courses are typically taught each semester?
You can look at the upcoming course offerings for 2008-2009 to 2009-2010 here.
Can I take more classes than what is recommended/required?
A full-time course load for graduate students is nine credit hours per semester. It is not recommend that you attempt more than nine credit hours per semester as the reading and writing demands of graduate-level course work in English is quite intense. It is possible to take more than nine credit hours in a semester. Teaching assistants must maintain full-time student status; if a teaching assistant wants to take more than twelve credit hours in the semester they must secure approval from the Director of the M.A. in English.
Is it possible to audit graduate English classes?
While it is possible in theory to audit graduate courses, it is not likely in practice that a student will be allowed to do so. Authorization to audit a course is at the discretion of the instructor.
What kind of library resources do you have? Special Collections?
You can find more information on Albertsons Library here. The Library does have a special collections department housing some unique manuscript materials. You can find out more about Special Collections here.
What kind of conference funding do you have for graduate students?
Graduate students can apply to the travel fund for financial assistance when they have had work accepted for presentation at a professional or graduate student conference. The typical amount of a travel award is $300. The current form is available here. [As of August 2007 the procedures and application are under revision.]
Who are the graduate faculty? What are their specialties?
Go the “M.A. Faculty" link under “People" on the M.A. in English website to view individual faculty profiles.
What do graduate theses look like? Do I have to do a thesis to complete the graduate program?
Students pursuing the Rhetoric & Composition and English Education emphases must complete a thesis or project. Students pursuing the Literature emphasis can complete the degree with a coursework option. For more on the issues of thesis, read the M.A. Student Handbook article on “To Thesis or Not to Thesis" here.
Past graduate theses are available at Albertsons Library. On the “Basic Search" page, set the “Quick Limit" to “BSU Albertsons Library Theses" to locate past M.A. theses. The
Where do people go from here?
Students completing the M.A. in English will frequently go on to careers in non-profit and other business organizations as writers, editors, and project managers; careers in editing and publishing; careers in public or private teaching in elementary, middle, and secondary schools; careers in teaching at two-year colleges; Ph.D. programs in Literature, Composition & Rhetoric, or English Education or other advanced professional degrees in Law, Business, Public Policy, or other fields.
Do any of your students go on to PhD programs? Which programs?
We have had good success in the past in placing students in Ph.D. programs in Literature and Composition and Rhetoric. Recent M.A. graduates from
current students
Is there a foreign language requirement?
There is no foreign language requirement either for admission into the program or as part of the M.A. degree. Students considering Ph.D. work should consider investigating the requirements of the programs to which they may wish to apply, however, as most Ph.D. programs do have a foreign language requirement.
Can I complete a graduate degree on a part-time basis?
The M.A. degree can be pursued part-time.Can I complete a graduate degree by taking courses on-line?
At this time we do not offer graduate-level courses in the M.A. in English program on-line.How do I do an independent study?
A complete guide to graduate level independent study in English is available here.What do graduate theses look like? Do I have to do a thesis to complete the graduate program?
Past graduate theses are available at Albertsons Library. On the “Basic Search" page, set the “Quick Limit" to “BSU Albertsons Library Theses" to locate past M.A. theses. TheStudents pursuing the Rhetoric & Composition and English Education emphases must complete a thesis or project. Students pursuing the Literature emphasis can complete the degree with a coursework option. For more on the issues of thesis, read the M.A. Student Handbook article on “To Thesis or Not to Thesis" here.
