English — Admission Requirements

Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions” section of this publication.

The English Graduate Committee will recommend full admission to those applicants who present evidence of their ability and appropriate preparation to do graduate work with distinction. Such evidence must include:

1. A distinguished undergraduate record in advanced undergraduate English courses. An undergraduate major in English is preferred, but some of our successful applicants have majored in other fields while completing additional advanced undergraduate course work in English and American literature and in writing. Occasionally the committee recommends additional undergraduate course work prior to full admission.
2. Three substantive and detailed recommendations, at least two from former teachers familiar with the applicant’s most recent academic work.
3. An essay of at least 1,200 words by the applicant concerning his or her intellectual, professional, and personal reasons for desiring to pursue the advanced study of English. The essay should give some specific account of the applicant’s past studies and projects, and an explanation of the applicant’s major fields or subjects of interest in the field. This essay is of major importance and is evaluated as a demonstration of ability in writing and thinking about literary issues. It constitutes the second part of the statement of interests and intent described in the “Graduate Admissions Application Instructions” at the back of this publication (see the section on additional instructions for all applicants).
4. A critical essay written in the last four years, at least five to seven pages in length, demonstrating the applicant’s ability to read and write critically about literary texts. Students interested in the creative writing concentration should include approximately 6 poems or 2 short stories along with their critical essay, but the creative writing sample may not substitute for the critical essay, which is required.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Literature in English) are not required but are recommended, especially in cases where the undergraduate record is unusual or uneven.

Otherwise excellent candidates who appear not quite prepared to meet one or more of the above requirements may be advised to take additional English courses at the advanced undergraduate level, or may be offered provisional admission, allowed to enroll in a course or two for a semester, and then reviewed for full admission. Such students may also be allowed to enroll on a trial basis as non-degree-seeking students.

The department encourages applications from in-service secondary English teachers.

Graduate teaching assistantships are available. Applications are due the third week of April for the following year.