Resources & Scholarships in English
The Department of English is committed to student success by providing a variety of advising, career, and financial resources.
The Tools for Success
Navigating your way from enrollment to graduation can be daunting but the faculty and staff in the Department of English are here to help you every step of the way. Undergraduate and graduate students can find helpful information for all steps in the advising process.
Explore our scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and discover the award-winning English department publications featuring work by both students and faculty.
Undergraduate Advising
B.A. in English, Last Names A-J, Dr. Justin Raden, jraden1@olemiss.edu
B.A. in English, Last Names K-Z, Prof. Beth Spencer, ecspence@olemiss.edu
B.F.A. in Creative Writing, Prof. Dustin Parsons, djparson@olemiss.edu
General Advising, Including Minors, Dr. Scott MacKenzie, smack@olemiss.edu
To change your major, add a course, or for other general inquiries, please contact the main office at msgilmo1@olemiss.edu or visit our Department office at Bondurant C 128.
Current Semester: Fall 2025
Upcoming Semester: Available October 2025
Course Description Archive:
For previous course descriptions, please follow this link.
English Course Level Overview
200-level survey courses are designed to provide a broad introduction to the study of literature by tracing the national or transnational development of cultures and literary forms. Where possible, these courses should strive to include texts from multiple literary genres (poetry, narrative, nonfiction, drama, film, etc.), should (where relevant) familiarize students with the major logics of periodization (e.g. Realism, Modernism, Postmodernism) as well as relevant formal vocabulary (epic, sonnet; diction, metaphor; first/third-person narration, etc.). While these courses need not require a formal paper, they should always at least involve exercises and/or test questions that ask students to practice close reading and analytical writing. Examples include: reading response assignments, short answer questions on exams, longer close- reading questions on exams, etc.
English 299 is a course designed for the English major that prepares students for advanced coursework in English. ENG 299 has two aims: 1) to provide an undergraduate introduction to the discipline, and 2) to develop the analytical and writing skills specific to literary study. Readings and assignments should provide opportunities to develop a literary-critical vocabulary and to become familiar with the major genre categories—drama, poetry and prose fiction—as well as nonfiction prose, film, graphic narrative, and other genres, according to the instructor’s expertise and learning goals. In addition to focusing on close reading, ENG 299 should introduce students to examples of literary scholarship and critical debates as well as the conventions of the critical essay and rules for citing sources.
300-level courses are narrower “introductory,” “survey” and “studies in” courses that provide a more focused critical inquiry into texts organized around a single literary movement, period, cultural tradition, genre, or critical theme. If the 200-level survey course provides students with an overview of the literary networks comprising our national and transnational histories and canons, the 300-level courses aim to expand on (i.e. elaborate and complicate) one node or thread constituting those larger networks. These courses may incorporate secondary critical material, but will be focused mainly on the reading of primary texts.
400-level courses are advanced-study “special topics” courses that offer in-depth consideration of a literary topic, and will typically be organized around a central critical question or set of questions. In addition to reading primary texts, these courses will include secondary readings intended to help students engage with literary critical approaches to the material. Ideally, these courses will be designed to challenge students not only to develop critical responses to individual texts, but to use their close reading skills to begin to build more theoretical arguments that develop across their readings of multiple texts.
400-level capstone courses are seminar-style classes that require students to produce a substantial research project addressing a question related to the seminar’s topic. The capstone is a research-driven class, in which students conduct independent research under the close supervision of the faculty member. Close supervision of research may include: review of research methodologies (e.g. a library visit, discussion and practice with relevant databases in class, the creation of assignments using relevant databases); the creation of annotated bibliographies for the research project; short written assignments in which students compare sources; etc. It also includes student revision of at least one draft of the project based on feedback from the professor.
Creative Writing Course Levels
English 300: Introduction to Creative Writing aims to introduce terms and techniques of creative writing and provide a framework with which one can begin to discuss, critique, and create original works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
The other 300-level creative writing courses allow students to narrow their focus to one genre and delve further into creative writing pedagogy. These courses may forgo the use of a creative writing textbook such as the one used in ENG 300 and rely instead on single-author collections of poetry, short stories, or essays as primary texts, as well as incorporate secondary critical material.
400-level creative writing courses aim to expand and deepen the range of the students' thinking concerning methods of creating and revising original works. These 400-level courses will challenge students not only to become better writers but also better, more thoughtful readers, and to use their close reading skills to build theoretical arguments that they can apply to literature classes throughout the department.
Graduate Advising
Literary Studies, Dr. Jason Solinger, solinger@go.olemiss.edu
Creative Writing, Prof. Melissa Ginsburg, mginsburg@olemiss.edu
For help adding or dropping classes, please contact our main office at msgilmo1@olemiss.edu or visit at Bondurant C 128.
Current: Fall 2025 Graduate Course Descriptions
Future: Available October 2025
Course Description Archive:
For older course descriptions, please click here.
M.A. and Ph.D. in English Handbooks
M.F.A. in Creative Writing Handbook
TA Handbook
For access to the TA Box folder, please contact engl@olemiss.edu
When to Use Graduate School Forms: GS5, GS5.1, GS7, GS8, GS11, GS12
1. Thesis or Dissertation Committee members' names should be added to a student's My OleMiss account, preferably by the student, although departmental staff and I can help if needed.
2. Two weeks prior to a PhD student's oral exam, the GS5 should be sent to the graduate school.
3. After the PhD student has passed that oral exam, the GS5.1 must be sent to the graduate school.
4. After a student on the BA-to-PhD track passes the oral exam, they will have earned their MA. On the GS5.1 form, the student's earning of the MA degree should be noted.
5. After a student on the BA-to-PhD track passes the oral exam and earns their in-stream MA, the student should submit a GS8 form in order to receive their MA diploma by the next scheduled graduation date.
6. No forms are needed to schedule or confirm the passing of an MFA student's comprehensive exam, i.e., the written exam MFA students take prior to writing/finishing their MFA theses.
7. After a PhD student defends their prospectus, the GS12 form, and the prospectus itself, should be sent to the graduate school within two weeks of the prospectus defense.
8. Two weeks prior to an MA thesis defense, or MFA thesis defense, or PhD dissertation defense--what the graduate school calls the "final oral/written exam"--the GS7 form should be sent to the graduate school.
9. Once the GS7 form has been submitted, the graduate school will generate an "Interoffice Memorandum: Report of Final Oral/Written Examination." This report will be emailed to the committee chair, and it will need to be completed and sent to the graduate school.
10. In order to graduate, a student must email the graduate school the GS8 form, prior to these scheduled deadlines. This is the student's responsibility.
11. A student may defend their thesis or dissertation up to the last day of classes, although this is also the last day the thesis or dissertation may be submitted to ProQuest--so students will want to make sure there is enough time to make revisions to their thesis or dissertation.
12. The GS11, or publishing permissions form, must be submitted prior to submitting the thesis or dissertation to ProQuest.
All the GS forms are available on the Graduate School website.
Please submit all forms to msgilmo1@olemiss.edu and we will ensure everything is submitted to the Graduate School.
To complete a directed reading course, please contact your advisor.
Travel paperwork is completed in two parts: the authorization, which is submitted at least two weeks prior to your travel, and the reimbursement voucher, which is submitted when you return\complete your trip. This is standard across the University and has nothing to do with English Department rules.
When you submit the authorization, there are a few things you can be immediately reimbursed for, no matter how far in advance of your trip you are. These include registration and airfare costs. Then, two weeks prior to your trip you can request 80% of the estimated total of your trip be advanced. All funding is direct deposited into the account your paycheck is deposited into.
When you submit the reimbursement voucher, we add any remaining receipts and costs until you reach your approved budget. Travel\the state needs paid receipts for everything, so you'll get check-out receipts from hotels, drop-off receipts for rental cars, Uber\taxi\subway receipts, etc. The only thing you do not have to keep is meal receipts- these are on a per-diem basis, rate based on the city. I will calculate this.
Transportation:
Rental Cars: When traveling in-state, you do not have to rent a car. We can calculate mileage on your personal car. When traveling out of state, procurement prefers you use a rental car. We have state rental contracts for you to use: Hertz and Enterprise. You can find alternate links on the last page of this document. If you use a rental car, you can save gas receipts and be reimbursed for those. Please save the actual receipt, not a photo of the pump. When we complete the authorization, please send the reservation estimate for the car. When we do the reimbursement voucher, please send the drop-off receipt with the paid total.
Personal Cars: Procurement prefers you do not take a personal car out of state since we have rental car contracts. If you need to take a personal car, we must have a reason and calculate mileage.
Flights: The best practice is to purchase your plane ticket before completing the travel authorization. We will submit the receipt along with the authorization so you can be reimbursed for it immediately. Please simply forward Myra the email confirmation\receipt from the airline so I can be sure to submit everything procurement needs from it. Procurement also needs two flight comparisons. If you book your ticket from a booking site like Expedia, Travelocity, etc, you must get your quotes from a similar site.
Uber\Taxi\Subway: Please keep any receipts from these to turn in with the travel reimbursement upon your return.
Registration & Membership:
You can be reimbursed registration and membership dues. Please be sure to submit a paid receipt for these.
Lodging
Hotel: Please submit an estimate or reservation confirmation with your authorization information. When you check out, please bring that receipt (or forward the email) to Myra. Procurement will need a PAID receipt.
AirBnB: Airbnb usually splits their payments, so please be sure to submit all receipts if you pay multiple times. IF you split the AirBnb with others, please just note your payment amount.
Meals
You do not need to keep meal receipts. These are based on a per-diem rate. Myra will calculate this, but if you would like to see the rate, please follow this link: https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates
Timeline:
Submit the travel authorization a minimum of two weeks in advance. Travel documents only start in our office, so they take time for all approval signatures. When you submit the authorization, there are a few things you can be immediately reimbursed for, no matter how far in advance of your trip you are. These include registration and airfare costs. This is “immediate” but can take up to two weeks, depending on how long the paperwork takes to make it through the various offices and to procurement. Then, two weeks prior to your trip you can request 80% of the estimated total of your trip be advanced. All funding is direct deposited into the account your paycheck is deposited into. Upon completion of your trip, we will submit the reimbursement voucher. This is when we add any remaining receipts and costs until you reach your approved budget. Travel\the state needs paid receipts for everything, so you'll get check-out receipts from hotels, drop-off receipts for rental cars, Uber\taxi\subway receipts, etc. The only thing you do not have to keep is meal receipts-these are on a per-diem basis, rate based on the city. I will calculate this. Once it leaves our office, we have no control over the timing of the reimbursement being completed, but it is usually fairly quick.
What to submit:
All Travel:
- travel dates
- location
- transportation details (and comparisons, if applicable)
- conference name and\or registration receipt (or note that it is research)
- Lodging information (reservation confirmation or estimate)
International:
- Short statement of specific benefits to the University from this travel and how it Supports University goals and mission.
- Specific entities\universities\companies that the traveler will meet or collaborate with
- Is any entity other than UM covering the cost of this trip?
- Are you taking any equipment (laptop, etc) with you that is University-owned? If so, what is the ID number?
- Are you receiving funding from any other offices on campus? If so, who does this need to be routed through?
Awards & Publications
Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards
Explore undergraduate scholarships and awards that celebrate student excellence in literary studies and creative writing.
Graduate Student Funding and Awards
Learn about financial resources and funding opportunities to support your degree progress, prepare you for your career, and recognize your academic accomplishments.
Department Publications
Explore our faculty and student publications.