Master of Arts in English

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 16

The Department of English welcomes student applications with the following materials. Additional details are found on the department website.

1. Complete the Graduate School’s Online Application.
2. Pay the application fee ($50).
3. Submit official transcripts.
4. International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
5. Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Department of English to the link provided upon completion of the above steps.

• Statement of purpose: a 2-page document describing your academic interests, qualifying experiences, and specific reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in English at UM.
• Writing sample: a seminar-length sample (20-25 double-spaced pages) of your best academic work. If you do not have a writing sample of this length, we can accept two papers totaling 20-25 pages of writing.
• Three letters of recommendation: provide contact information for three recommenders who can address your developing scholarly interests, academic performance, and potential.

Students in the M.A. in English program complete 24 credit hours of graduate courses and an additional 6 hours of thesis credit. 

• ENG 600: Introduction to Graduate Study 
• 6 credit hours in English or American literature before 1800
• 6 credit hours of English or American literature after 1800
• up to 6 credit hours of graduate course work may be taken in related disciplines
• ENG 617: Teaching College English for students serving as instructors of record in first-year composition courses

M.A. students have the choice to pursue a traditional thesis or a portfolio project. 

Traditional Thesis: Ordinarily 50 to 100 pages in length, the M.A. thesis is a research project that makes an original and significant contribution to the field of literary studies.

Scholarly Portfolio: Creating the scholarly portfolio involves 1) the collection and substantial revision of two or three essays written for courses during the M.A., and 2) the production of a new scholarly essay that articulates the relationship between the collected essays by reflecting on thematic or intellectual connections, discussing methodological and theoretical issues, and constructing a narrative of the project’s development and further potential. Like the Traditional Thesis, the M.A. Portfolio should be 50 to 100 pages in length.

An oral defense of thesis or portfolio is the final stage.

Renaissance and Early Modern Studies Specialization

Students may receive an M.A. in English with a specialization in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies. Students would complete six hours of graduate course work in Renaissance and/or Early Modern Studies and submitting a thesis on a Renaissance or Early Modern subject. They are encouraged to take three hours in a related discipline such as history, religion, or art, provided the focus of the course is on the Renaissance or Early Modern period.

All students admitted to the M.A. in English will receive a teaching assistantship that covers some or all of the tuition and non-residency fee, if applicable, for regular semesters and subsidized health insurance.

Summer teaching provides a source of supplemental income. There are limited opportunities for summer teaching, so not all requests can be honored every year.

The Graduate School has a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented. This program may provide stipends and cover tuition. Information on Graduate School fellowships and financial aid can be found on their financial aid website.  

The Department of English has close ties to other academic departments and programs including the

• African American Studies Program,
• Center for the Study of Southern Culture,
• Department of Writing and Rhetoric,
• Environmental Studies Program,
• Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, and
• Southern Foodways Alliance.

The M.A. students are able to see their work in an interdisciplinary context.