English, M.A.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in English are required to submit the following to the Graduate School (all six items MUST be received by the Graduate School before the application will be forwarded to the department for action):

1. An application for graduate admission
2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
3. Official scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the Graduate Record Examination (no more than five years old)
4. Three academic recommendations to be submitted through the online application.
5. A ten-page analytical writing sample that includes a bibliography citing secondary sources in MLA format.
6. A statement of interest that addresses the applicant’s purpose for graduate study, focusing on how attending graduate school in English will help the applicant to achieve their professional goals. The essay should be no longer than 1-2 pages (approximately 500-600 words).

The minimum requirements for acceptance are the following: an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination, a satisfactory response to the statement of interest attached to the application form, a strong writing sample, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program, and a strong overall academic record with a “B” average or better in the undergraduate major. However, meeting minimal GRE scores and grade requirements does not in itself guarantee admission. Applicants who are not undergraduate English majors must have completed 12 hours of upper level English courses or have this requirement waived by the graduate coordinator.

All applications must be received by the published deadline.

Degree Requirements (36 total credit hours)

1. The M.A. program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate study, for both the thesis and non-thesis options.
2. At least 30 credit hours must be completed in residence at UNCW; a maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from another regionally accredited institution. Grades on transfer work must be equivalent to a “B” or better.
3. A written comprehensive exam must be successfully completed.
4. Students must complete the program within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.

Core Requirement (6 credit hours)

• ENG 501 - Introduction to Research Methods in English Credits: 3

•  

• And either

•  

• ENG 502 - Introduction to Literary Theory Credits: 3

• or

• ENG 552 - Rhetoric and Culture Credits: 3

• (Students may take both ENG 502  and ENG 552  but only one is required.)

Non-Thesis Option (30 credit hours)

The remaining 30 credit hours of coursework can be chosen from any approved graduate ENG 500-599 courses.

Students may substitute no more than 9 hours from among the following:

• 1-3 credit hours of internship credit from ENG 596 , ENG 598 , or a combination of ENG 596  and ENG 598  
• 1-3 hours of Directed Independent Study ENG 591  
• one graduate course (3 credit hours) from outside the department with prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.

Thesis Option (30 credit hours)

ENG 599  (3 credit hours must be completed in each of the last two semesters for a total of 6 credit hours)

The remaining 24 credit hours of coursework can be chosen from any approved graduate ENG 500-599 courses.

Students may substitute no more than 3 hours from among the following:

• 1-3 credit hours of internship credit from ENG 596 , ENG 598 , or a combination of ENG 596  and ENG 598  
• 1-3 hours of Directed Independent Study ENG 591  
• one graduate course (3 credit hours) from outside the department with prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.