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 5 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. Three academic recommendations to be submitted through the online application.
4. A ten-page analytical writing sample that includes a bibliography citing secondary sources in MLA format.
5. A statement of interest that addresses the applicant’s purpose for academic study, focusing on any relevant academic endeavors as well as how attending graduate school will help the applicant 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: 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 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 Credit Hours: 3

•  

• And either

•  

• ENG 502 - Introduction to Literary Theory Credit Hours: 3

• or

• ENG 552 - Histories, Cultures, and Theories of Rhetoric Credit Hours: 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.

Science and Medical Writing Concentration (15 credit hours)

Students in either the Non-Thesis Option or Thesis Option can also earn a concentration if they take 15 hours from the following list of courses. The 15 hours for this option count toward the 30 hours needed for the Non-Thesis Option or the 24 hours needed for the Thesis Option.