Axe ’Em, Jacks!
A master’s degree for more career options
The Department of English and Creative Writing offers:
- a master's degree with two tracks (literature and creative writing)
- a certificate in advanced English pedagogy
- an advanced certificate in professional writing
- and a graduate minor in English or creative writing
With a balanced curriculum of research, theory and practice, a Master of Arts in English gives you a sophisticated literary education and superior writing skills. You’ll be well-prepared for a career in journalism, business and technical writing, media and entertainment, research or library science, communications, publishing and editorial work, or education and tutoring.
An advanced English degree also makes you better qualified for work in areas such as human resources, market research, sales, public relations and other professions not typically thought of as career paths for English majors.
Admission requirements and prerequisites
All applicants for the English graduate programs must submit
- a completed application - Apply to SFA and pay the required applicaiton fee
- a letter of interest
- a résumé or C.V.
- three letters of recommendation,
- and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Applicants for the Master of Arts in English program must also submit a 10- to 12-page writing sample.
- For those applying to the literature track, the writing sample should consist of a researched literary analysis or other academic essay.
- For those applying to the creative writing track, the sample must consist of original fiction, poetry or creative non-fiction.
A writing sample is not necessary from applicants for the certificate program.
Prior education requirements:
- For the Master of Arts in English program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and minimum of 24 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in English.*
- For the certificate in advanced English pedagogy program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in English.*
- For either program, applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work. Students who have a GPA below 3.0 but above 2.7 may be admitted to the program on a probationary basis.
- Students who have fewer semester hours of undergraduate credit in English than required may still apply but will need to complete coursework to establish a background for graduate study.
Graduate minors in English and creative writing
Students pursuing a graduate degree outside the Department of English and Creative Writing may choose to pair their degree with a nine-hour minor in either English or creative writing.
Important: Enrollment in the graduate creative writing minor requires approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.
For more information on course offerings in the Department of English and Creative Writing, please see the Graduate Bulletin.