Admission Requirements

To become a candidate for the degree of Master of Arts in English Language and Literature, a student must have an undergraduate major or minor in English with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Applicants must submit a statement of intent and a writing portfolio.

For applicants whose native language is not English, a TOEFL score of 550 (213 CBT) and a TWE of at least 5, or a MELAB of 85, are required for admission.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses I (3 hours, select one of the following)

ENG 535 History of Literary Criticism

ENG 636 Seminar in Critical Problems

Required Courses II (3 hours, select one of the following)

ENG 545 Chaucer

ENG 570 Old English

ENG 672 Applied Linguistics in Written Communication

Required Courses III (3 hours, select one of the following)

ENG 601 Graduate Composition

ENG 602 Research Materials and Methods

Required Courses IV (6 hours)

Two 600-level seminars in literature

Thesis Requirement (6 hours)

ENG 799 Thesis

Other Requirements (6 hours, select one of the following)

ENG 691 Seminar in Writing Fiction

ENG 692 Seminar in Writing Poetry

Electives (3 hours)

Hours authorized by the advisor and planned with the student.

TOTAL: 30 credit hours

For more information about degree requirements, visit the CMU Academic Bulletins.

Creative Writing Program Website

For more information about the Master of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, please visit the Creative Writing program website.