The strength of the M.A. in English lies in its ability to address the professional needs of a variety of students: those who plan to continue in a Ph.D. program, those who want to teach at the high school or college levels, and those who wish to acquire professional training in writing or research. While pursuing a generalist background in literature, students also choose to focus on one of several options, including English and American Literature, American Culture, Creative Writing, ESOL, Folklore, Linguistics, Reading, or Rhetoric.

Applicants to the M.A. program should possess an undergraduate degree with a minimum of twelve semester hours of upper-division English courses. When submitting their materials, applicants must include

• an application form
• an assistantship application (if applying for funding)
• official GRE scores (General Test only)
• official undergraduate transcripts
• three letters of recommendation (preferably academic)
• a critical writing sample (10-15 pp.)
• a personal statement describing their motivations and interests in pursuing the degree (1-2 pp.)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Applicants to the M.A. concentration in creative writing should send a creative writing sample (15-20 pp.)

All application materials, with the exception of the creative writing sample, should be sent directly to the Graduate School, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-4610. For Fall admission, the deadline for submitting all materials is 1 March (15 February for Fellowships). The Graduate School will notify applicants of its decision after receiving all required credentials. The department will notify applicants of fellowships and assistantship decisions.

For more information or questions about the application write to the

The M.A. requires a total of 27-33 hours, depending on whether an individual candidate opts to write a thesis. Students writing theses must complete a minimum of 27 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis credit. Students who choose not to write theses must complete 30-33 hours of coursework, depending on the course requirements specific to the option they have chosen (American culture, creative writing, English or American literature, folklore, linguistics, or rhetoric and composition). For the most part, these requirements aim to provide a generalist education, the flexibility needed for each candidate’s option and research interests, and preparation for the M.A. comprehensive exam. M.A. students holding teaching assistantships are required to take two pedagogical courses in preparation for their teaching duties. Before taking the comprehensive exam, M.A. candidates must fulfill these course requirements and demonstrate reading proficiency in one foreign language. M.A. candidates usually complete their coursework in the one to one and a half years and take their comprehensive exam at the end of their second year.

M.A. candidates may take their comprehensive exams beginning in the semester they complete their coursework and foreign language requirements. Two components make up the four-hour comprehensive exam: a standardized component and a component tailored to each candidate’s specific research interests.