English MA

Students in the MA in English program gain the research and writing skills needed to succeed in teaching at the elementary, secondary, or community college level; a PhD program in English or related field; or a career in business, non-profit administration, or government.

program requirements Full/part time graduation plans financial aid/assistantships

Meet the English MA faculty

Did you know there is an Accelerated English BA/MA program?

Find out more about our program and fast-track your Graduate degree

One of the best things about being an MA student in FGCU’s English program is the dedicated support from the faculty. They really helped me to see myself as a professional and as a scholar.

~Savannah Jensen, University of Georgia English Doctoral Program

Student Research

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Internships & Careers

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Get Involved

On campus, clubs, and conferences

The coursework in the English Graduate Program at FGCU is rigorous and helps support people who are looking at futures in research, PhD programs, and education, but I found the professional and personal connections with other students to be the most valuable part of the program.

~ Shelby Whidden, English teacher, Labelle High School

Program FAQs

Application process
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How do I apply for the English MA program?
- You must go to the Office of Graduate Studies & Admissions to submit an application.
Do I have to take the GRE? What are the minimum scores required?
- Please see the Admissions information below for specifics.
If I am an international student, what test must I take? What is the minimum score required?
- If you are an international student from a country where English is not the primary language, you must take the TOEFL. The minimum score required is 550 (paper-based), 79 (internet-based), or 213 (computer-based).
I understand a writing sample is needed for admission. How long should it be?
- 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research.
Courses
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What courses are required to complete the English MA?
- Please see the program requirements.
How should I plan my classes if I am part-time versus full-time?
- If you are a part-time student, you should take 3-6 credit hours per semester.
  If you are a full-time student, you should take 9 credit hours per semester. However, no MA student should take more than 9 hours of coursework in a semester.
  Please see the plan to graduation.
Is there information available about upcoming MA classes?
- Information about upcoming classes is available here.
- Catalogue descriptions of the courses in the program are available here.
Where can I find sample course plans for full-time and part-time MA study?
- Learn more
How many credits may I transfer in from another university?
- A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions, subject to approval of the English MA Program Coordinator.
Do any non-English courses count for the English MA?
- Up to six elective credits of non-English courses from other departments within the University may count, with the approval of the English MA Program Coordinator.

Department Contact

Sugimori, Masami

Program Coordinator/Associate Professor

REED 0132

239-590-7356

msugimori@fgcu.edu

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
See program website at URL listed above.

Admission Requirements for 2023-2024

Upload all parts of your application, including GRE scores, into the Graduate Admissions application site.
NOTE: Do NOT send GRE scores or any other application materials directly to the Department of Language and Literature.
Your application must include:
1. Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
2. An official transcript documenting your baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, either in English or in a related field e.g. Communication, History, Philosophy, etc. and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
3. A 3.6 or higher upper-division undergraduate GPA in English or a related field (GRE not required). For applicants with less than 3.6 upper-division undergraduate GPA in English or a related field, minimum GRE scores of 153 in Verbal Reasoning and 3.5 in Analytical Writing are required.
4. If you are an international student from a country where English is not the primary language, you must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based), 79 (internet-based), or 213 (computer-based).
5. A writing sample of 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research.
6. A personal statement of 2-3 double-spaced pages about your career and personal goals connected with pursuing graduate work in English literature and literary criticism. This statement should explain your motivation for pursuing a Master's degree at FGCU, goals connected with pursuing this degree, and intended focus of your graduate studies (e.g. early modern literature). It should indicate whether you are interested in a Teaching Assistantship during your second year of study. Specific references to relevant experience or training will make this statement more effective.
7. Two recommenders to support your application. These two people may be mentors, supervisors, or college-level faculty.
For any recommender who is at FGCU, simply supply the recommender’s full name, title, and email address.
For any recommender who is a non-FGCU faculty member, mentor, or supervisor, have the recommender send a letter of recommendation directly to FGCU Graduate Admissions as an email attachment to this address: graduate@fgcu.edu.
Deadlines:
- Early deadline for Summer and Fall admission: February 15 (Consideration for Graduate Assistantship is based on the candidate's academic profile and application materials.)
  - Early deadline applicants for Summer or Fall will be notified regarding the status of their applications by May 1.
- Late deadline for Summer admission: April 1
- Late deadline for Fall admission: July 15 (Possible consideration for Graduate Assistantship, depending on whether funding is still available.)
  - You may apply between February 15 and July 15. Applications submitted in this period will be considered on a rolling basis.
- Deadline for Spring admission: November 15
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2023-2024 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- A minimum of 33 credit hours.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
- Each course for this program must be completed with a grade of C or better.
- Submit an application for graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions, subject to approval of the English Graduate Studies Coordinator.
- Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
- Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
Program Requirements
1. Required Courses in the Major (6 credits)
  Complete the following:
  ENG 6058 Intro to Grad Study in English (3)
  ENG 6950 English Masters Capstone (3)
2. Restricted Electives in the Major (27 credits)
  Complete 27 additional credits of graduate courses in English. The 27 credits completed must include, at a minimum:
  6 credits in United States Literature and Culture (AML)
  6 credits in British Literature and Culture (ENL)
  6 credits in Literatures and Cultures (LIT)
  6 credits in pre-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)
  6 credits in post-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)
  
  Pre-1800 Literature courses:
  AML 6506 Studies in Early American Lit (3)
  AML 6930 ST: US Lit and Cult pre-1800 (3)
  ENL 6299 Topics in British Lit pre-1800 (3)
  ENL 6305 Major British Authors (3)
  ENL 6507 British Literature before 1800 (3)
  LIT 6062 Comparative Lit pre-1800 (3)
  LIT 6146 Studies in World Lit pre-1800 (3)
  LIT 6218 Interdisciplinary Lit pre-1800 (3)
  
  Post-1800 Literature courses:
  AML 6268 Regional U.S. Literature (3)
  AML 6507 Studies in Later American Lit (3)
  AML 6508 ST: Amer Lit & Cult post-1800 (3)
  ENL 6290 Topics in Brit Lit post-1800 (3)
  ENL 6508 British Literature after 1800 (3)
  LIT 6066 Studies in Comp Lit post-1800 (3)
  LIT 6096 Contemporary Literature (3)
  LIT 6105 Studies in World Lit post-1800 (3)
  LIT 6217 Movements in Lit & Cult Theory (3)
  LIT 6406 Interdisc Lit post-1800 (3)
  LIT 6806 Literature as Cultural Study (3)
  
  Additional Electives:
  (Note: none of these count toward the pre-1800 and post-1800 requirements)
  AML 6910 Directed Research (3)
  ENC 6745 Seminar in Composition Pedagogy (3)*
  ENG 6940 English Masters Internship (0-6)
  ENG 6971 Thesis (1-3)
  ENL 6910 Directed Research (3)
  LIT 6910 Directed Research (3)
  
  Up to 6 credits chosen from other departments with written approval of the English Graduate Studies Coordinator.
  
  *Composition Teaching Assistants must complete this course prior to receiving a teaching assignment.
Total Credits Required: 33 HRS
Course Descriptions
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Student Learning Outcomes for English MA

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Evaluate and analyze literary and cultural texts in their appropriate contexts.
2. Conduct scholarly research on topics in literary and cultural studies.
3. Use accepted and appropriate formatting.
4. Apply appropriate critical approaches to analyzing literary and cultural texts.

Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Write for specific audiences and purposes with respect for diverse perspectives.
2. Organize ideas and information logically.
3. Articulate ideas and information clearly and coherently using the conventions of standard English grammar.

Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Formulate an argument of appropriate scope and depth and articulate it clearly.
2. Engage with complex ideas or aspects of a text within a specific and rich context.
3. Support the development of ideas through analysis of relevant details from primary and secondary sources.
4. Participate in a relevant scholarly conversation.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships

For more information, visit our detailed information page.

Financial Aid

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.
Academic Progress & Probation
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All students in the English MA program must maintain a 3.0 GPA to be considered in good standing. A student will be placed on academic probation when his/her cumulative GPA drops below 3.0. The student will then have three subsequent courses, or nine hours, to raise the GPA to 3.0.
A student on academic probation
- may not begin any program-specific thesis work
- may neither receive a Graduate Assistantship nor graduate until good standing is restored
If the student does not bring the GPA up to 3.0 during the probation period, then the student is dismissed from the program.
A student who is dismissed may apply for readmission. If readmitted, the program will determine which previously earned credits are applicable toward graduation. The overall time limit for the degree, for both full- and part-time students, is seven years from matriculation into the program.