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Admission to the MA Program
In considering applicants, the Graduate Studies Committee looks for students who will benefit from our programs, succeed in our programs, and add vitality and diversity to the intellectual community of the English department through their contributions as graduate students and teachers. The Graduate Studies Committee takes care to look at the whole application, basing its decisions on several kinds of information: grades, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a statement of purpose or professional goals, and a writing sample.
Highly ranked applicants to the MA program usually present a BA in English or its equivalent; a good undergraduate grade-point average, especially in upper-division English courses; acceptable scores on the GRE general test; accurate and candid letters of recommendation from three professors who are able to assess the applicant’s suitability for graduate work in English;a thoughtful Statement of Purpose for graduate study at Auburn; and a writing sample (usually a term paper or critical essay of approximately 10-15 pages) that demonstrates the applicant’s aptitude for graduate study.
Although most MA applicants have majored in English as undergraduates, we welcome applications from students who have minored in English or who hold degrees in other liberal arts disciplines that feature writing and textual analysis. Occasionally a student without a BA in English will need to demonstrate preparedness for graduate study by taking advanced undergraduate courses in English as a non-degree student.
To begin the application process, please visit our Contact Page & Query Form.
The Graduate Studies Committee reviews applications for admission year-round, but we can only offer Graduate Teaching Assistantships beginning in Fall Semester. Thus, in order to receive full consideration for financial support, your application must be received by January 15 for the following Fall.