English, MA
Master's in English
Curriculum
- Thesis: 6 credit hours
- Qualifying Exam
- Second language requirement
Professional Writing:
- Thesis: 6 credit hours
- Non-thesis: 4 credit hours
- Professional writing core courses: 18 credit hours
- Electives in composition, linguistics, TESOL, and professional writing: 6 or 12 credit hours
TESOL:
- Thesis: 6 credit hours
- Non-thesis: 1 credit hour
- TESOL and linguistics core courses: 18 credit hours
- Electives in language, linguistics, teaching methodology, and cultural studies: 6 or 15 credit hours
You can learn more about our program requirements by clicking here.
ACCESSTO INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTERS AND INSTITUTES
These are available to students, including: American Indian Studies, American Studies, Center for Africana Studies, Center for Oklahoma Studies, Center for Poets & Writers, Digital Humanities, and Gender and Women's Studies.
Research and Faculty
The English department is formed by nationally and internationally recognized faculty. Our program is further distinguished by the fact that English department faculty edit field-leading journals with the assistance of advanced graduate students. These journals include: Milton Quarterly, American Indian Quarterly, Journal of Linguistic Geography and The Cimmaron Review amongst others.
Our graduate students regularly publish and present scholarly and creative works in journals and at conferences across the country and around the world.
Admissions
- Transcripts
- B.A. or B.S. appropriate to intended graduate specialization from accredited institution of higher learning (minimum 3.0 GPA)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Written statement outlining proposed area of study, reasons for undertaking graduate study in this area, relevant work experience, and future career plans (approximately 250 words)
- Writing sample (7- to 15-page paper recently written for upper-level seminar or English course in appropriate area of study)
- Professional Writing applicants may submit portfolio of work-related documents instead
Professional Writing applicants must also:
- Have an undergraduate degree in English or related field, with at least 24 credit hours in English beyond first-year composition
- Demonstrate a background in some technical area through work experience and/or coursework
TESOL applicants must also:
- Have six credit hours of coursework in a language other than English with grades of “B” or better
- Applicants who do not meet this requirement must complete two semesters of language work, receiving grades of “B” or better, prior to taking the qualifying exams. Non-native speakers of English are exempt from this requirement.
- Teacher Certification Disclaimer: The Certificate in TESOL does not carry with it certification for public school employment. Students seeking such certification must meet special state and university requirements.
Test Scores:
- GRE not required
- International applicants who aren't native English speakers must submit one of the following:
- TOEFL iBT minimum scores of 26 for Reading, 26 for Writing, and 100 for Total
- IELTS minimum scores of 7.0 on Reading, Writing, and Total
* Please note that the Department of English's requirements for demonstration of English language proficiency are more stringent than those of the Graduate College.
* The Department of English requires standardized Academic English proficiency test scores for all graduate program applicants who are non-native speakers of English, regardless of whether they have received previous degrees from U.S. institutions or any other English-speaking country’s institutions.
Application Deadlines:
- January 1 (Priority for Fall admission)
- March 1 (Fall admission)
- October 15 (Spring admission)
Cost & Assistance
The Department of English employs a large number of graduate teaching assistants each year. They instruct their own courses, work in the OSU Writing Center, and receive mentoring and pedagogical training. Click here for more information. Assistantships and tuition waivers are available to the majority of our graduate students. Travel funding opportunities are available on a competitive basis to support conference presentations and archival research. Scholarships are also available to recognize outstanding work.
Applications received prior to the fall admission Priority Placement deadline of Jan. 1 are given first consideration for assistantships and financial incentives. Students admitted in spring are typically not eligible for departmental funding, including assistantships, until the following fall semester.