MA in English

Program Overview

The graduate program in English at Georgia Southern University prepares its students for a variety of careers and also for advanced doctoral work. Students who enroll in the Master of Arts program in English enjoy the engaging atmosphere of graduate study and work closely with faculty members. These are published scholars whose specialties are as diverse as the courses within the program itself. The Center for Irish Studies, the Georgia Author Series, and the department’s annual British Commonwealth and Postcolonial Conference in nearby Savannah all provide added dimension to the graduate English program. Assistantships are available for qualified graduate students, who serve as teaching apprentices, editorial assistants for the department’s in-house Journal of Commonwealth and Postcolonial Studies, and in other roles that contribute to their professional development.

Thesis: In cooperation with a thesis advisor and committee, the student will write a thesis (minimum length of 10,000 words, not counting “Notes” and “Works Cited”). The student must pass an oral examination consisting of a discussion of the thesis and of questions related to it. In-depth and scope, the thesis must demonstrate originality in research as well as independent and critical judgment in interpreting materials.

Regular Admission Requirements

• Completed requirements for the Bachelor’s degree in a college accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting associations.
• A 3.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average or higher on all undergraduate work.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
• An undergraduate major or the equivalent in the proposed field of study.
• Two letters of recommendation by persons familiar with the applicant’s academic experience.
• A sample of the applicant’s scholarly writing of at least 12-15 pages.
• Statement of Purpose (250-500) words. This statement should address the applicant’s academic achievements and major accomplishments, contributions to or experiences in this field of study, pertinent extra-curricular activities, and the reasons why he or she wishes to attend Georgia Southern. While the personal statement is only one of many factors the graduate admissions committee considers when making admission decisions, it helps provide context for the rest of the application.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service and must be a course by course evaluation and include a GPA.

Provisional Admission Requirements

Provisional admission is sometimes possible if a candidate has better than a 2.75 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average on undergraduate college work. Students who do not meet provisional requirements may appeal to a departmental committee of graduate faculty members for admission.

Statesboro Degree Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

Tuition fees are available here.

Admission Deadlines

Professional Opportunities

One of the ongoing goals for the English graduate program is to familiarize our students with the professional world and to demystify the internal workings of many of its institutions. We would like to extend an opportunity to do just that to the entire graduate body here at Georgia Southern. To that end, English graduate faculty created a “conference liaison” program for graduate students. This program provides hands-on professional training for organizing and hosting conferences (including correspondence with delegates, panel construction, training for session chairing, as well as on-site organization, and working with site liaisons).

Liaison students not only gain both a theoretical and practical understanding of academic conferences, but also take away the experience of an important aspect of the professional world, model networking skills, and hone the too often overlooked value of academic administration. Each of these faculty leaders has a strong commitment to helping students both advance their research and to develop as professionals. One of the best ways to build this kind of development is to see how the administration of certain academic organizations functions.

Academic conferences provide an intersection of intellectual and career advancement. These conferences are not only the genesis of much of our research material and agendas, but they also provide an ideal training ground for new academic professionals to learn about administration in the academy.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize and analyze literary elements in a text.
• Situate and interpret texts in their historical, cultural, and literary contexts.
• Create well-developed and organized essays with clear and precise prose, presenting sustained arguments.