The Master of Arts in English program at UWF is home to a vibrant community of scholars and creative writers who are passionate about the study of literature, discourse, and print culture. The degree offers an opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors and to pursue individual research interests. Small class sizes (strictly limited to 20 students) are the norm.

Graduates of the M.A. program in English are highly successful writers, speakers, presenters, leaders, and educators who possess excellent analytical and communication skills. The M.A. in English can help advance the career goals of students who are interested in:

• developing critical thinking and writing skills to enhance any profession
• publishing
• editing
• creative writing
• not-for-profit administration
• establishing teaching credentials for private and public education
• pursuing the Ph.D. in English
• training, technical writing
• journalism

Some students may also wish to pursue the degree for purely philosophical reasons.  The study of literature provides exposure to the world of ideas and the aesthetics of the written and printed word. Courses in the program cover both canonical and non-canonical works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Courses also provide broad exposure to texts from a wide range of historical periods and cultures. Students interested in the program are welcome to visit the department and meet with faculty to discuss individual research interests and career goals.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admission section of the catalog, the applicant must meet the following minimum departmental admission requirements for regular admission:

• Submission of two-page statement of purpose that details intellectual and professional goals and describing how the MA in English at UWF will help fulfill those goals
• Submission of three letters of recommendation from former instructors or, in certain instances, current employers or colleagues who can speak to the applicant's critical thinking and writing skills
• Submission of an academic writing sample (at least 2500 words of literary analysis. In cases where a work of literary analysis is not available, an upper-division or graduate-level analytical paper in another discipline would be supportive of admission. The committee is looking for evidence of the ability to write clearly, think critically, and draw conclusions from texts or information.)
• In addition, for those interested in the creative writing concentration, submission of a creative writing sample (2500 words of fiction/non-fiction prose or 10 poems. Select your sample from your strongest genre)

Students applying for graduate admission may be considered for scholarship, fellowship, and assistantship opportunities.  Application deadlines for those wishing to apply for these opportunities are posted on the Graduate School website.

Students who meet other requirements, but lack some of the required undergraduate preparation, may be granted provisional admission to the M.A. program. All students admitted provisionally must satisfactorily complete specific requirements stipulated by the departmental graduate committee before full admission.

Degree Requirements

The M.A. in English is a program of advanced study of English language and literature.  There is both a thesis and a non-thesis track to the completion of an M.A. in English. In addition to the general University requirements, students seeking an M.A. in English in both the thesis and a non-thesis track must meet the following requirements. The M.A. in English requires a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work, 18 semester hours of which must be in courses at the 6000 level. Students completing 18 semester hours of course work at the 6000 level with a grade point average of 3.5 or above are eligible for the thesis track. Students lacking the grade point average minimum may petition the chair of the department to be allowed to pursue the thesis track. Students petitioning the department chair for entrance to the thesis track are required to have a letter of support from a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of English. After they have completed 30 semester hours of graduate level work, M.A. candidates in the thesis track are required to begin the thesis process by registering for ENG 6971 Thesis. After they have completed 30 semester hours of graduate level work, M.A. candidates in the non-thesis track must complete an additional six semester hours of course work.

At the time of admission, students will indicate their choice of a program specializing either in literature or in creative writing and, after 18 semester hours of coursework at the 6000 level, declare whether they intend to pursue the thesis or the non-thesis track.

Topics courses with different areas of emphasis may be repeated for a maximum of nine semester hours of credit with the permission of the graduate advisor.

Before graduation, students must satisfactorily complete the required 30 semester hours of course work. Students in the thesis track must also complete 3 semester hours of thesis. Students in the non-thesis track must complete an additional six semester hours of course work.

A grade of C or better is required for all coursework to be applied to the degree program.

Creative Writing Specialization

Graduate English Core

Literature Specialization

Graduate English Core