Graduate Program

Department of English Department of English

The Department of English enrolls more than 30 students in its Master of Arts Program.

The mission of the MA program is:

To provide advanced research and educational opportunities in English studies.
To offer courses that will provide students with opportunities to specialize in historical and contemporary critical approaches to literature, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, cultural studies, pedagogy, journalism, and technical, medical, and scientific writing and design.
To prepare students for a variety of careers in many interdisciplinary fields, including business, the non-profit sector, law, medicine, communication, and education, and to facilitate further graduate work in English studies and other humanities-related fields.

Programs

English, M.A. Learn More

English, B.A.-M.A. combined Learn More

Science-Medical Writing Certificate Learn More

Admission Requirements

For admission to the graduate program in English, applicants must have/do the following:

Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in this country or its equivalent from a foreign university.
Have a strong overall academic record with a B average or better in the undergraduate major.
Submit an application to the UNCW Graduate School, transcripts of all college work, and three recommendations.
Submit a personal interest statement, focusing on any relevant academic endeavors as well as how attending graduate school will help you achieve your professional goals. The essay should be no longer than 1-2 pages (approximately 500-600 words).
Submit an analytic writing sample of 2,000 to 3,000 words that includes a bibliography citing appropriate style conventions.

Students who are taking or have taken graduate work elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible to take graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Admission decisions are based on an evaluation of the student's complete record.

Learn More and Apply

Portfolio

In the M.A. program, students are required to develop a portfolio of written work, typically during the term prior to graduation. The successful completion of the portfolio is the last requirement before a student can be cleared by the registrar for graduation.

What is the purpose of the portfolio?

Portfolios serve as a potential resource when students apply for jobs or to graduate and professional programs.
Portfolios allow students to reflect on their experiences as an MA student and integrate them into their personal and professional goals.
Portfolios provide a means of assessing the MA program’s curriculum and goals.

The graduate coordinator will contact students with additional information about the portfolio.

Degree Requirements

The M.A. in English requires 37 hours of graduate coursework, at least 24 of which must be taken in residence. Students should complete the program within five calendar years.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Christopher Gould Fellowship in English: Awarded each year to an incoming graduate student in English working toward an M.A. degree, the award provides funds to be used towards in-state tuition, fees, and books. The award shall be evenly divided between fall and spring semesters.
New Scholar Award
Dr. Charles Brooks Dodson Fellowship
Kathy Rugoff Fellowship
Wentworth Fellowship

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships in the amount of $15,000 are available and are awarded on a competitive basis each Spring to the top five or six candidates among the applicants who submit their complete application by the deadline and plan to enter the program the next Fall.

These assistantships are renewable for a second year, assuming satisfactory performance, which includes successfully completing 18 hours of graduate-level coursework. Teaching Assistants receive training in the teaching of writing and work approximately 20 hours per week, tutoring students in the Writing Center, assisting in faculty's 101 and 201 classes, assisting program coordinators, and eventually teaching English 101/201. Applicants interested in being considered for an assistantship should check the appropriate box on the application form; there is no additional paperwork to fill out.

More Info for Current Students