Total Credit Hours: 36          Degree Format: Traditional

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English offer the Master of Arts (M.A.) in English degree for students who wish to continue their study of literature, literary criticism, language, rhetoric and composition, and creative writing.

Due to the structure of the M.A. curriculum, students are able to tailor their academic program to meet their special interests. The program prepares students for many different careers and programs. M.A. graduates go on to complete doctoral degree programs and find success in professional settings, such as college and secondary-education and business.

Valdosta State University offers a wide array of services that support student research. Odum Library has more than 350,000 volumes, including several special collections, and it subscribes to more than 2,700 periodicals. It also provides an on-line catalogue and database searches, interlibrary loan facilities, and access to websites and library catalogues all over the world.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Anne Greenfield, email: algreenfield@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5946 

Department of English Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 1 
  • Fall Semester priority deadline for Graduate Assistantships: June 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

  • Application Fee 
  • Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale. This GPA may be cumulative or in the undergraduate English major.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)  

  • GRE scores are not required for admission. 
  • GRE scores can be submitted if needed in place of required GPA i.e. if GPA is below 3.0. 

Statement of Intent

  • The statement of intent should briefly outline relevant academic interests in the field and proposed course of study in the program (Literature or Rhetoric and Composition). It is appropriate in such letters to discuss one's most successful undergraduate work, to be as specific as possible about which area of English studies one intends to enter, and to indicate one's ultimate goals (should not exceed 750 words).

Two Recommendations

  • General Recommendation Form Required
  • Please enter the name and email of your recommenders as you complete the application. They should receive an email inviting them to complete the recommendation after that. If they do not receive the email (or find it in their spam folder), they may submit their recommendation as an email attachment to gradschool@valdosta.edu. The General Recommendation Form can be used if the email from the online recommendation system does not arrive.
  • Letters must be accompanied by the required form or submitted through the online recommendation system.

Writing Sample

  • A sample of academic writing, preferably from an upper-level English course, no more than fifteen pages in length.

VSU Medical Form

  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

  • The above requirements represent the minimal standards which must be met for consideration for admission to the MA program in the department of English. Meeting or exceeding these standards does not guarantee admission.  The department determines admission based on these criteria as well as the student's career goals, fit to the program, and evolving trends and standards in the profession.

Probationary Admission

  • Students may be accepted as probationary in the Department of English.  Probationary admission is at the complete discretion of the Department of English's Graduate Studies Committee. Meeting or exceeding the minimal standards for probationary admission does not guarantee admission. In order to be considered for this admissions status, the following requirements must be satisfied:

    1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution
    2. Meet EITHER the minimum GPA requirement OR the minimum GRE score required for regular admission.
    3. Submit all supplemental materials in the above checklist (such as statement of intent, etc.) prior to the admissions deadline.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam: Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
  • Certificate of Finances: The Certificate of Finance is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
  • Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

  • Regular Status
  • Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.
  • Call Us: 229-333-5694 
  • Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
  • Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Coordinator: Dr. Anne Greenfield, email: algreenfield@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5964.

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
  2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
  3. Students must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations, or the thesis and oral defense.

Thesis Option

A Master’s thesis in English should be a work of 50 or more pages demonstrating competent and substantial research coupled with an innovative approach to the subject matter. The thesis will be directed by a faculty member and a committee of two other faculty members (one of whom must be from a department outside English). Once the thesis has been submitted, students will have an oral defense covering both the thesis

Non-Thesis Option—Comprehensive Examination

Students will develop, in consultation with their committee, a reading list in a specialized area. This list should consist of approximately six to eight primary and secondary works, excluding material that students have already studied in their classes. Students will then take a two-hour written examination over this reading list and a followup oral examination over that written test and their coursework. These examinations should be taken before or immediately after the final semester. Students following this option must complete 36 hours of coursework.

T-5 Certification

Students wishing to obtain T-5 certification may do so after the completion of the M.A. program, provided they have a T-4 certificate and complete the professional education courses required for T-5 certification by the State Department of Education.

***Students seeking the M.A. in English as a second master’s degree must satisfy all the requirements for the Master of Arts in English.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate courses. 

  2. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students admitted Fall 2011 and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning.

  3. If dismissed from the program, the student must wait a minimum of two semesters and obtain approval from the academic department, before applying for readmission. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior academic performance and conduct in the program will be considered. 

  4. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 

  5. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level graduate program. This credit must be documented in the form of an official transcript at the time of admission. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.

  6. Students entering the literature emphasis without an undergraduate degree in English or an English minor or its equivalent must complete the following requirements prior to enrollment in graduate-level coursework: ENGL 3060; ENGL 3210 and ENGL 3215; ENGL 3110 and ENGL 3120-all with a grade of "B" or higher in each and prior to enrollment in graduate-level courses. Students entering the rhetoric and composition emphasis without an undergraduate degree in English or an English minor or its equivalent must complete the following requirements prior to enrollment in graduate-level coursework: three hours of either 3210 or 3215; and three hours of either 3110 or 3120-all with a grade of "B" or higher in each and prior to enrollment in graduate-level courses.

 

Total Credit Hours: 36          Degree Format: Traditional

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English offer the Master of Arts (M.A.) in English degree for students who wish to continue their study of literature, literary criticism, language, rhetoric and composition, and creative writing.

Due to the structure of the M.A. curriculum, students are able to tailor their academic program to meet their special interests. The program prepares students for many different careers and programs. M.A. graduates go on to complete doctoral degree programs and find success in professional settings, such as college and secondary-education and business.

Valdosta State University offers a wide array of services that support student research. Odum Library has more than 350,000 volumes, including several special collections, and it subscribes to more than 2,700 periodicals. It also provides an on-line catalogue and database searches, interlibrary loan facilities, and access to websites and library catalogues all over the world.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Anne Greenfield, email: algreenfield@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5946 

Department of English Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 1 
  • Fall Semester priority deadline for Graduate Assistantships: June 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

  • Application Fee 
  • Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale. This GPA may be cumulative or in the undergraduate English major.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)  

  • GRE scores are not required for admission. 
  • GRE scores can be submitted if needed in place of required GPA i.e. if GPA is below 3.0. 

Statement of Intent

  • The statement of intent should briefly outline relevant academic interests in the field and proposed course of study in the program (Literature or Rhetoric and Composition). It is appropriate in such letters to discuss one's most successful undergraduate work, to be as specific as possible about which area of English studies one intends to enter, and to indicate one's ultimate goals (should not exceed 750 words).

Two Recommendations

  • General Recommendation Form Required
  • Please enter the name and email of your recommenders as you complete the application. They should receive an email inviting them to complete the recommendation after that. If they do not receive the email (or find it in their spam folder), they may submit their recommendation as an email attachment to gradschool@valdosta.edu. The General Recommendation Form can be used if the email from the online recommendation system does not arrive.
  • Letters must be accompanied by the required form or submitted through the online recommendation system.

Writing Sample

  • A sample of academic writing, preferably from an upper-level English course, no more than fifteen pages in length.

VSU Medical Form

  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

  • The above requirements represent the minimal standards which must be met for consideration for admission to the MA program in the department of English. Meeting or exceeding these standards does not guarantee admission.  The department determines admission based on these criteria as well as the student's career goals, fit to the program, and evolving trends and standards in the profession.

Probationary Admission

  • Students may be accepted as probationary in the Department of English.  Probationary admission is at the complete discretion of the Department of English's Graduate Studies Committee. Meeting or exceeding the minimal standards for probationary admission does not guarantee admission. In order to be considered for this admissions status, the following requirements must be satisfied:

    1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution
    2. Meet EITHER the minimum GPA requirement OR the minimum GRE score required for regular admission.
    3. Submit all supplemental materials in the above checklist (such as statement of intent, etc.) prior to the admissions deadline.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam: Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
  • Certificate of Finances: The Certificate of Finance is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
  • Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

  • Regular Status
  • Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.
  • Call Us: 229-333-5694 
  • Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
  • Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Coordinator: Dr. Anne Greenfield, email: algreenfield@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5964.

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
  2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
  3. Students must successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations, or the thesis and oral defense.

Thesis Option

A Master’s thesis in English should be a work of 50 or more pages demonstrating competent and substantial research coupled with an innovative approach to the subject matter. The thesis will be directed by a faculty member and a committee of two other faculty members (one of whom must be from a department outside English). Once the thesis has been submitted, students will have an oral defense covering both the thesis

Non-Thesis Option—Comprehensive Examination

Students will develop, in consultation with their committee, a reading list in a specialized area. This list should consist of approximately six to eight primary and secondary works, excluding material that students have already studied in their classes. Students will then take a two-hour written examination over this reading list and a followup oral examination over that written test and their coursework. These examinations should be taken before or immediately after the final semester. Students following this option must complete 36 hours of coursework.

T-5 Certification

Students wishing to obtain T-5 certification may do so after the completion of the M.A. program, provided they have a T-4 certificate and complete the professional education courses required for T-5 certification by the State Department of Education.

***Students seeking the M.A. in English as a second master’s degree must satisfy all the requirements for the Master of Arts in English.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate courses. 

  2. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students admitted Fall 2011 and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning.

  3. If dismissed from the program, the student must wait a minimum of two semesters and obtain approval from the academic department, before applying for readmission. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior academic performance and conduct in the program will be considered. 

  4. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 

  5. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level graduate program. This credit must be documented in the form of an official transcript at the time of admission. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.

  6. Students entering the literature emphasis without an undergraduate degree in English or an English minor or its equivalent must complete the following requirements prior to enrollment in graduate-level coursework: ENGL 3060; ENGL 3210 and ENGL 3215; ENGL 3110 and ENGL 3120-all with a grade of "B" or higher in each and prior to enrollment in graduate-level courses. Students entering the rhetoric and composition emphasis without an undergraduate degree in English or an English minor or its equivalent must complete the following requirements prior to enrollment in graduate-level coursework: three hours of either 3210 or 3215; and three hours of either 3110 or 3120-all with a grade of "B" or higher in each and prior to enrollment in graduate-level courses.