English MA

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or equivalent foreign institution in English or a related field e.g. Communication, History, Philosophy, etc. and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• A 3.6 or higher upper-division undergraduate GPA in English or a related field (GRE not required). For applicants with less than 3.6 upper-division undergraduate GPA in English or a related field, minimum GRE scores of 153 in Verbal Reasoning and 3.5 in Analytical Writing are required.
• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
• A writing sample of 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research.
• A personal statement of 2-3 double-spaced pages about your career and personal goals connected with pursuing graduate work in English literature and literary criticism. This statement should explain your motivation for pursuing a Master's degree at FGCU, goals connected with pursuing this degree, and intended focus of your graduate studies (e.g. early modern literature). It should indicate whether you are interested in a Teaching Assistantship during your second year of study. Specific references to relevant experience or training will make this statement more effective.
• Two recommenders to support your application. These two people may be mentors, supervisors, or college-level faculty.
• For any recommender who is at FGCU, simply supply the recommender’s full name, title, and email address.
• For any recommender who is a non-FGCU faculty member, mentor, or supervisor, have the recommender send a letter of recommendation directly to FGCU Graduate Admissions as an email attachment to this address: graduate@fgcu.edu.

Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

• A minimum of 33 credit hours.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
• Each course for this program must be completed with a grade of C or better.
• Submit an application for graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
• A maximum of 9 credits of course work may be transferred from other institutions, subject to approval of the English Graduate Studies Coordinator.
• Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
• Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU. 

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses in the Major (6 credits)
   Complete the following:
   ENG 6058 Intro to Grad Study in English (3)
   ENG 6950 English Masters Capstone (3)
   
   
2. Restricted Electives in the Major (27 credits)
   Complete 27 additional credits of graduate courses in English. The 27 credits completed must include, at a minimum:
   6 credits in United States Literature and Culture (AML)
   6 credits in British Literature and Culture (ENL)
   6 credits in Literatures and Cultures (LIT)
   6 credits in pre-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)
   6 credits in post-1800 literature (AML, ENL, and/or LIT)
   
   Pre-1800 Literature courses:
   AML 6506 Studies in Early American Lit (3)
   AML 6930 ST: US Lit and Cult pre-1800 (3)
   ENL 6299 Topics in British Lit pre-1800 (3)
   ENL 6305 Major British Authors (3)
   ENL 6507 British Literature before 1800 (3)
   LIT 6062 Comparative Lit pre-1800 (3)
   LIT 6146 Studies in World Lit pre-1800 (3)
   LIT 6218 Interdisciplinary Lit pre-1800 (3)
   
   Post-1800 Literature courses:
   AML 6268 Regional U.S. Literature (3)
   AML 6507 Studies in Later American Lit (3)
   AML 6508 ST: Amer Lit & Cult post-1800 (3)
   ENL 6290 Topics in Brit Lit post-1800 (3)
   ENL 6508 British Literature after 1800 (3)
   LIT 6066 Studies in Comp Lit post-1800 (3)
   LIT 6096 Contemporary Literature (3)
   LIT 6105 Studies in World Lit post-1800 (3)
   LIT 6217 Movements in Lit & Cult Theory (3)
   LIT 6406 Interdisc Lit post-1800 (3)
   LIT 6806 Literature as Cultural Study (3)
   
   Additional Electives:
   (Note: none of these count toward the pre-1800 and post-1800 requirements)
   AML 6910 Directed Research (3)
   ENC 6745 Seminar in Composition Pedagogy (3)*
   ENG 6940 English Masters Internship (0-6)
   ENG 6971 Thesis (1-3)
   ENL 6910 Directed Research (3)
   LIT 6910 Directed Research (3)
   
   
   Up to 6 credits chosen from other departments with written approval of the English Graduate Studies Coordinator.
   
   *Composition Teaching Assistants must complete this course prior to receiving a teaching assignment.
   
   

Total Credits Required: 33 HRS