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The Graduate School
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English

Overview

The Master of Arts in English is designed to serve the interests and needs of a broad variety of graduate students, including returning students looking to supplement their previous work in literature and satisfy personal interests. With courses offered year round and primarily in the evening, the M.A. Program class schedule is convenient for both part-time and full-time students. Most of our students work and are enrolled part-time, taking one or two courses a semester as time permits.

The core curriculum in the Master of Arts in English program focuses on the analysis of poetry, drama, fiction, film, and other kinds of texts; developing a critical vocabulary for describing the complexities of literary texts; understanding the nature of literary conventions; exploring the different literary traditions in British, American, and world literature; and investigating developments in and value of contemporary literary theory. The program supplements the core curriculum by providing instruction in rhetoric and composition.

The program's concentration in Rhetoric and Composition provides students with optional instruction that will enhance their qualifications for teaching writing in high schools and community colleges. The program also recommends this concentration for students wishing to pursue careers as technical writers, editors, or Internet publishers.

The accelerated BA to MA in English track provides highly motivated undergraduates an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace. For more information, please refer to the UNF+ Pathways to Success.

Concentrations

The English program offers the following optional concentration:

  • Composition and Rhetoric
  • Creative Writing 

Prerequisites

Prerequisites - above concentrations:

Applicants must have a BA in English or a related field with a 3.0 GPA in upper level courses. Applicants must also have completed a course in literary criticism with a grade of B or higher.

Prerequisites - Accelerated BA to MA in English concentration: Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA in major specific coursework and at least 21 hours of English major requirements, including ENG 4013, before applying. Applicants should contact Farrah Muntz for more information.

Application Deadlines

Fall Term . . . . . . . . August 1
Spring Term . . . . . December 1
Summer Term . . . April 15

Graduate Program Director

Dr. Betsy Nies
Associate Professor
(904) 620-1249
Building 8, Room 2653

The following items must be submitted no later then the deadline posted above. Incomplete applications with outstanding requirements, or those post-marked after the posted deadline, are subject to cancellation. Once an application has been canceled, the decision can not be reversed. Applicants may apply for the next application cycle.

  • UNF admission application
  • Application fee
  • If applicable, collection holds and judicial holds must be cleared
  • All of the below university and program requirements
  • University Requirements
    • A baccalaureate degree from an accepted institutional accreditor, or its equivalent from a foreign institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.
    • Transcripts, and foreign evaluations if applicable, from all post-secondary institutions attended. Admitted students will be prompted to provide official copies. 
  • Program Requirements
    • Writing sample
      • 4-7 pages of literary criticism or composition or rhetorical analysis (not creative writing or personal essay)
      • Paper written for an undergraduate literature class is appropriate
    • BA in English or related field
    • Course in literary criticism (such as ENG 4013 or 4014) with a grade of B or higher
      • Applicants who lack such a course but who otherwise fulfill the admissions requirements may take ENG 4013 or 4014 as part of the admissions process (while not required, LIT 3213 The Art of Critical Reading is recommended)