English MA

Admission Requirements for Fall 2023

Upload all parts of your application, including GRE scores, into the Graduate Admissions application site. 
NOTE: Do NOT send GRE scores or any other application materials directly to the Department of Language and Literature.
Your application must include:

1. An official transcript documenting your baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, either in English or in a related field e.g. Communication, History, Philosophy, etc. and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
2. 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.
3. If you are an international student from a country where English is not the primary language, you must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based), 79 (internet-based), or 213 (computer-based).
4. A writing sample of 8-10 double-spaced pages of literary analysis, preferably including research.
5. 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.
6. Two recommenders to support your application. These two people may be mentors, supervisors, or college-level faculty.

• Early deadline for Summer and Fall admission: February 15 (Consideration for Graduate Assistantship is based on the candidate's academic profile and application materials.)
  • Early deadline applicants for Summer or Fall will be notified regarding the status of their applications by May 1.
• Late deadline for Summer admission: April 1
• Late deadline for Fall admission: July 15 (Possible consideration for Graduate Assistantship, depending on whether funding is still available.)
  • You may apply between February 15 and July 15. Applications submitted in this period will be considered on a rolling basis.
• Deadline for Spring admission: November 15

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Student Learning Outcomes for English MA

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Evaluate and analyze literary and cultural texts in their appropriate contexts.
2. Conduct scholarly research on topics in literary and cultural studies.
3. Use accepted and appropriate formatting.
4. Apply appropriate critical approaches to analyzing literary and cultural texts.

Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Write for specific audiences and purposes with respect for diverse perspectives.
2. Organize ideas and information logically.
3. Articulate ideas and information clearly and coherently using the conventions of standard English grammar.

Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to: 
1. Formulate an argument of appropriate scope and depth and articulate it clearly.
2. Engage with complex ideas or aspects of a text within a specific and rich context.
3. Support the development of ideas through analysis of relevant details from primary and secondary sources. 
4. Participate in a relevant scholarly conversation.

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships

For more information, visit our detailed information page.

Financial Aid

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.

• may not begin any program-specific thesis work
• may neither receive a Graduate Assistantship nor graduate until good standing is restored