General Information
The MA in Literature gives students expertise in
English-language literature from the Middle Ages to
the present, as well as mastery of theoretical and topical
approaches to the study of literature. Completion of the
degree is excellent preparation for PhD studies, for
teaching at the community-college or secondary-school
level, and for any profession that values skills in writing,
editing, and analytical thinking. The MA in Literature
normally takes four or five semesters to complete. Students
must complete all degree requirements within
four years of beginning the program.
Admission requirements
• A BA degree, with English major or at least 24
semester hours of English (exclusive of speech,
creative writing, and composition) and at least 15
upper-division semester hours of English.
• Satisfactory scores on the verbal and analytical writing
sections of the GRE General Test (approximately
600/5.0).
• Overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• Submission of a complete application by January 1
(December 1 for international applicants).
Coursework
Students must take 30 hours of coursework (10 courses).
At least 21 hours must be taken at CU-Boulder. Subject to
approval, up to 6 hours of coursework may be taken in departments
other than English. Students may earn the MA
degree through coursework alone; a thesis is optional.
Courses in the following fields are required. A
requirement may be waived if a student has taken an
equivalent graduate course at another institution.
Courses #1 must be taken during the first semester
of study.
1. Survey of Contemporary Literary Theory
2. Introduction to Literature of the British Isles: Pre-1660
3. Introduction to Literature of the British Isles: 1660–1900
4. Introduction to American Literature
5. Introduction to 20th-Century Literature in English
6. Introduction to Multicultural Literature
7. (#7–#10) Elective advanced courses (may include
credits for thesis writing)
Foreign language requirement
Students earning the MA in Literature must complete a foreign language requirement,
either before or after enrolling at CU-Boulder, by:
• Completing a fourth-semester (second-semester
sophomore) college language course with a grade of
C or better; or
• Presenting other evidence of competence in a foreign
language to the director of Graduate Studies.
Application Requirements
Applications are available to process online via the Office of Admissions website.
This link directs you to the online application service, ApplyYourself
http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/graduate/apply/application.html
The address to send by mail is:
Graduate Admissions
Department of English
CU Boulder
Hellems 101 / 226 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0226
If you are an international applicant, please visit this link for additional information on required testing and documents.
http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/international/index.html
•Applicants are eligible to apply for one English Graduate program in any given admission session. If you are applying for the MA in Literature, you will not be eligible to apply for the MFA in Creative Writing.
•English Department Graduate Program Applications are accepted exclusively for Fall Admission. Deferral to start in any semester other than that of your admission year is available through petition only due to exceptional circumstances.
The application deadline of January 1st, 2008 for Fall 2008 admission has passed. Applications for Fall 2009 will be accepted beginning Summer 2008.
•Domestic Applications, with all materials, are due to the English Department no later than January 1, 2008.
•International Applications, with all materials, are due to the Office of Admissions, International Admissions Team (IAT) no later than December 1, 2007.
THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS ARE REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION
Please note, due to security and authenticity issues, we are unable to accept ANY electronic application materials unless they are submitted through the online application system, ApplyYourself.
• Complete/submitted application from ApplyYourself
http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/graduate/apply/application.html
• Three letters of recommendation (a fourth is optional).
• Tuition Classification Form for those seeking Colorado resident tuition.
• Teaching Appointment Application for those seeking TA positions. Please visit this link for the application.http://www.colorado.edu/English/acadprograms/gradteachapp.htm
• Non refundable application fee of $50 ($70, for international students). Check, cashier’s check, or international money order in U.S. funds made out to the University of Colorado.
• Two official copies of transcript(s) from each college or university attended.
• A statement of purpose (1–2 pages).
• Writing sample. A critical writing sample of 12-20 pages.
• Scores on the GRE General Test sent to the Department of English. The GRE Subject Test is optional for the MA in Literature. For reporting purposes the UCB Institution Code is 484. The Subject Test is 2501.
International Applicants
International applicants must submit the following materials, and mail all application materials to
Office of Admissions
Regent Administrative Center 125
University of Colorado
65 UCB, Boulder, CO
80309-0065 USA.
International applicants are urged to consult the Office of Admissions web site at http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/international/index.html for further information about admission to and study at the University of Colorado and Boulder.
• International Student Application for Admission
• Financial Statement for International Applicants with the required documentation.
• Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or acceptable equivalent examination. Students who speak English as a native language or
who have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. institution at the time of application are exempt from this requirement.
• All other materials specified above.
If you have any further questions, please send them to ssengl@colorado.edu.
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