Applying to the MA Program in English:
Admission to the MA Program in English requires acceptance from both the Graduate School and the English Department. Please review the information below, and contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lori Leavell (lleavell@uca.edu), with any questions. All application materials should be sent to the Graduate School
Application Dates:
Students may begin graduate study in the fall, spring, or summer. The preferred application date is March 1 for summer and fall admission and October 1 for spring admission. (In some instances, late applications may be considered.)
Graduate School Requirements andApplication Materials:
Please consult the Graduate School about requirements for regular and conditional admission:
https://uca.edu/gbulletin2019/admission-to-graduate-study/
Submit the following:
• Graduate School application (available at https://uca.edu/graduateschool/admission-process/. You will be prompted to create an account to access the application.)
• Application fee ($45)
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work should be sent to UCA Graduate School, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Torreyson West 328, Conway, AR. 72035
English Department Requirements and Application Materials:
In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the applicant must have earned a minimum 3.00 GPA in an undergraduate major or minor in English literature to gain regular admission to the program. The following materials should be submitted to the Graduate School:
1. Two letters of recommendation
Letters should be from professors with whom you have studied who can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate study in English. If submitted via email, letters should be sent directly from the recommenders. If submitted via hard copy, letters should be sealed or mailed directly from recommenders to ensure confidentiality.
2. Writing sample (7-15 pages)
The writing sample should demonstrate your research and writing skills in the field of English (or perhaps another discipline in the humanities). Most applicants revise a research paper that they completed for an upper-level English class.
3. Statement of purpose (1-2 pages), explaining your interest in the program and academic/career goals
The statement of purpose is an opportunity to explain why you would like to pursue an MA in English at UCA. Give us a sense of who you are and how the study of English fits into your personal and career goals. If there are any weaknesses in your application (such as a semester of poor undergraduate performance), you can address them here.
For International Applicants:
Those international students required by the university to submit TOEFL scores for entrance to graduate study must score a minimum of 600 on the written exam in order to gain admission to graduate study in English. Further, the student must attain a minimum score of 5 on the essay portion of the exam.
Conditional Admission:
For conditional admission to the program, consult the department chair or graduate coordinator. Though admission to our program does not require GRE sores, an applicant whose GPA does not meet the minimum requirement can submit scores for the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) to supplement the application for conditional admission. A minimum score of 153 on the Verbal Reasoning portion is recommended.