843-953-5139
www.citadel.edu/root/english

Dr. Licia Hendriks, Director
hendriksl1@citadel.edu

Mission Statement

The Citadel and the College of Charleston offer a joint Master of Arts degree in English. The 30-hour program, with a thesis option, provides advanced coursework in British literature, American literature, English language, and composition and rhetoric. The program is designed to attract qualified holders of the baccalaureate degree, whether recent college graduates, English teachers, or others interested in pursuing graduate studies in English. A Joint Program Committee, comprised of faculty members from each institution, oversees admissions, course scheduling, degree certification, and other matters related to the management of the program. Diplomas and other official documents indicate that the program is a joint endeavor and include the names of both institutions.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee.
2. Official transcripts from the undergraduate institution conferring the applicant’s bachelor degree and transcripts from all postgraduate institutions attended.
3. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 and a 3.0 in the major.
4. Submission of official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in English are also required to take the GRE advanced test in literature. Applicants are expected to have a composite GRE verbal and quantitative score of at least 300 and a 4 on the writing assessment section. Those taking the MAT should have a score of at least 400. Admission tests must have been taken within the last five years.
5. Submission of at least two signed letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors. Each reference should be as specific as possible in addressing the applicant’s academic ability, motivation, and ability to complete a graduate degree.
6. Submission of a two-page statement about educational goals and interest in a graduate program in English.
7. Submission of a writing sample that demonstrates an ability to perform literary analysis and conduct research. Typically, this requirement can be met by submitting a research paper prepared for an advanced undergraduate English course.

An applicant who does not meet the minimum GPA and/ or test score expectations or who does not have sufficient undergraduate background in English may be allowed to pursue coursework as a provisional student. Upon completing nine semester hours with a minimum GPA of 3.25, the student will be eligible to continue in the program.

Application Deadlines

The Joint Program Committee will consider completed applications for the regular degree program on the following dates: 

Applications will be considered year round for non-degree students.