Graduate English Association
Graduate School Forms
The Department of English enrolls more than forty students in its Master of Arts Program. Students, in consultation with their advisor, tailor their course schedules to their own career objectives and interests, selecting a variety of courses in literature, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, literary theory, cultural studies and professional writing.
Teachers in secondary schools who wish to obtain graduate level teacher certification (M.Ed.) or inquire about the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) should consult the Graduate Coordinator in the Watson School of Education (telephone: 910-962-4142) or visit the Watson School’s website:
www.uncw.edu\ed
Admission
For admission to the graduate program in English, applicants must do the following:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in this country or its equivalent from a foreign university
- Have a strong overall academic record with a B average or better in the undergraduate major
- Submit satisfactory scores, attained within the last five years, on the Graduate Record Examination
- Write a satisfactory response to the essay question appearing on the application form
- Submit a writing sample of ten pages that involves a critical analysis of a text or texts and is accompanied by a bilbiography citing appropriate secondary sources in correct MLA format.
Students who are taking or have taken graduate work elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible to take graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Admission decisions are based on a flexible evaluation of the student’s complete record.
Documents to be submitted for graduate admission include the following:
- An application for graduate admission
- Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
- Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) not more than five years old
- Three recommendations (forms are provided with the application) from individuals in professionally relevant fields, addressing the applicant’s demonstrated academic skills and/or potential for successful graduate study
- An essay that addresses the applicant’s purpose for graduate study (English Essay Form is included with the application)
- Evidence of a Bachelor’s degree at the time of entrance
- A ten-page analytical writing sample that includes a bibliography citing secondary sources in MLA format.
The deadline for receipt of applications by the Graduate School is March 1 if the student wishes to enroll in the Fall term and be considered for a Teaching Assistantship and other financial aid. The deadline for the Spring term is November 1.
Teaching Assistantships and Scholarships
Teaching Assistantships in the amount of $9,500 are available and are awarded on a competitive basis each Spring to the top four or five candidates among the applicants who submit their complete application by the March 1 deadline and plan to enter the program the next Fall. These Assistantships are renewable for a second year, assuming satisfactory performance. Teaching Assistants receive training in the teaching of writing and literature and work approximately 20 hours per week, tutoring students in the Writing Place, assisting in faculty’s 101/103/201/110 classes, and eventually teaching English 101/103/201/110. Applicants interested in being considered for an Assistantship should check the appropriate box on the application form.
Alton Yates Lennon Graduate Fellowship
Awarded each year to an incoming graduate student in English working toward an M.A. degree, the award provides funds to be used towards in-state tuition, fees, and books. The award shall be evenly divided between Fall and Spring semesters.
List of Alton Yates Lennon Graduate fellows
Degree Requirements
The MA degree in English requires a total of 30 hours of graduate coursework. These hours must be distributed according to the following guidelines:
- 24 of the required 30 hours must be taken in residence.
- Six of the 30 hours will be dedicated to writing the thesis, which is generally a two-semester project. While working on the thesis, students enroll in three hours of ENG 599: Thesis each semester.
- As many as six of the 30 minimum hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, subject to the approval of the English Department's Graduate Coordinator. A student enrolled in the UNCW English Graduate Program who wished to take one or more graduate English courses elsewhere for graduate credit must obtain prior approval from the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Students may substitute one course (3 hours) from outside the department for an English course with the prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
- Students must successfully complete a qualifying written comprehensive examination. Normally the examination is taken in the third semester of full-time enrollment.
- Each student will present and defend a thesis acceptable to the student's committee of three faculty members, prior to graduation. The thesis defense is open to the public.
- All degree requirements must be completed within five calendar years of the student's first semester of registration in the graduate program.
Course Requirements
All students are required to take English 501: Introduction to Research Methods in English. In addition, all students are required to take either English 502: Introduction to Literary Therory, or English 552: Rhetoric and Culture. Beyond the two required courses, students are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Coordinator to tailor their program of study to their personal and professional needs.
Please address all inquiries to:
Colleen Reilly
Graduate Coordinator
Department of English
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-962-7548 voice
910-962-7186 fax
email: reillyc@uncw.edu
Do not send any application materials to the graduate coordinator or
the department; these should be sent to the The Graduate School
