Graduate Application Requirements

GRE Exams 

• The GRE General and Subject tests are not required for our graduate programs. 

Timeline

• We begin accepting applications annually on November 1. 
• The application deadline for all English graduate programs is January 15. 
• Applicants are typically informed about the status of their application beginning in mid-February. 

Requirements for Admission

Master’s Degree Programs

• Applicants must present a 34-hour undergraduate major with a minimum 3.0 GPA. At least 20 hours of the student’s undergraduate major must be in literature, including 15 hours of literature courses at the junior/senior level. 
• Students who have taken substantial English coursework but cannot meet the 20-hour literature course requirement may still apply for admission; however, they may have to remedy any deficiencies through undergraduate or graduate coursework as determined in consultation with the Graduate Office.

Doctoral Programs

• Applicants must present an M.A. in English, an M.A.E.T., or an M.F.A. in creative writing with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
• In rare instances, students may be admitted directly from the B.A. to the Ph.D. level, if they also have a great deal of professional or academic experience. Students with degrees in areas other than English, English education, or creative writing may have to take additional coursework to fill deficiencies in content.

Application Materials

Please submit all materials below within the online application system. 

1. Resume or curriculum vitae (c.v.) 

2. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors. Please send email requests for recommendations from within the online system. 

3. Written statement: a 750-word essay about your qualifications and readiness for graduate study, including key experiences that have prepared you for this work and the specific line(s) of inquiry and modes of study you wish to pursue. Highlight what sets you apart as a candidate for graduate study, and describe specifically what you hope to achieve at WMU, including any faculty with whom you wish to work. Please use the following as your opening sentence: “I am applying for admission into the _______ program.”

4. A representative writing sample that is typed, double-spaced, and unmarked. 

• For the M.A. degree: a 10-15-page scholarly paper on a literary topic. 
• For the M.F.A. degree: either 10-15 pages of original poetry or up to 30 pages of original fiction. 
• For the Ph.D. in creative writing: (1) a 10-15-page scholarly paper on a literary topic; (2) either 15-30 pages of original poetry or up to 30 pages of original fiction.
• For the Ph.D. in English with a focus on literature: a 15-25-page scholarly paper on a literary topic. For the Ph.D. in English with a focus on English Education: a 10-15-page scholarly paper on a literary topic or on the teaching of literature or composition. 

5. Teaching assistantship statement (optional): If applying for a graduate assistantship, respond to the following prompt and submit within the online application: If you have taught before, write a 700- to 1000-word essay explaining your teaching philosophy and experience. If you have not taught, write a 500-word essay in which you imagine your own approach to teaching. 

6. Official transcript. An official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor’s degree is required, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed. Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript of courses taken/completed at WMU.