English (MA)
Our graduates are writers, editors, teachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, journalists, designers, analysts, and public servants. They advance in publishing, media, journalism, higher education, nonprofit, and business careers. They become informed citizens, independent researchers, careful readers, and artful writers.
This 33-credit program includes courses chosen from areas including American Literature, British Literature, Global Literatures, Film, Creative Writing, and Pedagogy. The culminating experience is a master’s thesis, written on a topic of the student’s choice. Students may attend full or part-time.
In obtaining the MA in English, you develop as a reader, a writer and a thinker. You gain skills that matter in the workforce, in democracy, and in private life. You learn to express yourself thoughtfully, meaningfully, and with deepened cultural awareness. You pursue questions that matter to you throughout your lifetime. In studying English, you study all of human experience.
Along with the English (MA) degree, the English department also offers an English (Combined BA/MAT). For Fall 2018, the department is also offering an English (Combined BA/MA).
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
Candidates for matriculation in the Master of Arts program in English must show a B average or better in their undergraduate work. Most applicants will have majored in literature (English, comparative, or foreign) at the undergraduate level. However, students with strong academic credentials may apply even if they do not have the recommended background in literature.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the English (MA) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Essays/Personal Statement: Two. Please submit the following:
- Standard Statement of Objectives including your goals for graduate study and your future career, the ways your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career. Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience. Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Please provide a writing sample of at least 7 pages. The essay should make an argument about a literary text or film; include at least some close analysis; and include at least a few research citations.
- Letters of Recommendation: Two.
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
This program is 33 semester hours. For more information, please visit the English, MA program listing in the University Catalog.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the English (MA) Program Coordinator:
Program Coordinator: Laura Nicosia
Email: nicosiala@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-7326