English - MA, MS

Admission Requirements

Students from various majors are welcome to apply; however, it is preferred that students have experience in undergraduate literature courses.

Application Requirements:

• Fill out the online application
• Pay the $55 application fee
• Standardized tests are NOT required for this application
• Provide a copy of your transcript
• Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation
• Submit a portfolio of writing materials with the following components:

1) Statement of intent: Applicants must submit a statement of intent that explains their reasons for seeking a master's degree in "Literature and Writing" at Utah State University. This statement should briefly describe their previous academic work, identifying central themes, areas of interest, and skills acquired, and applicants should explain how these prior academic experiences have prepared and/or motivated them to enter a graduate program in "Literature and Writing." The statement of intent may also address any relevant professional experiences and explain how such experiences have prepared and/or motivated them to enter this graduate program. Within this statement of intent, applicants should identify some of the specific topics or areas of study they would like to focus on for their graduate work. Applicants should also make an effort to show that they are familiar with the specific requirements and features of the "Literature and Writing" program at USU.

Note: For the statement of intent, applicants may focus primarily on how their prior experiences have prepared them for one specific field within this program—literary studies or creative writing (which includes fiction, poetry, and/or creative nonfiction). Applicants must also make an effort to address how their interests will be informed by exposure to both fields in the course of their graduate study.

2) Preface to Writing Sample: Applicants should write a one-paragraph preface for their writing sample that explains the following:

• a) Context: Applicants must explain when they wrote this writing sample and for what purpose. Who was the original audience? And what were the original goals for this piece of writing?
• b) Relationship to Folklore and/or American Studies: Applicants must explain how this writing sample demonstrates knowledge and skills that are applicable to the fields of Folklore and/or American Studies.

3) Writing Sample: Applicants should submit a writing sample that reflects their intended area of focus in this master's program (Literature or Creative Writing), as outlined below. Applicants interested in focusing on both Literature and Creative Writing should submit two writing samples, one for each category as outlined below.

LITERATURE: Applicants interested in focusing on the study of literature should submit a 10-25 page sample of academic writing which demonstrates that they are ready to write at the level expected for graduate seminar assignments. Ideally, this writing sample should demonstrate the applicants' critical thinking skills, research skills, and strengths as a writer.

CREATIVE WRITING: Applicants interested in focusing their graduate work on creative writing should provide a writing sample that illustrates their skills and experience in relation to fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. Students interested in fiction or creative non-fiction should provide a short story or essay that is 10-25 pages or an excerpt from a longer work that is 10-25 pages. Students interested in poetry should submit 8-10 poems.

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

Literature and Writing specialization:

• Fall semester – January 15
• Applications received after that date will be reviewed if there is still space available in the program. However, for the best chance at being offered a position as a graduate instructor, students must have their applications submitted by January 15.

Plan Options

Students with a literature and writing specialization and American Studies Degree can receive the MS or MA by pursuing one of two options:

• In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and must write a thesis.
• The Plan B option requires the production of a paper or creative work of art and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis.

Financial Aid

Students can apply to become graduate instructors. Graduate instructors teach English 1010 and English 2010, general education courses that all USU undergraduates are required to take. Students who are graduate instructors might also receive tuition awards through the School of Graduate Studies, as well as subsidized health insurance, in addition to the following salaries:

• First-year GIs in the English Department are currently paid $2,251 per class. Since most teach two classes in fall and another two in spring, this works out as a typical annual salary of $9,004.
• Second-year GIs are currently paid $2,545 per class, which works out as a typical annual salary of $10,180.

Additionally, the cost of living in Logan, Utah, is about 12% lower than the national average.

All applicants will be considered for a graduate instructorship, which are competitive and limited in availability.

Graduate instructors must be full-time, on-campus students.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.