Admission Requirements

In addition to the criteria listed below, applicants must also meet general graduate admission requirements .

The English Graduate Committee will recommend full admission for those applicants who present evidence of their ability and appropriate preparation to do graduate work with distinction. Such evidence must include:

1. A distinguished undergraduate record in advanced undergraduate English courses. An undergraduate major in English is preferred.
2. Three substantive and detailed recommendations, at least two from former teachers familiar with the applicant’s most recent academic work.
3. An essay of at least 1,200 words by the applicant concerning his or her intellectual, professional, and personal reasons for desiring to pursue the advanced study of English. The essay should give a specific account of the applicant’s past studies and projects and an explanation of the applicant’s major fields or subjects of interest in the field. This essay is of great importance and is evaluated as a demonstration of ability in writing and thinking about literary issues. It constitutes the second part of the statement of interests and intent described in the “Graduate Admissions Application Instructions” section of the graduate application (see the section on additional instructions for all applicants).
4. A critical essay written in the last four years, at least ten pages in length, demonstrating the applicant’s ability to read and write critically about literary texts. Students interested in the creative writing concentration should include approximately 6 poems or 2 short stories along with their critical essay, but the creative writing sample may not substitute for the critical essay, which is required.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Literature in English) are not required, but are recommended, especially in cases where the undergraduate record is unusual or uneven, or if the undergraduate major is not English.

Otherwise excellent candidates who appear not quite prepared to meet one or more of the above requirements may be admitted provisionally on completion of additional English courses at the advanced undergraduate level, or may be asked to enroll as non-degree students in one or two graduate courses before being reviewed for full admission. Such students should be aware that, if they are later admitted to the degree program, only 6 credits taken as a non-degree student at UMass Boston may count toward the degree.

The department welcomes applications from in-service secondary English teachers.

Some graduate teaching assistantships are available each year. Applications for assistantships are due the third week of April for the following academic year.