Michigan State University
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Admissions

Note: the Department of English considers admission for Fall Semesters only.

Ph.D (all emphases)

The Department of English requires all applicants for graduate study to submit a personal statement of 750 to 1000 words giving the applicant’s academic and intellectual biography and the reason for seeking the degree for which application has been made. The Department of English must also receive letters of reference for each applicant from three persons qualified to comment upon the applicant’s suitability for graduate study. International applicants must fulfill the university’s English language proficiency requirement.

Admission

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

  1. A master’s degree in English or in an appropriate cognate area
  2. An academic record that reflects graduate work of high quality
  3. Met the foreign language requirement for admission on regular status to the MSU Master of Arts degree program that corresponds to the doctoral emphasis that the student plans to pursue
  4. Completed all of the requirements for the MSU Master of Arts degree program that corresponds to the doctoral emphasis that the student plans to pursue or their equivalents

Students who are admitted to the doctoral degree program in English before they have satisfied the requirements referenced in items 3 and 4 above must do so before they may take comprehensive examinations. Credits in courses that are used to satisfy these requirements may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the doctoral degree.

Completing an application

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in English, an applicant must:

  1. Submit on-line application (Domestic Student Application or International Student Application)
  2. Specify the emphasis (or emphases) that the applicant plans to pursue
  3. Have the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test
  4. Submit a writing sample that reflects aptitude for critical and scholarly writing (approximately 20-25 pages)
  5. Submit a one to two page vita
  6. Submit two copies of official transcripts
  7. Submit three letters of recommendation; use the University Letter of Recommendation form
  8. Submit personal statement described above, including a description of the student’s specific area of interest(s)

Where to send materials

Send the following materials to the Department of English, Graduate Programs, 201 Morrill Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824:

  • official transcripts (two copies)
  • GRE scores (General Test only)
  • TOEFL scores (International students only)
  • three letters of recommendation
  • statement of purpose (please identify program emphasis or emphases)
  • writing sample

PLEASE NOTE: $50 application fee must be submitted to the Office of Admissions, 250 Administration Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Deadlines:

The deadline for application is December 15 for fall semester admission to Ph.D. program. (Application and all supporting materials must be submitted by this date.)


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