Graduate Admissions Pause for AY 2026–27
Admissions for Department of English graduate programs are paused for the 2026–27 academic year. This is part of a proactive effort to align academic and financial planning in the MSU College of Arts & Letters with university-wide goals.
Graduate admissions for all English programs will resume in fall 2026 for the 2027–28 academic year. This temporary pause reflects our commitment to ensuring the long-term strength and stability of our graduate programs.
If you have questions or want to receive updates when graduate admissions reopen, please contact Kinitra Brooks, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, at kdbrooks@msu.edu.
The M.A. Program gives students a comprehensive grounding in literature, critical theory, and a variety of research methodologies. Designed to develop the skills associated with literary and cultural criticism, the M.A. degree prepares students for doctoral studies, as well as careers in other fields that require highly developed critical, editorial, research, writing, and teaching skills. Master’s students may choose Plan A (thesis option) or Plan B (portfolio option). Master’s students may apply to continue on to the Ph.D. in the department, applying either during the final year of the program, or at the end of the first year, under the process for accelerated admission. At the end of the course work, students should be able to participate in professional discourse in the field, define a critical problem within an area or areas of study, and produce a publishable paper. The thesis is a practicum in producing a professional publication under the guidance of a faculty member. The portfolio is designed to help synthesize course work and to show the student’s ability to engage a specific critical problem within the field.
Master’s candidates in English are expected to,
- Know the broader context of English studies;
- Employ and interrogate the theories, philosophies, and assumptions of critical, cultural and textual analysis and interpretation;
- Develop an area of expertise appropriate to their long-term objectives;
- Produce publishable work for an academic journal in the field;
- Practice professional pedagogical methods for teaching at the college level;
- Contribute to the professional life of the department by attending departmental talks.