» Master of Arts in English

All applicants must provide the following materials:

• Official transcripts from ALL degree-granting (bachelor’s or master’s degrees) colleges and universities attended. An official transcript submitted in a sealed envelope which you have received from your college or university is acceptable.
• A graduate admission test may not be required if your bachelor’s degree cumulative GPA is 3.0 or above. If your GPA is between 2.5 and 2.99, you may be considered for admission by submitting a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE): a minimum score of 153 for the Verbal section and 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section. GRE Institution Code: 4047
• An essay expressing your reasons for wanting to join the particular academic program to which you are applying. What are your personal and career goals, and how will this particular degree from Chapman University help you reach those goals? Your essay should be double spaced, size 12 font, and 1-2 pages in length.
• Two letters of recommendation that speak to your academic preparation, intellectual ability and aptitude for graduate study.
• A finished critical literary essay of 12-15 text pages that demonstrates your talent for scholarly writing and ability to handle texts of literary criticism relative to the subject matter. The essay should reflect a grasp of critical literary skills and ability to deal with theoretical texts in an effective and knowledgeable manner. The MA essay must be a critical literary essay only. In other words, the subject matter should deal with literary texts and literary topics only unless it is a Comparative Literature paper.

Application Deadlines: Apply now using the Online Application. Submit your application and all supporting documents by the deadline listed below. Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a rolling basis as space is available.

• For Fall Semester: February 1

• For Spring Semester: November 1

The dual degree combines the MFA in Creative Writing and the MA in English. The dual degree combines the practice and study of creative writing with literary scholarship. It is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in teaching English and creative writing at the university, community college or secondary-school level.

Dual degree students must be admitted to both the MA and MFA degree programs, be enrolled concurrently in both programs and complete all requirements for each degree program, including the book-length thesis for the creative writing program and a 6,000-10,000 word thesis for the English program. Information on degree prerequisites, admission requirements and a list of courses are found in the Graduate Course Catalog.

In addition to application materials required for the MA, dual-degree applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work. You should submit work that best represents your style and demonstrates your potential. The portfolio should include 20-30 pages of fiction or nonfiction OR 10-15 pages of poetry. While we offer courses in additional genres, please stick to fiction, nonfiction, or poetry in the application writing sample. If you submit a portfolio with work from more than one genre, please do not exceed 30 pages total. Please adhere to these length limits.

Students already enrolled in either the MA or the MF. program who wish to switch to the dual-degree program must apply and be admitted to the other degree program before completing 27 credits.

Undergraduate students can obtain their graduate degree with just one additional year of study: 4 years of undergraduate study and 1 year of graduate work.

Program Offered

• Accelerated Undergraduate/Master of Arts in English

Academic Requirements

• Must be an undergraduate student with 90+ units of undergraduate coursework completed, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0+.
• Apply during your junior year or first semester of your senior year.

Admission Requirements

Submit the Online Application

• As a current Chapman student, applying to an accelerated Masters degree program, the department has agreed to waive the recommendation letter requirement for your application. In the online application, please enter the name, email and phone number for two faculty or staff members at Chapman who support you as a candidate for this program.
• CV and Resume
• Statement of Intent
• A finished critical literary essay of 12-15 text pages that demonstrates your talent for scholarly writing and ability to handle texts of literary criticism relative to the subject matter. The essay should reflect a grasp of critical literary skills and ability to deal with theoretical texts in an effective and knowledgeable manner. The MA essay must be a critical literary essay only.
• A maximum of 12 units at the 500 level will be double-counted as undergraduate and graduate coursework

• 2020-2021 MA English/MFA Creative Writing/Dual Degree Program Handbook (forthcoming)
• 2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
• MA Thesis Committee Instructions & Form
• MA Thesis Assessment Rubric (forthcoming)
• MA English Program Logo for Thesis