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English

About the Program

Brandeis University's graduate program in English offers training in the interpretation and evaluation of literary texts in their historical and cultural contexts.

By pursuing an M.A. in English, you will sharpen your analytical skills, develop an advanced writing style, and improve your close-reading ability. Our program prepares students for high-level careers in teaching, law, business, publishing, writing, and administration. Teachers with master's degrees often earn higher salaries than those with only bachelor's degrees. In Massachusetts, earning an M.A. is one of the requirements for moving from an initial license to a professional license. The M.A. also serves as excellent preparation for a Ph.D. program.

The Ph.D. program in English emphasizes individual scholarship, offers training in research, teaching methods, and other professional development skills, and encourages graduate student innovation and initiative. Our doctoral students serve as teaching assistants and direct their own writing courses, participate regularly at scholarly conferences, and have the opportunity to work closely with our distinguished faculty.

The English department offers a Joint Master of Arts program in Women’s and Gender Studies that integrates the study of women's experiences and gender roles with the English course of study. This joint program may be a terminal degree or may be earned as part of the Ph.D. program. The joint M.A. is for full-time students only. 

Students who wish to teach at the middle- and high-school levels may also be interested in the Master of Arts in Teaching offered through the Education Department. 

Degree Options

• Ph.D. in English
• M.A. in English (full- and part-time)
• Joint M.A. in English with Women's and Gender Studies

Courses and Completion Requirements

For the most updated course listing, course descriptions, and degree requirements, please click here.

Faculty

We encourage you to explore one of the department’s greatest assets through our faculty pages. Learn more about the people who will help guide you along your graduate school path here.

Additional Resources

Consortium: Our membership in the Boston consortium allows you to take courses at Tufts University, Boston University, and Boston College, thus enhancing your Brandeis experience and the spirit of collaboration which Brandeis embodies.
Student Services: At Brandeis, you will become part of a community that is strengthened by life both within and outside of the classroom and laboratory walls. Please visit Student Services to see the array of University resources, events, and programming for graduate students, including our Graduate Student Services Center, Off-Campus Housing, Health Insurance, English as a Second Language (ESL) program, Disability Resources, Counseling Center, Career Services, and the Graduate Student Association.

Admission Information

Admission Semester:

Ph.D.: Fall only
M.A.: Fall only

Application Deadlines:

Ph.D.: January 5
M.A. (full-time and part-time): February 1

Admission Requirements:

To apply for all programs, you need to submit:

• An application to the graduate school, which can be electronically submitted here;
• An application fee (please click here for instructions);
• Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended; applicants must provide a final transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree program before registration;
• Two letters of recommendation, which the admissions committee prefers to be submitted online (please click here for more information);
• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé;
• A statement of purpose in essay form, indicating your reasons for undertaking graduate study. In addition, please describe your qualifications for the academic program and your objectives in undertaking this program. Applicants to the doctoral program should outline their research interests. Applicants to the master's program should discuss their plans for their academic and professional career and how the degree will help them attain their goals.
• A critical writing sample not exceeding 35 pages; the 35-page maximum may consist of a single critical essay or two shorter essays of approximately equal length.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Our ETS institution code is 3092.
  Ph.D.: GRE general test required; GRE subject test is also required.
  Master’s programs: GRE general test required. The subject test is recommended, but not required.

International students:  For additional requirements for international applicants (non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents), minimum TOEFL and IELTS scores, and important information regarding visas, please click here.

For a more comprehensive description of application requirements, please click here.

Financial Aid

Generous financial aid is available; for more information please click here.