The University of Missouri English Department is dedicated to the study of English language and literature in all of its various historical, cultural, and theoretical aspects. The English Department houses over 35 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members and over seventy graduate students enrolled in MA, MA/PhD, and PhD programs with emphases in all the major literary periods, including Medieval, Early Modern, Restoration and 18th Century, Romantic, Victorian, American to 1914, Modern and Contemporary, and African Diaspora Studies. Our PhD in Creative Writing is one of the oldest in the nation; our faculty includes distinguished poets, novelists, and creative non-fiction writers. We also have special emphases in Critical Theory, and in Language and Linguistics (MA only). Our faculty have a distinguished record of scholarship, and have won major awards to support their research from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Society for the Humanities at Cornell University, the Huntington Library and elsewhere.
Degrees Offered
Doctoral
On Campus
Admission criteria
Application Deadline
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | January 1 |
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the English Program (go to website for details)
- Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic.
- One transcript from all colleges or universities you have attended.
- CV
- List of any previous graduate classes taken
- Statement of purpose (approximately 500 words): The admissions committee is interested in your past academic interests, including specific papers and projects you have worked on, and what you wish to accomplish as a graduate student. Please explain why you wish to pursue a particular emphasis (poetry, Romanticism, etc.), in this department. The Statement of Purpose serves as your request to be considered for a Graduate School fellowship.
- Writing Sample: One 15-20 page scholarly paper for students applying for Literature Studies or for English Language and Linguistics. Creative Writing applicants should submit one critical/scholarly paper and one of the following: a sample of your fiction (15-30 pages), creative non-fiction (15-20 pages), or poetry (15-20 pages).
Master's
On Campus
Admission Criteria
Application Deadline
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | February 1 |
Current MU undergraduate students are eligible to apply to this program. To be considered for admission to the accelerated MA program in English, a student must:
- Have completed at least 90 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree.
- Have a 3.3 GPA overall and a 3.5 in the major.
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Applicants to the accelerated program should select the year that corresponds to their senior year of undergraduate study, during which time they would be writing their Honors thesis.
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application.
For the English Program
- Master’s Supplement: Once the English (MA) option is selected from the Application Information section, the Master’s Supplement section will appear. Complete all required fields in the section.
- One letter of recommendation is required from a MU faculty member, preferably someone in the English department who can comment on your past performance and your potential to succeed in graduate classes.
- CV containing academic honors, vocational or employment experience, or other significant accomplishments in your educational career.
- Statement of purpose (approximately 500 words): The admissions committee is interested in your past academic interests, including specific papers and projects you have worked on, and what you wish to accomplish as a graduate student. Explain why you wish to pursue a particular emphasis (i.e., Creative Writing and Linguistics) or field (e.g. Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Contemporary American Literature, Early Modern Literature, etc.)
- Writing Sample
- For Literature applications: Submit your strongest analytical paper of 5-10 pages from a previous class. The sample need not be related to your application area of interest, but should show your skills in argumentation, use of sources, or theoretical methods.
- For Creative Writing applications: Submit two writing samples. One should be a writing sample in your chosen genre (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction) of 7-12 pages that best illustrates your creative work. The other should be an analytical paper of 5-10 pages from a previous class that shows your skills in argumentation, use of sources, or theoretical methods.
- English Departmental Application (built into the Graduate School application)
On Campus
Note: The English Department is currently only accepting applications for the self-funded, on-campus MA.
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
| Entrance Term | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
| Fall | January 1 | April 1 |
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 overall, higher in courses in major
- Majored in English as an undergraduate, with at least 18 hours in upper division courses in literature or linguistics. Students with other undergraduate majors may be admitted provided their background in English studies is suitable and provided they complete an appropriate course of preliminary study. Promising students who do not meet one or more of these criteria may at the discretion of the director of graduate studies be encouraged to enroll as non-degree graduate students.
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the English Program (go to website for details)
- Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic.
- One transcript from all colleges or universities you have attended.
- CV
- Statement of purpose (approximately 500 words): The admissions committee is interested in your past academic interests, including specific papers and projects you have worked on, and what you wish to accomplish as a graduate student. Please explain why you wish to pursue a particular emphasis (poetry, Romanticism, etc.), in this department. The Statement of Purpose serves as your request to be considered for a Graduate School fellowship.
- Writing Sample: One 15-20 page scholarly paper for students applying for Literature Studies or for English Language and Linguistics. Creative Writing applicants should submit one critical/scholarly paper and one of the following: a sample of your fiction (15-30 pages), creative non-fiction (15-20 pages), or poetry (15-20 pages).
Graduate Certificate
100% Online
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 18
Certificate description: The 18-hour Graduate Certificate in English trains students in the history and analysis of literature and the English language as well as writing and research skills. Through this certificate, students will:
- Deepen their knowledge of the English language and literature across historical periods and cultures
- Learn and apply a variety of critical methods for interpreting literature
- Practice creative and expository writing at the graduate level
- Acquire advanced research skills through structured assignments and feedback from experienced doctoral faculty
- Research and design educational content appropriate for college-level English courses
Student can take any English courses at the 7000 level, or 8000 level with instructor approval, up to 18 credits; offerings may vary from year to year.
Admission criteria: BA degree including successful completion of some English coursework
Certificate web site:
http://catalog.missouri.edu/collegeofartsandscience/english/grad-cert-english/
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Summer | Rolling |
| Fall | Rolling |
| Spring | Rolling |
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Graduate Certificate Program
- English department application (built into the Graduate School online application)