Overview:
Graduate Study

The English Department at Boston University
offers the following degrees:

• Master of Arts in English
  and American Literature
• Doctor of Philosophy in
  English and American
  Literature*
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
• Current Graduate Students, Levels, and Areas of Specialization

• Graduate Documents

• Graduate Placement

Please click on a program above for more information.

* New: Changes in Admission to the Graduate Program in English

Students who will have earned a B.A. by September 2009 and who wish to apply directly to the PhD program in English may now do so by checking the Post-Bachelors MA/PhD option on the application form. Students admitted under this option must complete all of the requirements for the MA before moving on to the PhD. Permission to enter the PhD program is conditional on the timely completion of all MA requirements at a satisfactory scholarly level.
Students who wish to obtain the MA only, or who are not sure that they want to continue directly to the PhD, or who would like an opportunity to work at the graduate level before applying for the PhD, should apply for the Master of Arts, checking off the MA option on the application. Such students may apply to the BU PhD program during the MA year. The admissions process for students applying to the BU PhD program from the BU MA program is informal and does not require obtaining new transcripts, scores, or recommendations or the payment of new fees.
Students who will have an MA degree in English by September 2009 and who wish to apply directly to the PhD program may do so by checking the post-MA/PhD option on the application form.

* In addition to the standard Graduate School admissions forms, applicants to the M.A. program should submit a scholarly writing sample (7-15 pages is sufficient).  Applicants holding the M.A. who are applying to the Ph.D. program should submit a scholarly writing sample (15-25 pages) in their area of interest.

For in-depth information about graduate study in English or Creative Writing, please consult the Graduate Bulletin.