The Graduate Experience
At Marquette University, graduate studies in English offers both immediate and long-term rewards. While at Marquette, students will enjoy opportunities to:
- Participate in lively classroom discussions.
- Travel to conferences to present their views to colleagues.
- Refine their own writing for publication in prestigious journals in their fields of interest.
- Work with nationally and internationally renowned scholars.
- Participate in graduate organizations such as the Association of English Graduate Students (AEGS) and the Graduate Student Organization (GSO).
- Obtain certification in a variety of pedagogical approaches through the Center for Teaching and Learning.
After graduation, M.A. students pursue the following:
- Ph.D. studies at Marquette or other first-rate universities (recent MA graduates have moved on to Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Iowa, Purdue University, the University of South Carolina, Louisiana State University, the University of Nevada-Reno, and St. Thomas University)
- English education, nationally and internationally (through programs such as the Fulbright Fellowship)
- Finance
- Law
- Publishing
- Business writing
- Public relations
- Other professional fields
After graduation, the majority of our Ph.D. students find employment in tenure track positions at colleges and universities around the country. Small liberal-arts colleges and schools with the University of Wisconsin system have been particularly interested in hiring Marquette Ph.D. students. Recent graduates have been hired by:
- Iowa Wesleyan University
- Quincy University
- Middle Georgia State College
- Eastern University
- Arrupe College of Loyola Chicago
- Campbell College
- John Brown University
- Northeastern University
- Ohio Dominican University
- Olive Harvey College
- University of Indiana-Kent
- University of Wisconsin-Rock County
- University of Wisconsin-Washington County
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- William Rainey Harper College
- Wisconsin Lutheran College
Programs of Study
The Department offers two graduate degrees:
- M.A. in British, American and other Anglophone literatures
- Ph.D. in British, American and other Anglophone literatures
Our programs of study:
- Merge traditional and contemporary approaches to literary studies
- Concentrate on the history and criticism of American and English literature
- Emphasize essential aspects of scholarship, historical research, and literary theory
- Offer practical and theoretical instruction in rhetoric and composition to students who hold teaching assistantships and teach in the First-Year English Program
The master of arts program in English provides broad coverage in texts of British, American and other Anglophone literatures. Through seminar courses, students develop extensive knowledge of literature, literary critical methods and analytical writing. Students who complete the master’s program at Marquette go on to doctoral studies, pursue careers in education, or enter business, health care, journalism and other professions.
The doctorate in English is directed toward comprehensive and intensive knowledge of literature and language with specialization in one area of British, American or other Anglophone literatures; the textual, editorial and critical problems and backgrounds of major texts and authors; the principles of literary criticism; the basic tools, methods and application of literary and linguistic research; and pedagogical problems. The program provides practical experience in teaching and research to meet the needs of contemporary college education.
Admissions Process
Inquiries from any interested prospective student are welcome.
- The application deadline for the 2017-2018 school year is February 15, 2018.
- Applicants for PhD should note that the program does not admit students who have not completed an MA in English. Interested students with a BA only should apply to the MA program.
- Admission decisions are made by a committee of faculty who evaluate applicants' intellectual profiles as reflected by
the following criteria:
- GRE scores
- College and/or post-graduate academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Writing samples
- Statement of purpose
- The committee's central concern is that every student admitted has the ability to achieve excellence within the program.
- Students interested in securing financial assistance should contact the Graduate School to ascertain the deadlines for applications for aid (cf. links at left).
- Students interested in a Teaching Assistantship should mention, in the statement of purpose, experience relevant to teaching, and should, if possible, ask recommenders to discuss qualifications and aptitude as a prospective teacher.
Advising
Graduate students assume full responsibility for their progress by keeping an up-to-date record of the courses they have taken and by checking regularly with the English Department and the Graduate School offices. Each semester, students are advised by the Director of Graduate Studies in English in order to evaluate their progress.
The Department of English provides advice via
- The Director of Graduate Studies
- Faculty members in a student's field of study
- Information on the department web pages
The Graduate School provides advice via
- The Graduate School Bulletin outlines regulations and course descriptions.
- The Graduate School web pages (cf. links at left)
Contact
For further information about our graduate programs, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Leah Flack, leah.flack@marquette.edu.