Applications are due February 1, with decisions typically announced around March 1; see below under Application Deadlines for more detailed information about deadlines.

Prospective applicants should visit The Graduate School website for information about the application process. For more information about the requirements for the English, M.A. program, see the Graduate Catalog. 

Prospective applicants must apply online. Please submit all application materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing sample, personal statement, resume, etc.) as indicated.  Questions about the online application process should be directed to the Graduate School at grad@jmu.edu or by telephone 540.568.6131.

The English Department strongly encourages applicants to obtain letters which address their preparation for graduate study; motivation; maturity; reading, writing, and analytical skills; and particular areas of strength and weakness. Letters of recommendation should be uploaded to the online application site.

Prospective applicants are welcome to communicate directly with the Director of Graduate Studies, who encourages personal visits by prospective applicants. Prospective students may wish to meet with current students, attend a seminar, and meet with graduate faculty whose areas of expertise match their own. 

1. Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs.
2. At least two letters of recommendation from faculty familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and potential for graduate work.  Additional letters, if relevant, may be sent with a candidate’s application. Applicants who did not earn their undergraduate degrees recently should contact the Director of Graduate Studies for advice about appropriate recommenders.
3. A substantial academic writing sample of 10-20 pages, showing the applicant’s strongest work and potential for literary research.
4. A statement of approximately 500 words articulating the applicant’s specific research interests, academic training, goals for graduate study, and career aspirations, as well as the applicant’s reasons for applying to the JMU English program.

1. A resume is strongly recommended.
2. Any additional materials that provide the Graduate Committee with information about an applicant’s suitability and preparation for graduate study.

1. Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE) scores are optional and not required for admission.

1. Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English proficiency either by providing a transcript from a university in which English is the official language of instruction, or by submitting satisfactory English language proficiency test scores. 
2. Depending on the language and grading system employed by the applicant’s prior undergraduate or graduate programs, unofficial or official transcript translations or credential evaluations may also be required. 

The Graduate Committee considers the overall strength of an application rather than focusing on fixed requirements. The Graduate Committee reads and evaluates all completed applications.  We consider all available material to help us judge whether a student is prepared for and capable of successful work at the graduate level, and we stress the importance of a solid personal statement that is specific and focused as well as a writing sample that demonstrates strong intellectual and interpretive capabilities, facility with literary research, and excellent writing skills.           

In addition to satisfying all admission requirements of the JMU Graduate School, applicants must meet the requirements of the English Department, which include the following:

1. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0. (A minimum GPA of 3.5 in English courses is recommended.)
2. At least 15 credit hours in upper-division English courses showing some breadth of study are recommended. The Committee may favorably acknowledge more diverse backgrounds (such as a concentration in creative writing, an English minor, or another major in the humanities), but may specify provisions for admittance (such as additional prerequisite undergraduate courses), to assure that the student is adequately prepared for graduate seminars; intermediate competency in a language other than English is also strongly recommended but not required. 
3. A writing sample that demonstrates strong intellectual and interpretive capabilities, facility with literary research, and excellent writing skills.
4. A personal statement that details the applicant’s specific research interests, academic training, goals for graduate study, and career aspirations, as well as the applicant’s reasons for applying to the JMU Department of English M.A. program.  We recommend that an applicant seek advice on how to write effective personal statements from faculty at his or her home institution.

Complete applications must be received by February 1 for full consideration. If any documents are likely to arrive after this deadline, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies as some accommodation is possible in such cases. For non-degree applicants only, this deadline is flexible. Please consult with the graduate director for more information.

All applicants are automatically considered for Graduate Assistantships unless they indicate on their application form that they do not wish to apply for one; no additional application is required. Please see Funding page for more information about allocation of assistantships.

Admission is offered for fall semester only. However, students may discuss with the Director of Graduate Studies the possibility of taking seminars as a non-degree candidate. Students may transfer up to 9 credits into the graduate program if they receive a grade of B or better in the seminar and are admitted into the program.

The Graduate Committee begins reading all complete applications shortly after the February 1 deadline. The number of applications and Graduate Committee members’ workload affects the time necessary to review applications, but we make every effort to complete our review in a month’s time. Candidates are welcome to contact the Director of Graduate Studies for information about where we are in the process after three weeks or at any time if the candidate has received other offers.   

Note: Students must achieve the classification of unconditional admission before applying for admission to candidacy.