Dual Degree in English and Women's Studies

Admission Requirements

Requirements listed here are in addition to general Graduate School requirements stated in the General Information section of the Graduate Bulletin.

Applicants should have a junior/senior grade point average of 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale), although exceptions may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Tests (verbal and quantitative) are required for admission. Applicants must also submit three letters of recommendation, a writing sample indicating their ability to do analytical or original work, and a personal statement of their goals.

For admission, M.A. students should have strong backgrounds in English courses. 18 credits beyond freshman composition are a minimum, but the department prefers at least 24 credits.

To be considered for the doctoral program, students must have completed an M.A. in English or its equivalent. The records of potential students should indicate promise of superior work in doctoral study.

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Degree Requirements

The M.A. Degree (30 credit hours)

  • English 501: Research Methods (3)
  • Women's Studies 507: Feminist Theory (3)
  • Women's Studies 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3)
  • Women's Studies 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
  • 3 additional graduate credits in Women's Studies
  • 9 credits in literature (combination of prior 1800 and after 1800 courses)
  • 6 elective credits, 3 of which must be in Women's Studies approved courses
  • Foreign language requirement
  • Note that students have the option to write a Master's Essay in lieu 3 credits of course work.

The Ph.D. Degree

  • English 501: Research Methods (3)
  • Women's Studies 507: Feminist Theory (3)
  • Women's Studies 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3)
  • Women's Studies 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
  • 6 credits in literature in English prior to 1800
  • 6 credits in literature in English after 1800
  • Additional courses to be recommended by the student's committee and including Women's Studies approved courses (coverage expected)
  • Foreign language requirement
  • Comprehensive exams: Comprehensive exams will be completed in three areas.
    • Area 1: Period (3 hours) and Authors or Topic (2 hours)
    • Women's Studies option to be chosen as either area 2 (3 hours) or area 3 (3 hours) of the examination