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Graduate Student FAQs

Admissions

  • Applications are due January 15 to begin the following Fall semester. We have one application cycle per year.

  • Applicants are required to provide:

    • Transcripts from all institutions attended
    • Statement of Intent
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • Academic Writing Sample
    • Creative Writing Sample (MFA Only)

    Note: Our program no longer requires applicants take the GRE. More information about required application materials can be found at https://english.byu.edu/introduction-to-our-programs-and-the-application-process.

  • An undergraduate degree in English or its equivalent is preferred. Ideally, applicants will have a strong background in both American and British literature as well as a course in advanced critical theory (such as BYU’s English 451 or 452). You may apply if you lack prerequisites. However, the lack of prerequisites will be factored in by the admissions committee. Successful applicants without prerequisites may be required to take missing courses during their first year in the program.

  • Yes, we hold an annual application workshop each November. Students interested in attending the workshop can provide their information at https://forms.gle/7FJugFrDrToMcD727. Remote attendance options will be available.

  • Offered by the Humanities College, the Future Scholars Program is a one-credit-hour course designed to help ambitious students of high aptitude prepare their applications for graduate school, especially for PhD programs in the Humanities (including English). Admission to the course is by application only, and the size of the class ranges anywhere from about 8-15 students. For further information, contact Professor Brian Roberts.

    Brian Roberts
    4147 JFSB
    801-422-1376
    Brianrussellroberts@byu.edu

Advisement

  • You’ll be assigned a default committee when you’re admitted. Once you have your committee put together, you’ll talk to the Graduate Program Manager. They’ll update it in the Graduate Progress System.

  • During ENGL 600, you’ll meet with the Graduate Program Manager to complete your Program of Study. The Program of Study is a list of classes you plan to take, and the Program Manager will help you ensure that your planned classes meet the requirements of the program.

  • Typically, all classes on the Program of Study need to be 500- or 600-level courses. In very rare circumstances, and with the approval of both the graduate coordinator and the student’s chair, one 300- or 400-level class can count towards the program requirements.

  • The Office of Graduate Studies requires that students in active status receive acceptable grades in at least 6.0 credit hours each academic year (September through August.)* (https://gradstudies.byu.edu/academics/minimum-registration-requirements)

  • Graduate students who are U.S. citizens are required to take at least 2.0 credit hours to be eligible for employment. International students must take at least 9.0 credit hours to be eligible for employment. If you have a scholarship, you are required to take at least 2.0 credit hours to qualify.

  • Once your committee decides you are ready to defend, you’ll work with them to decide on a day and time to hold your defense. The Graduate Program Manager will help you schedule a room and will schedule your defense officially with the university. According to university policy, all defenses must be held in person with all committee members physically present unless an exception has been granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies. If an extenuating circumstance requires that you or a member of the committee attend the defense remotely, talk to the Graduate Program Manager about the process of petitioning for an exception.

Graduation

  • Students must be enrolled in at least 2.0 credit hours during the semester they defend their thesis or portfolio and graduate. Students graduating in June only need to register for at least 1.0 credit hour. (https://gradstudies.byu.edu/academics/minimum-registration-requirements)

  • Yes, you will need to apply for graduation by the deadline set by the university. Information and the graduation application can be found at https://gradstudies.byu.edu/academics/graduation.

  • If you will not meet the graduation deadlines for the semester, talk to the Graduate Program Manager. They can help you defer your graduation to a future semester.

  • The deadlines can be found in the Graduate Handbook appendix. You will also need to make sure you’ll have an active Ecclesiastical Endorsement and Honor Code Agreement during the semester you graduate.

Career

  • We see several trends in employment among our MA and MFA graduates. Many students go on to become the following:

    • Editors
    • Administrators in higher education
    • Published novelists
    • Tenure-track professors
    • High school teachers
    • Middle school teachers
    • Part-time university teachers
    • Technical writers

    More information can be found at https://english.byu.edu/career-paths-for-ma-and-mfa-graduates.