Master’s Program

Thank you for your interest in the Master’s programs in English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee!

The MA degree at UWM involves course work, a master’s project, and an oral exam. All degree requirements must be completed within five years of initial enrollment. The project must be completed and the exam taken within one year after completing 30 credits.

See program details to explore the requirements for the program and each specialty concentration. Students in a master’s program in English can choose to focus on:

  • Literature and Cultural Theory
  • Rhetoric and Professional Writing
  • Creative Writing
  • Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies

We also offer a joint degree with the Library and Information Science program.

Application

Our application opens each year in September or October for entry the following Fall. The deadline to apply to both our our MA and PhD programs is December 15. We do not accept students to start in the spring semester.

Applications are submitted to the UWM Graduate School using the Panthera application system. Please see our How to Apply page for more information, and the Graduate School’s Admission page for minimum qualifications. International applicants should also refer to the Center for International Education admission guidelines. 

Funding

English graduate students typically fund their education from a variety of sources including personal funds. Some partial support is available in the form of fellowships or awards given by the UWM Graduate School or by the Department of English. Some students receive teaching assistantships. See our Financial Support page for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have further questions not covered on our website, please feel free to contact the Graduate Studies Program Office at gradeng@uwm.edu.

General Questions

Do I need to send my GRE score in my application OR Do I need to take the GRE to be considered for admission into this program?

The English Department does not require the GRE for any of the Graduate programs offered.

Does the program offer an online option/an online degree?

The English Department does not currently offer graduate degrees that are online only.

I’m looking to see what courses are offered in the English Department. Where can I find this?

Please visit the Course Catalog page to see which courses are offered by the English Department. Not all courses are offered each semester. The description of each course will indicate when it was last taught.

Can I take classes without being in a degree program?

Students can apply to be Non-Degree Candidates (NDC). NDC students can start in spring or fall. Before applying please contact gradeng@uwm.edu. More information can be found at the bottom of our How to Apply page, and on the Graduate School website. 

How long does the MA take?

The MA typically takes two years.

Admissions Decisions

When are admissions decisions made?

Admissions decisions to the English program are made in mid-February.

Commonly Asked Application Questions

Does the English Department accept MA applications for the spring semester?

The English Department only accepts applications for Fall semesters. The application deadline is December 15. 

What is the English proficiency requirement? What tests are accepted and what are the minimum scores?

The English proficiency requirement for international admissions can be found on the Center for International Education website. 

My recommenders can’t upload their letters of recommendation -OR- I can’t input my recommenders information.

Please email the Graduate Studies Program Office at gradeng@uwm.edu for further assistance.

When is the application deadline?

The deadline to complete the application is December 15th.

My undergraduate degree is not in English, can I still apply?

The English program has a variety of students with undergraduate degrees that are not in English. We welcome a diverse background of undergraduate study.

Should I upload unofficial transcripts to my application or send official transcripts to the program?

The online application system that applicants use, Panthera, requires unofficial transcripts only. Official transcripts are only required after an applicant accepts admission.

I cannot obtain unofficial transcripts to upload to my application, only official ones. What should I do next?

Applicants should order official transcripts and scan a copy to upload to the application system, Panthera.

For more information about the program, including requirements, visit its academic page at the link below.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.