FAQs for Prospective Graduate Students
Requirements for Acceptance to MA in English
Do I have to have a BA in English to be accepted?
While you may apply to the MA in English with a BA in another field, your preparation for literature and creative writing courses may not be the same as students with a BA in English. However, if you had an English minor, or took a number of electives in English, you should be able to handle the coursework. Other concentrations may be appropriate for BAs in other fields.
What are the application deadlines for MA?
June 1, Fall admission
October 15, Spring admission
April 1, Summer Session I
May 1, Summer Session II
Please note that the time of application and acceptance affects the courses you are able to register for.
Application process
What is the application process?
Applications are made through the ECU Graduate School. The Graduate School will gather your application materials and determine if you meet ECU’s minimum requirements for admission to graduate study. The English Department Office of Graduate Studies will then make a decision about acceptance.
What is the program code for the Master of Arts program in English?
EN01
Should I send my application directly to the department?
No. All applications and supplemental materials (including letters of recommendation) must go to the Graduate School.
What supplemental materials should be included in the application?
Supplemental materials include three letters of recommendation (at least two should be academic references) and your statement of purpose.
Can I submit the supplemental materials online?
Not at this time. You need to send all supplemental materials together in one packet to the Graduate School. Their mailing address can be found at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/applicationinfo.cfm
Are there additional materials necessary for admission to the concentration in creative writing?
Yes. You should follow the instructions listed on the website.
Where can I find information about the costs of tuition, fees, etc?
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/financial_serv/cashier/index.cfm
What standardized admission tests are required?
GRE general test is required, but you may substitute the MAT. For other tests, please check with the Director of Graduate Studies.
Are these tests offered on campus?
Yes. Contact the Testing Center at 252.328.6811.
Where do I send GRE scores?
Scores for the GRE or any other standardized test are sent automatically to the ECU Graduate School if you put in the ECU code. If you took the test in a previous year, you should report the scores to the ECU Graduate School. Check at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/applicationinfo.cfm
What are the minimum scores required?
The general rule for admission to the graduate program is that your test scores should be at or above the 30th percentile either on the GRE (verbal+quantitative sections) or MAT.In general, if you have a low GPA, your test scores should be higher, or with a high GPA, you may have lower test scores. Your recommendations letters are also important.
Is the subject test of the GRE required?
No. You need only to take the general test, but remember that we do look at all three scores: verbal, quantitative, and analytic writing.
How does the graduate school get my transcript?
You should notify the school where you obtained your BA—and an MA in the case of an application to the PhD program—and request that they send an official copy of your transcript to the ECU Graduate School.
NOTE TO ECU GRADS: You can help to facilitate your application process if you request that your transcript be sent to the graduate school. If an assistant in the graduate school has to request it, this action may delay your application and your ability to enroll in the classes you want.
What is the format for the letters of recommendations?
The graduate application includes forms for your references to fill out, including a space for the recommendation. But, if your reference so chooses, s/he may attach a letter to the form. These forms and letters should then be sent directly to the ECU Graduate School. As a courtesy, you can provide each of your references with a stamped envelope addressed to the graduate school.
I have been out of school for many years and no longer have contact with former professors. Whom should I ask to write my recommendation letters?
You can ask supervisors and colleagues from your current workplace. But, if possible, you should get a letter from someone with the ability to speak authoritatively about your intellectual abilities and skills necessary for graduate work.
Transfer Credit
What is the process for transferring courses in to the program taken at another University?
First, you should speak with you advisor to make certain that these courses can be applied to your degree. Once that is determined, you and your advisor will complete “The Request for Transfer Credit” form, available in the English Office of Graduate Studies. The form must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies who then sends it on to the Graduate School for approval.
I was enrolled in another Graduate Program at ECU and want to transfer credits to the MA in English. What is the process for transferring Degree Graduate courses from ECU?
First, you should speak with you advisor to make certain that these courses can be applied to your degree. Once that is determined, you or your advisor should speak with the Director of Graduate Studies. Once you receive approval for the DGS, you and your advisor will complete the advising check sheet that will include those courses. NOTE: the DGS and you advisor will determine the number of degree credit hours to be applied to your program.
What is the process for transferring Non-degree Graduate courses from ECU?
Only 9 credit hours of non-degree graduate coursework in English will be applied automatically to your program. If you wish to have more than 9 credit hours applied to your program, you and your advisor need to complete “The Request for Transfer Credit form.” The form must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies who then sends it on to the Graduate School for approval.
Can Non-English non-graduate courses be applied to my program?
Yes, but you will need permission from the Director of Graduate Studies to have these courses applied to your program and you will still need to complete any requirements for your English Department graduate concentration/program.
Readmission Process
Do I have to reapply if I had a lapse in enrollment?
Yes.
How do I reapply?
Submit an application online the Graduate School website.
Is there a reapplication fee?
No.
Non-degree Graduate Status
Who should apply as a non-degree graduate student?
Students who are thinking about pursuing a MA in English but are undecided; those who need to take courses for a career move but do not need the Master’s degree; those who are unsure of their undergraduate record; or those who have been out of school for many years and aren’t certain that graduate school is for them.
What is the application process for non-degree status?
Submit an application online at the Graduate School website along with a $60 application fee to the Graduate School, located in Ragsdale 131.
Do I have to take the GRE to enroll in graduate classes?
Yes, if you intend to work toward an MA. However, no standardized test is required for status as a certificate or non-degree student.
Transfer Programs
What do I need to do if I am currently in a degree program at ECU but want to switch to English?
You need to request your folder from your program advisor and ask them to submit your folder, which should include your original application materials, to the Department of English Office of Graduate Studies.
How will I be notified if I am admitted?
The department’s graduate administrator will notify you once the process is complete.
Am I eligible for deferred acceptance since I was accepted last year and was unable to attend?
Yes. However, you need to ask the Graduate School to defer your admission.
Are transfer students eligible for assistantships?
Yes.
I applied to ECU Graduate School several years ago for another program. Do I need to get recommendations or can you access my file?
Since you applied for a different program, you should ask for new recommendations that address your interest in an English MA.
Assistantships
What is an assistantship?
Graduate assistantships are available to on-campus students in good standing in a graduate program. The English Department has several types of assistantships available: research, editorial, classroom, writing consultant and teaching. In addition, other offices on campus also offer assistantships.
What work does a graduate assistant do?
Research assistants work with faculty members to help with research activities that a faculty member is doing for an article or a grant, for example. Editorial assistants work with journal editors doing various tasks involved with the production of a journal. Classroom assistants help faculty who teach large sections of a course by leading small group discussions and performing other appropriate activities, such as grading. Writing consultants engage with students one-on-one in the Writing Studio, which provides tutoring services to freshman enrolled in one of the two composition classes, and attend workshops once a week. Teaching assistants have full responsibility for a section of composition and meet weekly with the Director of Composition. Other assistantships with various job descriptions are available throughout the university.
How can I obtain one? Is there an application?
You should notify the department’s graduate administrator in the Office of Graduate Studies that you are interested in an assistantship.
Can I register for distance education sections?
If you have an assistantship you must be enrolled as a campus student. DE students are not eligible for assistantships or financial aid.
What is the stipend for MA students?
As of spring 2008, MA graduate assistants have 4 semesters of support as long as they maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree. Stipends of $4000 per semester are paid for 20 hours of work per week. In general, a student will be assigned 10 or 20 hours of work per week. Teaching assistants receive $3000 per course taught. Each course taught is the equivalent of 10 hours of assistantship work.
What are the qualifications for a teaching assistantship?
You must have 18 hours of graduate coursework in English, and you must have successfully completed ENGL 6625. In addition, you must attend a weekly meeting with the Director of Composition.
What if I don’t finish my MA degree in 4 semesters? Can I get additional support?
You may request an assistantship for a 5th and 6th semester, but the English Department offers only teaching assistantships for these students.
I’m interested in an assistantship, but I already work for the university. Is it possible for me to have an assistantship?
No.
Distance Education and Online Classes
Would I be able to complete the MA in English while working full time?
Yes. We offer evening classes, and some concentrations offer online classes.
How much of the program is offered online?
Students in Technical and Professional Communication or Multicultural and Transnational Literatures are able to take all of their courses online. While other concentrations do offer online coursework, these are not taught on a regular basis.
Can I get an MA in Creative Writing or Literature completely online?
Not at this time.
General Questions
My husband recently completed his military service. We have lived in NC for a year and paid NC state taxes? Would I be considered “in state” for tuition purposes?
You can link to http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/residency.cfm to learn about qualifying for residency. Contact Dr. Belinda Patterson at pattersonb@ecu.edu if you have specific questions.
Do you offer summer classes?
Yes, although the summer offerings are more limited that the regular session offerings. However, we cannot guarantee that appropriate faculty will be available to complete the thesis or comprehensive assessment project over the summer.
I have been out of school for 10 years and graduated with a BA, but my GPA was under 3.0. What are my chances of getting in?
You have several options. You can take the GRE and apply for full graduate status. You can apply as a non-degree student and take 9 hours, which may then count toward the degree if you choose to pursue one. If you do well in these classes, you can ask those professors to write recommendations for you when you apply for full graduate status. You can also apply for a certificate program, and once you have established that you are interested and do well in these classes, you can apply for full graduate status. These latter two options allow you to wait before taking the GRE, allowing more time to prepare for it. These options may improve, but do not guarantee, your chances for acceptances.
Are courses in teaching in the community college offered online?
Not at this time. The fact that the courses focus on teaching practices—and often involve teaching demonstrations and/or links with community colleges—make them less suitable to delivery entirely online.
Can I complete the degree taking one class a semester?
Yes, but there is a time limit for completing the degree. For all graduate work the limit is six years.
Can I begin my coursework in the spring semester or the summer?
Yes.
