The Department of English offers a PhD in English (with specializations in Composition and Rhetoric, English Language and Linguistics, or Literary Studies). Additionally, the English Department offers an MFA in Creative Writing. 

This master’s program is offered for work leading to the English PhD (for students in the Literary Studies pathway and English Language and Linguistics pathway¹)

Literary Studies Pathway (MA + PhD): Students enrolled in the literary studies PhD specialization become eligible for an MA English degree in the literary studies area when they successfully complete the first-stage doctoral requirements. The literary studies specialization does not offer an MA apart from the doctoral program. The literary studies track offers a rigorous course of study leading to the completion of a doctoral dissertation in any field of English, American, or Anglophone literature and culture, or in any field of literary theory and criticism. The program prepares students for active careers in higher education among other potential fields and combines a sharp focus on conceptual approaches to literary and cultural works with a commitment to broad coverage of the field of Anglophone literature. Graduate seminars taken during the first phases of the doctoral program serve to prepare students to develop research projects for the dissertation. As they progress toward the PhD, students are invited to consider interdisciplinary subspecialties: literary theory and criticism, visual studies, ecocriticism and environmentalism, transnational and global literature, material culture, print culture and book history, digital humanities, disability studies, gender studies, race and ethnic studies, feminist theory, LGBTQ literature and queer theory, postcolonial studies. The program provides opportunities for teaching writing and literature and for administrative experience.

English Language and Linguistics Pathway (MA+ PhD)¹: The English language and linguistics area is intended for students with a solid foundation in the English language, applied linguistics, and related fields. Students enrolled in the English language and linguistics PhD specialization become eligible for an MA English degree when they successfully complete the first-stage doctoral requirements. The English language and linguistics specialization does not offer an MA apart from the doctoral program. Through program of course work and seminars, English language and linguistics doctoral students attain advanced knowledge in the core areas of English syntax and phonology and in the applied areas of second language acquisition, discourse analysis, and language variation and change. On reaching the dissertation stage, students pursue individual research in close cooperation with their faculty advisor. In recent years, students have written dissertations on code-switching, critical pedagogy, interactional competence, and conversation analysis, syntactic problems in second language acquisition, classroom discourse, and psycholinguistics. Graduates of the program have taken faculty positions at universities throughout the country.

¹

The MA pathway, English Language and Linguistics, is effective for students admitted Fall 2025 and after. Students admitted to the terminal MA pathway, Applied English Linguistics, prior to Fall 2025 will adhere to the same curricular requirements with the addition of the final comprehensive exam. The MA pathway in Applied English Linguistics will discontinue with the current cohort and those admitted to the pathway starting Fall 2024.

Admissions

This master’s program is offered for work leading to the PhD (for students in the Literary Studies pathway and English Language and Linguistics pathway).
Students may not apply directly for the master’s, and should instead see the admissions information for English PhD.

Funding

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Prospective students should see the program website for funding information.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Required Courses

Students completing the MA pathway should refer to the PhD for more information on requirements. 

English Language and Linguistics Pathway (previously Applied English Linguistics)¹

 Language Requirement: Demonstrate proof of adequate competency in one non-English language by the time of MA degree completion.

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

²

Of the 18 elective credits, at least six credits must be numbered 700-799 and at least three credits in coursework numbered 900-999.

³

The MA pathway, English Language and Linguistics, is effective for students admitted Fall 2025 and after. Students admitted to the terminal MA pathway, Applied English Linguistics, prior to Fall 2025 will adhere to the same curricular requirements with the addition of the final comprehensive exam. The MA pathway in Applied English Linguistics will discontinue with the current cohort and those admitted to the pathway starting Fall 2024.

Literary Studies Pathway¹

All courses for this pathway must be completed in English (ENGL) graduate level courses as specified below.

Students take a total of ten courses in the Department of English. To ensure breadth of knowledge, the course requirements call for intensive study in different chronological and geographical areas. These requirements must be completed before the beginning of the fifth semester. When the first stage requirements are completed, provided the student meets the program standards for satisfactory progress, he or she will be entitled to move into the second stage of the PhD program.

1. Two graduate-only courses in literatures in the English Department, one pre-1800 and one post-1800 in content.
2. ENGL 800 Critical Methods in Literary Studies taken during the first semester of residence because of its general applicability to all scholarly work in literature.
3. One of two courses: ENGL 700 Introduction to Composition Studies or ENGL/​MEDIEVAL  520 Old English
4. An English graduate-level course that focuses on topics of race, ethnicity and/or indigeneity
5. Five additional graduate seminars.
6. Competency in non-English language in at least an adequate proficiency.

Note: Up to a total of 9 credits of this MA and/or PhD coursework may come from UW programs or departments outside of English.

¹

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Regarding catalog course listings: Graduate seminars in English reflect the faculty's current areas of research and therefore change importantly from year to year. Please consult the department website for more detailed information.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

With program approval, students may transfer up to 6 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

Relevant graduate level courses taken as an undergraduate student may transfer up to 6 transfer credits towards the MA coursework, with the program director's approval. 

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students may transfer up to 6 credits of relevant graduate level coursework, numbered 700 or above or designated with the "Grad 50%" attribute, taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. 

*Note: Students may request to transfer up to 6 credits of prior-coursework in total. 

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor and Graduate School: Committees (Doctoral/Master’s/MFA) policies.

Credits Per Term Allowed

Students in the English Department’s PhD programs are expected to enroll full-time. Students with a fellowship, holding a university appointment percentage or holding dissertator status may have different credit-loads which equate to full-time student status. Please see the Graduate School’s policy for full-time enrollment credit requirements. 

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
  • Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Other

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Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrates a broad understanding of key traditions, emerging trends, and important problems in the field of study.
2. Capacity to identify evidence pertinent to field of study, to analyze evidence using methodologies and practices appropriate to field of study, and to evaluate and synthesize information.
3. Communicates research findings in a clear manner that indicates the value of research to the field of study.

People

Graduate Faculty by Area

Faculty: Professors Castronovo (chair), Auerbach, Barry, Bearden, Begam, Bernard-Donals, Bow, Britland, Dharwadker, Foys, Friedman, Guyer, Hill, Johnson, Keller, Kercheval, Olaniyan, Ortiz-Robles, Purnell, Raimy, Sherrard-Johnson, Wanner, M. Young, R. Young, Zimmerman; Associate Professors Allewaert, Cooper, Fawaz, Olson, Samuels, Trotter, Vareschi, Yu, Zweck; Assistant Professors Amine, Calhoun, Cho, Druschke, Edoro, Fecu, Huang