English Master of Arts
Thank you for your interest in the English Master of Arts program. If want to take the study of literature to a higher level, then the English M.A. program is for you. You will participate in rigorous graduate-level seminars taught by the department’s renowned faculty.
The option of writing a master's thesis in addition to coursework offers an intense intellectual experience.
This program is ideal for students who are contemplating a career in teaching, or who are considering further study of English at the graduate level.
Degree Requirements
English M.A. students must complete 45 units of literature courses. English master's coursework comprises mostly courses at the graduate level, numbered 200 and above. At least two courses must be taken at the 300 level. Students must complete the program with a 3.0 (B) grade point average (GPA) or higher.
Students whose undergraduate transcripts do not show course work in the following areas are expected to take a course in those areas as part of the master's program: Medieval, Renaissance, 19th Century, 20th Century (American or British Literature).
All English M.A. students must have declared a program adviser by the end of the Autumn Quarter of the year of entry.
Required Courses
Students are required to take courses in the categories described below. Courses must be taken for at least 5 units.
- Ten units in literature before 1800
- Ten units in literature after 1800
- Five units in theory or methodology
Elective Courses
Students must complete 20 units of elective courses, which should represent a mixture of survey and specialized courses chosen to guarantee familiarity with a majority of the works on the General Exam list for doctoral candidates. Elective courses must be taken for at least 3 units.
Students may take no more than two courses outside of the Department of English, and no more than two courses in any area at the 100 level. In every instance, the student must seek pre-approval from the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Students may take no more than 5 units of directed reading and research (ENGLISH 398 Research Course).
No creative writing courses may be used to fulfill the requirements.
For more information, see the Stanford Bulletin.
Thesis Option
Students who can demonstrate unusually strong preparation in the history of English literature may petition to undertake a 40 to 60 page master's thesis. Interested students must first confirm with their program advisor that they will supervise their master's thesis project and secure a second reader. Next, the student presents a petition to the DGS, who will either confirm or deny the petition. The thesis proposal must be approved at least two quarters before the student's planned graduation term.
Students who pursue the thesis option can, upon approval from the DGS, register for up to 10 units of ENGLISH 399 Thesis with the faculty member who supervises the thesis work. The thesis is read and graded by the adviser and one other member of the English faculty.
Candidates who write a master's thesis may be excused from up to 10 units of electives described above. The additional 35 units normally consist of the required five courses and two elective courses. These courses are chosen by the student and approved by the DGS.
Coterminal English M.A. students who pursue the thesis option may not pursue the English Honors program concurrently.
Autumn 2027 Admission
Terminal Program
The application deadline for Autumn 2027 matriculation is on December 1, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.
Applications for the terminal English M.A. program are submitted online through the University Graduate Admissions website. Please read through the website carefully before starting the application process. The application portal will open mid-September.
Application Requirements:
- Statement of Purpose: reasons for applying, preparation, specific study and research interests (e.g., American Literature 20th Century, British Literature 18th Century, Digital Humanities, etc.), future career plans, and any other information to elucidate background and potential as a scholar or teacher. The statement is ideally 500-600 words, maximum 1000, double spaced.
- Writing Sample: a critical paper of at minimum 12 pages and at maximum 25 pages, ideally within your field of interest.
- A current resume or CV
- Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended for one year or more must be uploaded to the online application. Only admitted applicants who accept the offer of admission are required to submit official transcripts.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required from faculty members or others that are qualified to evaluate academic work and teaching potential. Recommenders submit their letters through the online system by the application deadline.
- Official TOEFL and/or TSE: All international students are required to submit official test scores via ETS. To see if you need to provide this information, please check the Exam Requirements for International Applicants. Stanford does not accept IELTS scores.
- Non-refundable fee of $125. For information on fee waivers, please refer to Graduate Application Fee Waiver webpage.
Coterminal Program
The application deadline for the coterminal program is on January 8, 2027 at 11:59pm PST.
Current Stanford undergraduate students may apply for a coterminal English M.A. by submitting the Coterm Online Application.
Interested Stanford undergraduate students should consult their faculty adviser or the graduate program adviser for further details. A GPA of 3.7 or better in English courses is a minimum requirement for admission.
Application Requirements:
- Statement of Purpose: reasons for applying, preparation, specific study and research interests (e.g., American Literature 20th Century, British Literature 18th Century, Digital Humanities, etc.), future career plans, and any other information to elucidate background and potential as a scholar or teacher. The statement is ideally 500-600 words, maximum 1000, double spaced.
- Writing Sample: a critical paper of at minimum 12 pages and at maximum 25 pages, ideally within your field of interest.
- Current Official Transcript: An official Stanford transcript is requested and submitted through the online application. You DO NOT need to request an official paper transcript from the Registrar's Office.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. Two letters should come from faculty within the Department of English who teach graduate courses.
Selecting the Entry Term: Students planning to confer their undergraduate degree in the Spring or Summer Quarter of 2026-27 must select "Spring 2026-27" as their Entry Term. This is to ensure there is one quarter of overlap between the undergraduate and graduate program, as required by Stanford University policy. All other students who will have an active undergraduate degree program in Academic year 2027-28 should select "Autumn 2027-28" as their Entry Term. Contact the Assistant Director of Student Services for any questions or concerns.
Applicable Coterminal Policies: Students may apply for a coterminal program upon completion of 120 units toward their undergraduate degree, but no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of their undergraduate degree. Coterm students are required to complete 180 units for the B.A. or B.S. degree, and an additional 45 units for the M.A. degree. Students may not double-count units.
Inquiries about the Ph.D. in English should be directed to englishadmissions [at] lists.stanford.edu (englishadmissions[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu).
Decision & Acceptances
The Graduate Admissions Committee will evaluate current applications once per year and decisions will be announced by early March. Please send your response to the offer of admission to the Assistant Director of Student Services.