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Programs Overview

About our PhD Program

To qualify for a doctoral degree, the candidate must meet University and Department requirements:

  • A minimum of credit hours (30)
  • Residence
  • Foreign language proficiency
  • Grades (cumulative GPA no less than 3.0)
  • Pass one written preliminary examination
  • Demonstrate proficiency in a secondary area through course work or a second written preliminary examination
  • Submit and defend a dissertation prospectus
  • Write and defend a dissertation

 

About our MA Program

To qualify for a master’s degree, the candidate must meet University and Department requirements:

  • Hours of credit
  • Residence
  • Required coursework (see below for more information)
  • Foreign language proficiency
  • Grades (cumulative GPA no less than 3.0)
  • The candidate must also pass the M.A. examination or write a satisfactory thesis

 

All MA students are also required to take at least one 600-level seminar. 

MA students concentrating in LTC must complete breadth requirements by taking one course in each of the four LTC tracks, as well as ENGL 501.

 

 

About our MFA Program

To qualify for a master’s degree, MFA candidates must meet University and Department requirements:

 

  • Completion of 30 credits, plus 12 thesis credits
  • Completion of mid-sized book-quality manuscript written under the supervision of a committee chaired by a member of the creative writing faculty
  • 12 credits of English 606 or 609 (Writing Poetry or Writing Fiction)
    • The department recommends that all 12 hours be completed in the student’s major genre
    • 3 credits in English 607 (Craft of Fiction or Craft of Poetry), taken in the student’s major genre
    • 15 credits chosen from other English graduate courses
    • 12 credits in English 698

Note: the MFA program does not require English 501 or English 506. Nor does it require a comprehensive exam. All MFA students are required to defend their thesis, and are encouraged to choose their thesis committee early in their third semester at Purdue. At this point, students will begin serious preparation toward completion of their thesis, under the direction of their major professor.