Applying to Graduate Programs

General Information

Prospective graduate students must submit an application for admission and official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Admission to the Graduate College is determined by the Dean of the Graduate College. A $40 non-refundable application processing fee is required of all applicants for admission to the University of Oklahoma. When students request application materials from our Department, we pass on their names and addresses to the Graduate College which then sends application materials. Students need to be admitted to the Graduate College before they can be admitted to the English Department Graduate Program. Prospective students must apply both to our Department and to the Graduate College. (There is no fee for Departmental application.)

The English Department deadlines for applying to the Graduate Program are as follows:

Fall Term with Teaching Assistantship: January 15

Fall Term without Teaching Assistantship: April 15

Spring Term: September 15

(No Teaching Assistantships are awarded for students beginning in the Spring Term.)

There are no Departmental admissions for the Summer Term.

To be considered for admission into the M.A. program in English, we require the following: GRE general scores; a Grade Point Average of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale (admission on probation is possible with a G.P.A. of 2.75); and a major in English or at least 15 hours of courses (6 hours must be upper-division) or the equivalent in closely related fields. Candidates are admitted on a competitive basis.

To be considered for admission into the Ph.D. program, GRE scores are required for both the general and the subject tests (except C/R/L applicants); as well as a Grade Point Average of 3.5 in graduate work already completed. A student with a slightly lower G.P.A. may be considered if the application is otherwise very strong. Candidates are admitted on a competitive basis.

Teaching assistantships pay $11,000 to $12,500 per year. A $1000 increase in Ph.D. stipend for one year to support dissertation research. Dissertation fellowships on a competitive basis for one semester. Graduate Alumni Fellowships are available on a competitive basis from the Graduate College for entering Ph.D. students.

A Financial Aid Services packet, and information about eligibility for financial aid, can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid at (405) 325-4521.

Application Process

Applicants may choose to print the application materials below or request application materials via email (EnglishGraduateStudies@ou.edu) or by contacting the department.

1. Graduate Application Checklist (.pdf format and .rtf format) - This checklist is to be used to insure that your application is complete when the Graduate Studies in English office receives it. Please make sure that all of the enclosed forms are typed or legibly printed (no cursive please).

2. English Departmental Application Form (.pdf format and .rtf format)

3. Three letters of reference (.pdf format and .rtf format) - Applicants for either the M.A. or Ph.D. program must submit three letters of recommendation directly to the English Graduate office. Letters of reference required for admittance to the program can be used for the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (separate references are not necessary). Request your references to comment specifically upon (1) your qualifications as a prospective graduate student (literary judgment, writing ability, originality, diligence) and, if you are applying for Graduate Teaching Assistantship, (2) your qualifications as a prospective teacher (ability to organize, enthusiasm, responsibility, objectivity). If possible, referees should use the reference forms we supply. Stipends for the teaching assistantships vary with degree level. Make sure that you print three copies of this form and send it to your referees (the reference letters should be sent directly to the Graduate Office, Department of English, University of Oklahoma, 760 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0240)

4. Official Transcripts (these should be sent directly to the Graduate Office, Department of English, University of Oklahoma, 760 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0240)

5. Statement of goals in Graduate education, including reasons for the choice of Area of Concentration (250-500 words)

6. Critical writing sample, no more than 25 pages, appropriate to program and area (If applying to the Creative Writing program, please submit a creative writing sample).

7. G.R.E. Scores (General Test) are required for all M.A. and Ph.D. applicants. Ph.D. applicants for the Literary and Cultural Studies concentrations are also required to submit scores for the GRE Subject Test.

8. Teaching Assistantship Application (.pdf format and .rtf format) - When appropriate--only offered in the fall. If applying for a Teaching Assistantship, an additional statement of goals and additional writing samples are not required.

9. Prospective graduate students must submit a SEPARATE application for admission and official transcripts to the Office of Admissions and Records. You may find the application online at the Graduate College website. If you have any questions concerning the Graduate College application, please call Graduate College at (405) 325-3811.

Dissertation-Specific Financial Aid Forms

Dissertation Fellowships
Ph.D. students working on their dissertations are eligible to apply for a one-year dissertation fellowship, which will provide them financial support without any teaching duties. Students applying will need to demonstrate that substantial work on the dissertation is already completed, and that they have a clear plan for a writing schedule for the rest of the chapters. Students awared fellowships will be expected not to take on any additional work responsibilities so that they can concentrate on research and writing.

Dissertation Fellowship Application

Teaching Release Opportunities
Ph.D. students writing dissertations can apply for a one-course reduction in their teaching load for one semester, which is designed to allow them to concentrate more fully on their writing. The course reduction most often coincides with the period immediately before a student's dissertation defense, but the Graduate Committee will consider an alternate arrangement if applicants have a sound rationale for proposing it, such as a plan for completing archival research, etc. Students should apply for course release one or two semesters before the time they wish to take it. The Graduate Committee will evaluate applications with an eye toward students' degree of progress on the dissertation and the viability of their plan for a schedule of writing chapters.

Teaching Release Application