Program Highlights
- A hallmark of the M.A. English program is close student-faculty contact, where the maximum enrollment per seminar is 18 students.
- Classes are held in the afternoons and early evening hours. We offer a rigorous program with a multi-faceted final thesis project, and, once admitted, students have up to three years to complete the degree.
- The M.A. program requires eight courses (24 credits) plus completion of a thesis and allows students to earn the degree within a four-semester/two-year schedule. Many students in the program have full-time status and successfully complete their work in four semesters.
Courseload
The normative credit load for a full-time student is three courses (9 credits) in the fall and spring of the first year, and one course (3 credits) plus Thesis Research in the fall and spring of the second year. Typically, if a student begins the program in the fall, their course schedule would look like this:
- Fall 1st Semester: 3 graduate courses
- Spring 2nd Semester: 3 graduate courses
- Fall 3rd Semester: 1 graduate course (must be the M.A. Thesis Seminar) plus Thesis Research
- Spring 4th Semester: 1 graduate course plus Thesis Research
However, students who may be working full-time and/or are interested in accelerating or decelerating the normative credit load are welcome to contact the Director of Graduate Studies and submit a request for consideration.
Thesis
We define the thesis project broadly, to include critical works, as well as multimodal and public outreach projects. It requires that students register for a thesis seminar course—typically taken in the fall of the second year—along with a 0-credit thesis research course in the fall and spring—in order for students to maintain full-time status to complete work on the thesis project. During the spring semester, students are expected to budget their time accordingly as they complete their thesis while taking their final elective. This includes meeting independently with faculty advisors on an ad-hoc basis and managing deadlines and requirements in a professional manner.
Visit the Thesis Project page for more information on the breakdown of writing the thesis and to view examples of past projects.
We invite you to take a look at our faculty directory, meet our current graduate students, and learn about some of the professional development opportunities typically available to students in a given academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions (Graduate Program)
How have alumni benefitted from an M.A. English degree: did it help them get a job?
Our M.A. alumni have gone on to distinguished and diverse careers in academia and secondary education, journalism, publishing, writing and editing, law, public relations, nonprofit communications, and other professions that require rigorous critical thought, creativity, and expertise in writing and communication.
We’ve had alumni hired into positions at Huffington Post, NPR, St. Martin’s Press, Harvard Business Review, Amazon, Showtime Networks, George Mason University, University of the District of Columbia, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, MedStar Health, and many more. Read more about our M.A. English Alumni.
What housing options are available for graduate students?
Georgetown University has a variety of options to assist you in your housing search. Check out the Graduate School’s Housing Guide. The Office of Neighborhood Life is also a great resource if you’re interested in finding non-university housing.
Thinking about pursuing a Ph.D.?
In recent years, we’ve placed students into Harvard, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Northwestern, and Duke—just to name a few.
How many courses do I need to take in order to earn the Master’s degree?
You need to take eight (8) courses and complete a thesis in order to earn the M.A. English degree.
Are GRE scores required as part of my application?
Effective Fall 2021 onward, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores are NOT REQUIRED.
Can I take any courses outside the Department of English while in the program?
Yes: you can take up to two courses in other programs that enhance your academic interests, e.g. we’ve had students take courses in History (HIST), Communication, Culture & Technology (CCTP), and Government (GOVT).
Can I take any courses outside Georgetown while in the program?
Yes: you can take courses at neighboring schools within the Washington Consortium Program. Please note, this counts as one of the two courses you are allowed to take outside the English program.
Registration for consortium courses can only occur during the add/drop period via the Consortium Registration Form. It requires that you get the appropriate departmental signatures before it is submitted. The signed and completed form should be submitted to the Program Manager who will send it along to the Graduate School for processing.
We highly recommend that you register for a back-up course at Georgetown while you wait for your consortium registration request to be processed, and to monitor your schedule closely, so that you know when to drop the GU course before the end of the add/drop period in September (fall) or January (spring).
Is there a foreign language requirement?
No; however, if you are interested in taking a foreign language course(s), you are allowed to register for one lower-level course per semester numbered up to 350—provided that you’ve both requested and received approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.
The Graduate School provides language scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition for this course; other course materials must be paid for out-of-pocket. Read more about language scholarships on the Graduate School website.
Are there any required courses within the Master’s program?
Yes. In the semester before you graduate you are required to take the M.A. Thesis Seminar. This is a preparatory course for the thesis project you will complete independently the following semester with help from your thesis advisor.
Can I work in an hourly position on-campus and also be a graduate student?
Yes; however, the Graduate School puts a cap on the number of hours you may work per week. You can work up to 20 hours/week total in all combined on-campus positions at Georgetown.
Can I work in a part-time or full-time job and complete the M.A. English program?
Possibly; however, please note that graduate seminar courses are typically scheduled during the work day, Monday through Thursday during the following time blocks:
- 12:30–3pm
- 3:30–6pm
- 6:30–9pm
Do not expect that there will be enough 6:30–9pm courses offered each semester in order to complete the degree within a decelerated 3-year timeframe (which is the maximum number of years a student has to complete the degree once they’ve started the program).
Where are graduate courses held?
All graduate seminar courses typically take place in the Department of English Conference Room located in New North Hall 311.
Do M.A. English students have a study space?
Yes, the Department of English has a designated graduate student lounge with two desktop MAC computers, student mailboxes, bookshelves for personal items, couches, and a desk space. This is located in New North Hall 309.
How do Master’s students get involved on campus?
Once accepted into the program, every M.A. English student is automatically part of the English Graduate Student Association (EGSA). This group is completely student-run and has an Executive Board, including positions like Chair, Communications, Treasurer, Technology, etc. See EGSA’s website.
Interested in learning more about what it takes to teach? Consider registering for the free (!) Apprenticeship in Teaching Program through the Center for New Designs in Learning & Scholarship (CNDLS). Upon completion of all requirements, a certification will be posted on your transcript.
Work in the Writing Center as a Graduate Writing Center Consultant (by application only).
Work as a Justice Graduate Intern at the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service.