Can I submit my application to the program online?
Yes, you may submit your application online at http://www.wwu.edu/gradschool/admissions/index.shtml

How do I request application materials?
You may request application materials from the Graduate School by calling 360/650-3170; by e-mailing your request to gradschl@wwu.edu; or by visiting the Graduate School website.

When do new students begin the program? Can a new student join the program at any time?
Those who have been admitted to the MA in English program begin the program in the fall of each year. Western Washington University is on the quarter system, so our fall quarter classes typically start in late September. Orientation for teaching assistants is usually held the week before fall quarter classes begin. Students who have been accepted to the program receive seminar registration materials (course offerings, instructions for registering online, by telephone, or in person) in the mail in late August/early September. Because we value a strong community and shared experiences among our students, we do not normally offer admission beginning in other quarters.

Is it possible to transfer from another Master's program into Western's Master's degree in English program? Is it possible to transfer graduate seminar credit from another institution?
All students must first apply for admission to the program and be offered admission before transfer credit for courses taken elsewhere is considered. We accept a limit of nine quarter credits or six semester credits (usually two courses), graded with a B or better, taken no more than three years prior to a student's quarter of admission. We typically require syllabi, sample papers, and catalogue course descriptions as part of the transfer credit consideration process.

I don't have an undergraduate degree in English, but am interested in earning my Master's degree in English. Do I have any chance of being admitted to the program?
Our Department faculty and our Graduate Admissions Committee have welcomed applications from prospective students with conventional and less conventional academic backgrounds. We have had very successful MA students who have come to the program without the undergraduate major in English. Normally, we require applicants to the program who do not have the undergraduate degree in English to have about 30 upper-division credits in English. Occasionally, past coursework not in English but in a related field will help fulfill these requirements. We advise some applicants to take upper-division English courses on a post-baccalaureate basis: this way, prospective applicants can get an idea of what formal academic study of English is (and whether they enjoy it) and the Graduate Admissions Committee will get an idea of how well non-English major applicants perform in formal academic study of English. Taking these additional English course will enhance your application and give you an opportunity to request a current academic reference.

I received my undergraduate degree from Western Washington University and am interested in getting an MA degree in English. Should I apply to Western's program?
Although the department is proud of its graduate program, we do recommend that you apply to other graduate programs, so that you can expand your experience and have the opportunity to take classes from a new set of professors. However, if there are reasons why continuing your studies at Western is right for you--if you are unable to leave the Bellingham area, for example--we encourage you to apply to our graduate program.

I'm Canadian and given that Bellingham and British Columbia are so close, I'm thinking of applying to your program. Are there any special difficulties for Canadian students in the program? Have Canadian students attended the program in the past?
Yes, Canadian students have successfully attended and completed the program in the past, sometimes choosing to focus on Canadian or Canadian-American writers. (Western Washington University has an active Canadian-American Studies undergraduate program, though this program is not directly affiliated with the English Department.) If commuting from Canada were involved, the time involved getting over the border could be an issue. Additionally, there may be financial aid or other University policies regarding Canadian students that might apply. For further information, you may contact the Graduate School at 360/650-3170 or gradschl@wwu.edu.

I am an international student considering applying to your Master's program in English. Are there specific rules that govern international student applications? Are international students eligible for teaching assistantships?
Yes, specific rules govern international student applications to the graduate program. Please refer to the Graduate School web page for details concerning TOEFL requirements and scores, financial responsibility funds, and so on. Teaching assistantships usually are not granted for the first year of graduate study to international students whose first language is not English. The possibility exists for some assistance in the form of an internship during the second year, but this is by no means guaranteed. Again, the Graduate School web page provides detailed information on these topics.

I really want to apply to the program, but am nervous about taking the GREs (Graduate Record Exam). Do I have to? Will you accept another exam as a substitute? Will you waive the requirement if I already have an advanced degree? What if I get a terrible score? What if I get a decent score on the verbal section but a low score on the math section?
We do require all applicants, without exception, to have taken the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), General Test. We do not accept substitutions of other exams, an advanced degree, and so on. We ask for a minimum score of 500 on the verbal section of the exam and a strong score on the analytic section. However, we realize how arbitrary standardized exams can be and how differently people can respond to the standardized exam-testing environment. We also realize that applicants for an MA program in English may not have taken a math course in quite awhile. So while we require GRE scores, we look at them as part of the entire application package and we do not weigh them as heavily as we do other parts of the application.

I'm starting to put my application materials together, but I'm not sure about the 750-word statement. What kinds of information should I include? Is it all right if it's longer than 750 words?
The statement of background and intention is an important part of the application package, one examined closely by our Graduate Admissions Committee. Various issues/questions that the statement may appropriately address are: Why is the applicant considering graduate school at this point? What will attending graduate school do for the applicant? What contributions will the applicant make to the program? The statement is also a good location in which to explain transcripts, if some context is needed; to discuss areas that the applicant is/has been interested in; to consider future areas of interest and study. For applicants in the Creative Writing concentration, the statement would be an appropriate place to discuss awareness of the applicant's craft, of her or his development as a writer. The statement is deliberately limited to 750-words and applicants are strongly urged to respect this limit.

What should I use for my writing sample? How long should my writing sample be?
The writing sample should be the best paper you ever wrote. If you are applying with a concentration in English Studies, you should submit a critical research paper that reflects your ability to interpret texts based upon your critical insights and your understanding and synthesis of the ideas of others. The paper should use research and should include endnotes and bibliography, following Modern Language Association (MLA) style. If you are applying in the Creative Writing concentration, submit the best work you have written in the genre in which you wish to concentrate. You may wish to consult with your creative writing teachers for help in making this selection. The length of writing samples is as follows: for admission to the program with a concentration in creative writing, 10 to 15 pages of prose or 10 to 15 pages of poetry; for admission to the program with a concentration in English Studies, 7 to 12 pages of written work in literary study. We ask that you do not exceed these page limits.

May I combine poetry and prose for my writing sample?
Yes, you may, if you wish combine poetry and prose for your writing sample, as long as you stay within total page limits. So, for instance, a combined sample of 10 pages of prose and 15 pages of poetry would go well beyond stated limits, while 10 pages of prose and 5 pages of poetry would be in line with these limits. In any case, you should be sure to submit your best work.

Your program requires at least three letters of recommendation as part of the application. I received my college degree quite a while ago and I don't think any of my professors would remember me well enough to be able to write an effective letter of recommendation for me. What should I do?
Applicants who have been in this fairly common situation in the past have negotiated it in various ways. Some applicants who have recently participated in a writing course or workshop or summer program have solicited letters from those who taught them. Applicants who graduated from college in the past five years or so, have contacted a professor who did indeed remember them and was happy to write on their behalf. Others have asked for their employer to write a letter that addresses qualities valuable in both the workplace and the academy--responsibility, dedication, hard work, communication skills. The least effective letters of recommendation are typically those from friends or family who, appropriately, are too fond of us to be able to evaluate effectively. Again, taking additional course work in English at the 300 and 400 levels allows you the opportunity to request a current academic reference letter.

I'm thinking about applying to your Master's in English program with a concentration in Creative Writing, but am also considering applying to MFA in Creative Writing programs. What is the difference between these degrees?
In general, the differences between the Master's in English (MA) and the Master's of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing are that the MFA is the terminal degree; MFA programs may require fewer courses in literature and critical theory; and the MA in English tends to be a broader degree. Of course, requirements for degrees vary significantly from one program to the next and so perhaps the best way to explore differences between these degrees and among institutions is to visit the web sites for the programs to which you are considering applying.

Does the English Department offer a Master's in Teaching (MAT) degree?
Unfortunately, no, we do not offer the Master's in Teaching (MAT) degree at this time.

I'm interested in the Master's degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Will I have to take courses in subjects other than Creative Writing in order to complete requirements for the degree?
Yes. It's important to realize that students admitted to the program--no matter what the concentration--will all earn the same degree, the Master's degree in English. Students in the program all have to take courses in their designated concentration and in the other concentration as well. That means students with a concentration in Creative Writing must take a certain number of literature, theory, pedagogy, rhetoric, or linguistics courses, while students with a concentration in English Studies must take a certain number of creative writing, pedagogy, rhetoric, or linguistics courses. If you only want to take creative writing courses, this is probably not the program for you and you may wish to research other options.

I have been working on a book-length project. If I'm accepted to your program, will I able to concentrate solely on completing my project and work only with faculty involved in the genre in which I'm writing?
We have had students in the past who have entered the MA program with writing projects that were complete, nearly complete, half-finished, partially imagined, and all stages in between. Many of these students completed their projects while in the program or began related projects as a result of their studies here. It is, however, important to keep in mind that this is a program that awards the credential of the MA in English, not an MFA. That means that there are various requirements involved in this degree that Department faculty feel strongly about. Given the deliberate design of the program, students are required to work in various genres, take a variety of seminars, and work with a range of faculty members.

I see that your program requires completion of a second language requirement as part of earning the Master's degree. What are the various ways that the requirement for a second language can be fulfilled? At what point in the program do students fulfill this requirement?
There are a variety of ways graduate students can fulfill the second language requirement. If the student has recently (within two or three years) completed the final course in a second-year language sequence with a grade of B or better, we consider the requirement to be met. Additionally, one-hour translation exams (typically, in French, German, and Spanish, though exams in other languages can be arranged) are offered to graduate students fall, winter, and spring quarters. The exams are graded Pass/Fail and a grade of Pass fulfills the second language requirement. Also, we are sometimes able to offer a senior seminar in Medieval Literature that includes an Old English translation exam. Successful passing of that exam meets the second language requirement. Some graduate students also enroll in undergraduate classes in second languages, though of course this can be very time-consuming. Finally, graduate students with a concentration in Creative Writing may elect to take an additional graduate seminar in literature in order to substitute for the second language requirement. Under all circumstances, we strongly encourage students to complete the second language requirement during their first year in the program, so that they may concentrate on other parts of the program during their second year.

How long does it typically take to complete the degree?
The great majority of students in the Master's in English program finish their degrees in two years (six quarters). Increasingly, more second-year students are finishing their degrees in 5 quarters and occasionally a student will take more than two years to finish, but the program is designed to be completed within six quarters.

Is it possible to attend the program on a part-time basis?
The best case scenario for someone wishing to attend part-time would be an applicant who did not need or want financial aid or a Teaching Assistantship and whose schedule allowed enrollment in seminars offered during the day.

Since the normal seminar load per quarter is two seminars (10 credits), part-time would be one seminar per term (5 credits). However, because our program is primarily designed for full-time attendance, part-time enrollment would have its challenges. For instance, most graduate seminars are offered during the day, with only the occasional seminar offered in the evening, so a student hoping to attend part-time by taking evening seminars would have significant scheduling difficulties. Additionally, in order to be eligible for financial aid, a student must carry a minimum of 10 credits, while a student awarded a Teaching Assistantship (TA) must carry a minimum of 8 credits, both well over part-time status. Thus, the part-time student would be ineligible for both financial aid and a Teaching Assistantship.

Is it possible to earn my degree by taking summer courses and evening classes?
No, the MA requires courses that are not typically offered during the summer or as evening classes.

Do you offer graduate seminars online?
No, we do not offer graduate seminars online (nor through distance learning of any kind).

I would like to know more about Western Washington University and about Bellingham, too, especially housing information. Does the University have graduate student housing?
For more information on Western Washington University in general, you may want to go to the University web page (which you may have used to get to this site). It provides much information and many links about the University. Though the English Department is unable to help you locate off-campus housing and Western does not have student housing specifically for graduate students, you may wish to consult the University Residences web site which gives details about living expenses in Bellingham and offers information about campus apartment rentals for married students and families. For information about the wonderful town of Bellingham, a place many people come to and almost no one wants to leave, you may want to check out the website for the local newspaper, the Bellingham Herald, which gives a variety of details about Bellingham activities, entertainment, music, schools, neighborhoods, and housing.