The External M.A. Program
The External M.A. Program
We accept highly qualified students with B.A.s in English or Literary Studies from excellent undergraduate institutions. The external M.A. Program has the same curricular requirements and opportunities as the 4+1 program. The external M.A. is designed for students who are enhancing their education for eventual application to a doctoral program.
Students who have earned M.A. degrees in our programs have gone on to doctoral programs and law schools. They have embarked on careers as journalists as well as editors at magazines and publishing houses. Several of our graduates now teach in public and private secondary schools. We have graduates who work on staff as museum curators and in rare book libraries. But some of our graduates go on to careers not directly related to the degree. They chose to pursue the M.A. in order to challenge themselves, to continue the study of literature they enjoy, and to acquire a credential that adds value to their employment profile.
We accept up to two courses of graduate work completed at other universities for transfer credit toward the M.A. degree. Although the program is designed to be completed in three semesters, students are permitted to complete it in four semesters.
The tuition for the program is approximately one-third of undergraduate tuition, not including fees. More information on tuition is available on the School of Liberal Arts' Applying to an SLA Graduate Program page.
The External M.A. Course of Study
The external M.A. program requires 10 courses. No M.A. thesis is required. Students typically take three or four courses per term. There are two required methodology courses, which students usually complete in their first year: ENLS 7050 Bibliography and Research Methods (usually offered in fall) and ENLS 7890 Fundamentals of Literary Theory (usually offered in spring).
A typical course of study for an entering student in the external M.A. program would be:
Year 1 Fall: ENLS 7050-Bibliography and Research Methods + 2 graduate seminars/proseminars.
Year 1 Spring: ENLS 7890-Fundamentals of Literary Theory + 2 graduate seminars/proseminars.
Year 2 Fall: 4 graduate seminars/proseminars.
How to Apply to the External M.A. Program
The application deadline is March 1, 2024. Application forms are available online through the School of Liberal Arts.
Via the form, please submit the following materials:
- Statement of purpose.
- Names and electronic contact information of three persons who will electronically submit letters of academic recommendation on your behalf.
- An unofficial transcript from each university attended.
- Writing Samples totaling 10-20 pages on topics in Literary Studies
- $30 Application Fee
Applicants will be notified of the department's decision on their application by the Office of Graduate Programs in Tulane's School of Liberal Arts.