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College of Arts and Sciences

M.A. in English Admissions Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.) in English
Department of English
Fahy Hall, (973) 761-9388

Faculty: Alexander; Balkun; Carpentier; Farina; Gevirtz; Gray (Assistant Chair); Jones; Oates; Shea; Sbriglia (Director of Graduate Studies); Sherman ; Svenvold; Thoms-Cappello, Wargacki; Weisl (Chair)

Faculty Emeriti: Byrnes; Grieco

Program Summary

The Department of English offers graduate courses in British literature, American literature and critical theory, as well as writing, leading to the Master of Arts. A master's degree in English provides the basis for a wide range of career and professional choices. At Seton Hall, the M.A. in English serves as preparation for a doctoral degree program in literature, the Master of Fine Arts in Writing, and for professional degrees in law or business, as well as for careers in creative writing, secondary education, publishing, and professional writing. The diversity of student goals and interests is accommodated through a choice of four programs of study, as outlined below. Students should consult the Director of Graduate Studies for details of these programs and for guidance in selecting the programs and courses best suited to their needs.

Undergraduate English majors at Seton Hall who qualify for the dual degree B.A./M.A. program in English can complete the M.A. in one year beyond their B.A. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA in the major, apply in the second semester of their junior year, and may start taking graduate classes in their senior year. See the Undergraduate Catalogue for full description and admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines for the M.A. in English program are as follows:

  • Fall Semester: July 1st (Students applying for the Teaching Assistantships must apply by March 1st)
  • Spring Semester: November 1st
  • Summer Semester: April 1st

General Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials (please note that an application will not be reviewed until all required materials have been submitted):

  • Completed Graduate Application with Fee 
  • Résumé 
  • Personal Statement 
  • Three Letters of Recommendation 
  • Official Transcript(s) 

Admission Requirements for International Applicants

In addition to the general admission requirements for the M.A. program, international applicants must submit the following additional materials:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Note: this requirement may be waived if you have earned a prior degree from an accredited university/college within the United States and/or if you are a citizen of a country of which English is the official language. Such a waiver must be requested via email to the department.
  • Transcript evaluation: Academic transcripts from institutions outside of the United States or Canada must undergo a course-by-course evaluation conducted by an independent credentials evaluation agency, that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. A custom application has been created exclusively for Seton Hall University allowing our applicants to request their evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access the application here: SpanTran Application - Seton Hall University. Failure to submit a required credential evaluation from a NACES member will result in your application for admission being incomplete and, thus, unable to be reviewed.

How to Apply

You can start a graduate application through the University's main graduate studies webpage.

The personal statement and résumé can be uploaded directly onto the online application. Letters of recommendation are also received electronically. The application will ask you for the names and email addresses of your references. Once submitted, your references will receive an emailed request for the recommendation that they will then submit back to the university electronically. Official transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution either via an approved electronic delivery service or in a sealed envelope sent to the following address:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Seton Hall University
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079

For international applicants, TOEFL/IELTS scores can be sent to Seton Hall using the following institution/CEEB code: 2811. For information on acquiring a credential evaluation from World Education Services, please go to their website.