About Master’s Program,
Our courses allow graduate students to work closely with faculty while pursuing advanced study in literature, rhetoric, culture, and film.
The keystone project for all MA students is the creation of a 40- to 60-page scholarly thesis that will be permanently housed in OSU’s Valley Library. Closely mentored by one primary advisor and two additional faculty members, each student will complete this work in stages, beginning with a prospectus meeting in the spring term of their first year and concluding with a public defense of the thesis one year later.
Since 2011, six theses written by students in the MA program in English have been selected as OSU Outstanding Theses of the Year across all disciplines. Recipients of this award are also submitted for competition for the Western States Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award. Congratulations to Liz Delf (MA 2011), Matt Dodson (MA 2014), Marie Wiley (MA 2016), Cole Crawford (MA 2017), Ryan Lackey (MA 2018), and Ikhzaan Saleem (2021)! Cole Crawford (MA 2017) also went on to win the 2018 Western Association of Graduate Studies/ProQuest Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for his thesis “Respect the Gap: From Big to Boutique Data through Laboring-Class Poets Online.”
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
To be eligible for the program, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.85 in the English major, and the student would need to meet with Brittni Wisner, Undergraduate Advisor, to discuss a plan of study for their senior year. Once a plan has been set in place, the student would then need to meet with MA Director, Ana Ribero, to discuss a graduate plan of study and the application process,
Master’s Funding Coverage,
1.) All students admitted to the MA in English program without external funding will automatically receive a standard Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides a full tuition waiver and a stipend of approximately $16,000 per year to cover living expenses. First-year GTAs teach WR 121, OSU’s first-year composition course. Based on School needs, first and second-year GTAs with appropriate training may be eligible to teach selected sections of advanced academic writing. They may also qualify as Teaching Assistants for large introductory film or literature courses, such as Introduction to Fiction or Introduction to Film Studies.
2.) All applicants will be considered for external GTA and GRA positions in academic and professional units beyond the School of Writing, Literature, and Film. Over the last ten years, for example, MA students received GTA or GRA appointments in the College of Engineering, the Division of Outreach and Engagement, the Writing Center, the Academic Success Center, the Graduate School, and the Writing Intensive Curriculum Program. These positions provide full tuition waivers and a stipend of approximately $16,000 per year to cover living expenses.
3.) All applicants are automatically considered for Oregon State Provost’s Distinguished Fellowships, which also cover all of resident or non-resident tuition and provide a $32,000 stipend for living expenses during the first year. All Provost Fellows receive a standard GTA contract in their second year. We also nominate strong applicants for university-wide Graduate Scholarships to supplement the GTA contract, and we have a strong record of success in securing these awards.
4.) All international applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding from sponsoring programs including the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. We are happy to work with sponsoring agencies to share costs and ensure that our international graduate students receive the same financial support as our domestic students.
In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 90% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents. Travel funds are also available to students who are presenting at an academic conference during their second year. Summer teaching or related work may be available for interested MA students.
Application Requirement,
Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
Financial Documentation (INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY)
Other materials may be requested by the program; please contact your graduate program for further instructions.
Application Deadline,
September 01 2025.
Application Fee,
Domestic degree seeking (including graduate certificates) $75
International degree seeking (including graduate certificates) $85
