About PhD Program,
Consistently ranked among the top writing programs in the country, Florida State University’s Creative Writing Program has an internationally recognized reputation of excellence. Among our faculty are winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and the National Poetry Series. Our faculty is not only dedicated to the craft of their own writing, but is also widely known for strong mentorship and committed teaching.
Our students are respected as some of the strongest emerging and established voices in writing today, frequently going on to meaningful careers in academia, and publishing their work with some of the most respected presses in the country. Located in the heart of Tallahassee, a capital city with Southern charm, our program offers a thriving community to all writers who are looking to strengthen their craft while building life-long relationships in writing.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- Completion of 27 credit hours of course work and 24 dissertation hours.
- Coursework included 12 hours of general literature requirements and plus 18 hours (9 for those in Creative Writing) in an Area of Concentration. These include…
- Medieval and Early Modern British Literary and Cultural Studies (through 1600)
- British and Irish Literary and Cultural Studies: 1660-1990
- Post-1900 Literary and Cultural Studies (American, British, Irish)
- American Literary and Cultural Studies to 1900
- African-American Literary and Cultural Studies
- History of Text Technologies
- Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Colonial, Postcolonial, and Transnational Literary and Cultural Studies
- History of Literary Genre
- Rhetoric and Composition
- … or another area approved by the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. Students may apply 9 hours from the MA/MFA level toward these requirements.
- Passing of a preliminary exam based on reading lists drawn from a major and minor Area of Concentration.
- Students’ dissertations may be an extended essay, three or more essays related by subject, or an extended original work in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The majority of students in the Graduate English Program receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship. Teaching assistants are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. TAs are often invited to teach during the summer term for an additional stipend. Typically, MA students receive a two-year assistantship, MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. PhD students receive a four-year assistantship but are eligible to apply for a fifth year contingent on satisfactory progress through the degree program and availability of funds.
All MA students and all MFA and PhD students who have not previously taught college-level writing classes must do six weeks of in-person TA training in our Summer B session (which, in 2025, begins June 23). Students receive a full tuition waiver for those classes.
All PhD students who have taught before must be in Tallahassee for training and onboarding in August (2025 start date is TBA but will not be sooner than Aug. 11). The Fall 2025 semester begins Aug. 25.
The English Department gives out several awards and scholarships, the most significant of which is the Kingsbury Writing Award. The FSU Graduate School also offers fellowships and awards including Legacy Fellowships, McKnight Doctoral Fellowships, and University Dissertation Fellowships. For more information, see below.
Application Requirement,
- Statement of Purpose
- Résumé/Curriculum Vitae
- Writing Sample (see specifics below)
- Three recommendation letters
- Unofficial Transcripts (from every university attended)
- Official transcripts must be supplied if admitted, and should be sent to:
- Office of Graduate Admissions
Because the English Department is committed to inclusivity and diversity and recognizes and champions differences in learning styles and educational backgrounds, we do not require the GRE for applicants to any of our programs.
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
The application fee is 30.00USD. You will be able to pay by credit card, debit card, or e-check.
