About PhD Program,
UIC offers a PhD in English with creative dissertation and also an MA in English with creative manuscript.
The MA is considered preparation to enter an PhD program, either in literature or creative writing; or a degree to prepare a writer to enter jobs in publishing, public relations, high school or community college teaching, grant writing, corporate writing, and other communications fields.
UIC’s PhD is suitably academic and scholarly, blending thorough studies in critical theory and literature with in-depth immersion in the writing of fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction. The program is usually completed in 5 or 6 years. In that time students prepare themselves to work as professors with 3 or 4 solid individually designed teaching areas. In the same time, students also become skilled and imaginative college composition instructors, and have opportunities to broaden expertise in this area if desired. PhD students in the Program for Writers also teach beginning creative writing courses in their genre, and may teach introductory literature courses as well. All PhD students are offered teaching assistantships.
The student who finishes a PhD with creative dissertation also graduates with a book-length MS of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. Some students are able to complete more than one book. Students in the program are encouraged to seek publication before they finish the program. There are opportunities for assistance in learning the literary market and how to present oneself to it. The Program for Writers Workshops welcome new drafts as well as revisions of drafts seen in earlier workshops. Workshops are offered in short fiction, the novel, creative nonfiction, and poetry. A student-run reading series presents public readings of works-in-progress by both PhD and MA students in the program.
The 2-year Program for Writers MA is designed to provide intensive work in a particular genre plus an advanced overview of literary and cultural studies. A 3-year option can include secondary teaching certification. The MA is designed as a stepping-stone to PhD work but it also prepares students for community college or high school teaching, careers in publishing or editing, and other professional areas. Students complete the MA with a partial MS, or portfolio, roughly 75-150 pages (prose), somewhat shorter for poetry (40-50 pgs). The project could consist of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Excerpts from novels or from a longer creative nonfiction piece are allowed, as are combinations of fiction and nonfiction. Some students do complete a book-length manuscript. MA and PhD students are in writing workshops together, so master’s students benefit from the combined years of experience and a wide range of aesthetics.
Be sure to review our admissions information, as well as MA degree requirements and PhD degree requirements.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Baccalaureate Field
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in English, or the equivalent that includes a balanced program in English and American literature beyond the level of sophomore surveys. Applicants who intend to concentrate in Creative Writing may have an undergraduate major or a graduate degree in any field, if they show substantial evidence of ability to complete the work in literature required for the degree in English.
Master’s Degree
A degree at the Master’s level is not required to apply. However, applicants with a degree at the Master’s level (MA, MS, MFA) tend to have more scholarly experience and academic goals that are more aligned with our program. Since 2000, we have only accepted two candidates to the PhD program who did not have a degree at the Master’s level.
Current UIC English MA students should contact the Graduate Program Director before December 15th to arrange for submission of materials. (They should not submit an online application.)
NOTE: The English Department does accept applications from prospective students who have degrees in other fields, but we place all applications in equal competition, and students with undergraduate experience in English are often better aligned with our program goals than those who have degrees in other fields.
Grade Point Average
At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study and for all graduate work.
Tests Required
- TOEFL(international students only)
600 (paper-based); 250 (computer-based); 95, with minimum subscores of Reading 24, Listening 24, Speaking 24, and Writing 22 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL). - IELTS (international students only)
0, with subscores of 6.5 for all four subscores.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All accepted students are considered automatically for university awards, so no special instructions are necessary. The Application for Graduate Appointment is used in these applications for Graduate College fellowships and awards. Admitted PhD students are offered a minimum of six years of full funding as a TA; admitted MA students have the option to pursue a TA position in the department in the second year.
For students who do not receive a Teaching Assistantship in their first year, Graduate Assistantships are often available on campus and may carry a tuition waiver.
Application Requirement,
The application requires the following materials:
- Official online application
- Non-refundable application fee of US $70 (note: international students also pay a nonrefundable US $100 fee)
- Transcripts (see the official UIC Admissions Domestic Requirementsor International Requirements pages for more information on acceptable transcripts)
- Statement of purpose: a statement of about 500 words presenting your reasons for pursuing graduate work in English, and relating that work to professional and other goals
- 20-page writing sample:
- English Studies candidates should upload only a standard writing sample of no more than 20 pages in an area reflective of your graduate research interests. A creative sample is not required.
- Applications for the Program for Writers should upload one creative writing sample, approximately 20 pages of prose and/or 5 to 8 poems. Poetry may be single-spaced but prose must be double-spaced, and all samples should use a font no smaller than 12 pts. Please indicate whether the prose is creative nonfiction, short fiction or an excerpt from a novel. Program for Writers applicants for the PhD can also submit an optional 20-page critical writing sample.
- CV / resume
- Three letters of recommendation. These are uploaded electronically by the recommender. While completing your application, you will be prompted to add the contact information of your three references, including email and phone number.
- Completed Admissions Review Cover Sheet(.pdf).
- You may check on the status of your application by logging in to the application page after submitting.
International applicants
- The deadline and requirements for international applicants are the same as they are for domestic applicants. Please visit UIC Admissions International Requirementspage for details specific to international applications, including English proficiency requirements.
- Note that international applicants are assessed an extra $100 fee upon submission to help cover the cost of verifying international credentials.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
- Non-refundable application fee of US $70 (note: international students also pay a nonrefundable US $100 fee)
