English Graduate Programs - Kendall College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English and Creative Writing

English Graduate Programs

Students work closely with graduate faculty in small seminars that average eight students, in one-on-one independent and directed readings, and in workshops on writing and teaching. There are no required courses or courses of study. Instead, students choose from among the seminars offered each semester according to their individual interests and particular professional needs. Special interest tutorials often supplement graduate seminars. M.A. and Ph.D. students are encouraged to work in the full range of subjects defined by our faculty’s expertise and by our internationally renowned archival holdings of manuscripts and books in McFarlin Library.

Check out our recent newsletters to learn more!

Spring 2022 – The body contagious, a lifetime of learning and recent faculty publications

Fall 2021 – Kate Williams, Dustin Pearson and the Modernist Journals Project

Spring 2021 – Names to faces, Bob Dylan and decolonizing post-secondary studies

  • Program Objectives

    MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH AND LITERATURE

    When students complete the M.A. they should be able to:

    1. Create independent work that analyzes, evaluates, and synthesizes aspects of Anglophone literature.
    2. Understand, analyze, and evaluate diverse areas of Anglophone literature.
    3. Understand, analyze, and evaluate diverse ethical values presented in a range of literary works.
    4. Write and present effectively about issues in the field.
    5. Understand and apply ethical guidelines for work in the field.

    DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH AND LITERATURE

    When students complete the Ph.D. they should be able to:

    1. Create sustained, publishable scholarly work in the field.
    2. Demonstrate expertise in two sub-disciplines through evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of works in the field.
    3. Analyze, evaluate, and synthesize diverse ethical values presented in a range of literary works.
    4. Write and present effectively to professional audiences about issues in the field.
    5. Understand and apply ethical guidelines for work in the field.
  • Degree Options

    English Language & Literature, M.A.

    Provides both opportunities for creative expression and professional preparation for teaching and for doctoral study and scholarly research.

    English Language & Literature, Ph.D.

    Designed to develop knowledgeable scholars, critics, and teachers of English literature.

  • Academic Journals

    The University of Tulsa hosts many academic journals and publications that are referenced around the world. Two distinguished academic journals, The James Joyce Quarterly and Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, are edited and published under the auspices of the department, and the innovative web-based Modernist Journals Project, a collaboration between Brown University and The University of Tulsa, is directed from the department. Undergraduate internships are available at the MJP and both journals and at the international literary journal Nimrod. Learn more.

  • Research at TU

    The University of Tulsa is well known for its extensive archival holdings, making it an ideal location for graduate study. The Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum houses the Gilcrease Library and Archive containing more than 100,000 rare books, documents, maps and unpublished works. In addition, Special Collections at the University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library holds manuscripts, personal papers and first editions that rank alongside those of Harvard, Yale, and the Ransom Humanities Research Center as the preeminent archives of twentieth-century literature in the world. Learn more.

  • Professional Opportunities
    • University and college teaching
    • Elementary and high school teaching
    • Marketing and communications
    • Public relations
    • Publishing and editing
    • Writing for the culture industries
    • Non-profit work
    • Grant and technical writing
  • Job Placement

    The English Department boasts a stellar 80% job placement rate, thanks to the firm emphasis faculty place on professional development. Throughout their graduate careers, students build résumés for both academic and non-academic careers, helping ensure their success on the job market.

    Faculty encourage students to diversify their skill sets through a variety of fellowship assignments, including teaching composition and/or literature through the TU Writing Program; tutoring students in various disciplines at the Writing Centre and elsewhere on campus; working for one of our literary journals; or interning with other TU divisions, such as Marketing & Communications, Global Scholars and McFarlin Library.

    All students receive close personal attention from faculty, who ensure that they develop marketable skills and training. A designated faculty member serves as departmental job officer, assisting graduate students with application materials, mock interviews, and finding employment/fellowship opportunities.

    In the last 10 years, The University of Tulsa English department has awarded over 40 doctorates. Of these PhD recipients, 65% hold permanent jobs in academia, 20% hold adjunct positions in academia and 15% have gone on to careers in business, publishing, the nonprofit sector and high school instruction.

    Some recent MA & PhD graduates’ employment

    College careers

    • Carolos Acoste-Ponse (PhD 2020), Assistant Professor, Buena Vista University
    • David Chandler (PhD 2016), Professor, Tulsa Community College
    • Megan Gibson (PhD 2019), Adjunct Instructor, University of Tulsa
    • Matthew Kochis (PhD 2016), Associate Professor, Mercer County Community College
    • Sungjin Jang (PhD 2016), Assistant Professor, Chung-Ang University, South Korea
    • Jina Moon (PhD 2016), Assistant Professor, Kumo National Institute of Technology, South Korea
    • Annie Paige (PhD 2020), Assistant Professor, Tulsa Community College
    • Amy Pezelle (PhD 2020), Assistant Professor, Tulsa Community College
    • Marie Sartain (PhD 2021), Adjunct Instructor, University of Cincinnati
    • Margaret Salifu (PhD 2017), Instructor, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas
    • Ashley Schoppe (PhD 2017), Assistant Professor, Pfeiffer University
    • Ryan Slesinger (PhD 2018), Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Oklahoma State University

    Elementary and high school teaching

    • Blake Connelly (PhD, 2021), Jenks High School
    • Amber Drew (MA 2021), Mingo Valley Christian College Preparatory School
    • Stewart Habig (PhD, 2018), Street School Tulsa
    • Katie Miller (PhD, 2017), Harding Fine Arts Academy, Oklahoma City
    • Joseph Willis (PhD 2017), Pryor Public School

    Administration and culture industries

    • Harrison Brockwell (MA 2020), Production Assistant, News on 6, Tulsa
    • Danielle Calhoun (MA 2021), Academic Advisor, the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Texas, Tyler
    • Hannah Covington (MA 2016), Reporter, Minneapolis Star Tribune
    • Nicholas McMillan (MA 2017), Data and Systems Analyst, Family and Children Services of Oklahoma
    • Mark Rideout (PhD 2017), Associate Director, Writing Program, University of Tulsa
    • Lindi Smith (PhD 2017), Senior Digital Editor, Dallas County Community College
    • Greg Stone (PhD 2015), Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs, Tulsa Community College

    Further studies

    • Dayne Riley (PhD 2020), English, The University of Tulsa postdoctoral fellow
    • Laura Thomas (PhD 2020), English, The University of Tulsa postdoctoral fellow
    • Muriel Unseth (MA 2021), Fullbright Fellow, Czech Republic
  • Application Requirements

    To be considered for graduate admission, the following items must be submitted to the Graduate School:

    • A completed Graduate School application
    • Statement of Purpose (admission essay)
    • 10 – 20 page academic writing sample
    • 2 – 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your academic potential.
    • Official or unofficial transcripts from all universities attended
    • $60 application fee
    • International students who studied at a university outside of the U.S. will also need to submit TOEFL or IELTS results