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English Graduate Programs

English Language and Literature Graduate Program professors

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Graduate study in English Language and Literature at The University of Tulsa is nationally recognized and well subscribed. Students train as teachers, scholars, writers, to advance in existing careers and to become professors and research writers in specific literary fields.

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 Newsletters to learn more: Spring 2019 English Graduate Newsletter, Fall 2018 English Graduate Newsletter and Spring 2018 English Graduate Student Newsletter. 

  • 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 Teaching
    • Secondary School Teaching
    • Publishing and Editorial Work
    • Non-Profit Work
    • Grant Writing
  • Job Placement - Ph.D.

    The English Department boasts a stellar 82% job placement rate, thanks to the firm emphasis faculty place on professional development. Throughout their graduate careers, student build both academic CVs and non-academic resumes to ensure their success on the job market, and faculty encourage students to vary their skill sets through a variety of fellowship assignments: teaching, interning with McFarlin Library’s Special Collections, working for one of the literary journals, serving as administrators in The University of Tulsa’s writing program. Due to the small size of the program, all students receive close personal attention from faculty, who ensure that they develop marketable CVs. In addition, a designated faculty member serves as Departmental Job Officer, assisting graduate students with the production of application materials and arranging mock interviews.

    In the last ten years, The University of Tulsa English department has awarded 45 doctorates. Of these Ph.D. recipients, 27 (60%) hold full-time academic jobs. Another 10 (22%) have gone on to jobs in business, publishing, the nonprofit sector, and elite private high school instruction. Among our recent graduates are the following:

    Academic Positions

    2017 Graduates

    • Ryan Slesinger, Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Oklahoma State University
    • Margaret Salifu, Instructor, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas
    • Mark Rideout, Applied Assistant Professor of English and Writing Program Associate Director, University of Tulsa

    2016 Graduates

    • Ashley Schoppe, Assistant Professor of British and World Literature, Pfeiffer University
    • Hyundong Ko, Assistant Professor of English, Changwon University, South Korea
    • Omer Kazmi, Instructor, University of Central Florida

    2015 Graduates

    • David Chandler, Assistant Professor of English, Tulsa Community College
    • Melissa Antonucci, Renewable Term Lecturer, First-Year Composition Program, University of Oklahoma, Norman
    • Greg Stone, Provost and Professor of English, Tulsa Community College Metro Campus
    • Hyundong Ko, Assistant Professor of English, Changwon National University (South Korea)
    • Matthew Kochis, Assistant Professor of English and Journalism, Mercer County Community College, NJ

    2014 Graduates

    • Matthew Vaughn, Assistant Professor, Jefferson College
    • Tabatha Hibbs, Instructor, Connors State College

    2013 Graduates

    • Jennifer Fuller, Assistant Professor of English, Jackson State University
    • Kristen Marangoni, Assistant Professor of English, Tulsa Community College

    2012 Graduates

    • Jennifer Krisuk, Assistant Professor, Dodge City Community College
    • Seung-a Ji, Assistant Professor of English Education, Chonnam National University (South Korea)
    • Patrick Belk, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Multimedia and Digital Culture, University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown

    2011 Graduates

    • Lavaughn Towell, Associate Professor, School of Humanities & Communication, Daytona State College

    2010 Graduates

    • Sara Beam, Writing Program Director and Applied Assistant Professor of English, The University of Tulsa
    • Irina Strout, Visiting Research Professor, Northeastern State University

    2009 Graduates

    • Jennifer McKellar Handy, Associate Professor, Los Medanos College and Columbia College (Coast Guard Island)

    2008 Graduates

    • Jeremy Saint Larance, Assistant Provost for Academic Innovation and Strategic Planning and Professor of English
    • Matthew David Perry, Associate Professor and Chair of English, Del Mar College
    • Lisa BreAnn Riggs, Assistant Professor of English, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
    • Elizabeth J. Thompson, Instructor in English, Ohio University
    • Seung-Bok Yi, Assistant Professor of English, Soonsil University (South Korea)

    2007 Graduates

    • Geoffrey A. Wright, Associate Professor of English, Samford University

    2006 Graduates

    • Richard Allen Black, Jr., Associate Professor of English, Northwest Missouri State University
    • Jeffrey S. Longacre, Associate Professor of English, University of Tennessee at Martin
    • Kara Marie Ryan, Assistant Professor of English, Tulsa Community College SE
    • Marilyn Dallman Seymour, Associate Professor of English, Newberry College
    • Cristina Emanuela Dascălu, PhD Lecturer in Faculty of Communication Sciences, Apollonia University (Romania)

    Alt-AC Positions

    2018 Graduates

    • Stewart Habig, English Instructor, Holland Hall Preparatory School (Tulsa, OK)

    2016 Graduates

    • Lindi Smith, Senior Digital Editor, Dallas County Community College District

    2015 Graduates

    • Kate Williams, Director of Research, ConsumerAffairs, Tulsa
    • Jami Barnett, Technical Writer, Current Desk

    2013 Graduates

    • Barbara Woodfin, Sponsored Programs Coordinator, Tulsa Community College

    2012 Graduates

    • Tara Aveilhe, Administrator for the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities and the Bob Dylan Institute

    2010 Graduates

    • Karen Dutoi, Managing Editor, Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature
    • Dane Spencer, Head of the English Department, Rancho Solano Preparatory School, (Scottsdale, AZ)

    2008 Graduates

    • Matthew Hucalak, Digital Scholarship Library and French Liaison Librarian, University of Victoria, British Columbia

    2006 Graduates

    • Michael Howard Berglund, Holland Hall Preparatory School (Tulsa, OK)
  • Job Placement - MA

    2018 Graduates

    • Chelsea Mullins: High school teacher, KIPP OKC

    2017 Graduates

    • Lily Coleman: Ph.D. candidate, University of Tulsa
    • Nicholas McMillan: IT Support Specialist, TU College of Law
    • Katie Miller: High school teacher, Seoul, South Korea

    2016 Graduates

    • Hannah Covington: Reporter, Minneapolis Star Tribune
    • Michael Dodd: Managing Editor, Liturgy Training Publications
    • Kelley Friedberg: Senior Project Coordinator, TU Fluid Flow Project
    • Helen Patterson: Customer Care Specialist, Tulsa City-County Library

    2015 Graduates

    • Grace Markes: Teacher, Union High School
    • Casie Trotter: Member operations coordinator, Greater Chicago Food Depository

    2014 Graduates

    • Carlos Acosta-Ponce: Ph.D. candidate, University of Tulsa
    • Aubrey Cain: Owner and technical writer, Red House Writing, owner, Brady Baking Inc.
    • Christian Howard: Ph.D. candidate, Unversity of Virginia
    • Jennifer Martin: Ph.D. candidate, University of South Carolina
    • Amy Pezzelle: Ph.D. candidate, University of Tulsa
  • 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
    • GRE General Test results
    • $55 application fee
    • International students who studied at a university outside of the U.S. will also need to submit TOEFL or IELTS results