Graduate Programs

The M.A. in English at CSUN offers intensive training in textual and cultural study, including rhetoric, book studies, literature, creative writing, creative writing studies and critical theory. Our graduates are versed in the study and production of texts of all kinds, including their social, cultural, political, creative and technological contexts. We welcome students who want to apply their critical reading and writing skills to the full range of cultural texts, past, present and future.

The M.A. in English consists of three options: Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Composition. The English department offers a limited number of openings for classified graduate students who want to be Teaching Associates (TAs). Students accepted to the TA Program normally teach, under guidance, one section of Approaches to University Writing for a stipend. Other teaching opportunities may be available to second-year TAs. For further information concerning choice of option or career opportunities, students should contact the Graduate Adviser. To apply for a Teaching Associateship, students should see the director of composition.

Note: The English MA at CSUN is an entirely on-campus program. Some courses taken as electives may be completed online, but all of the English graduate courses are offered in-person only.

Students receiving a Master of Arts in English will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of creative, cultural, linguistic, literary, performative and/or rhetorical theories.
  2. Conduct research and/or produce creative work appropriate to their option.
  3. Produce advanced analyses that take into account current schools of aesthetic, critical and historical methodology and are informed by disciplinary standards appropriate to their option.

For questions about the program during the summer, contact

Graduate Administrative Coordinator
Frank De La Santo
frank.delasanto@csun.edu
Sierra Tower, Room 705
(818) 677-3433

During the semester, contact:

Dr. Scott Kleinman
Graduate Adviser
scott.kleinman@csun.edu

Applications for Fall 2025: Open
October 1, 2024-June 1, 2025

Applications for Spring 2026: Closed
August 1, 2025- November 1, 2025

Applications for Fall 2026: Closed
October 1, 2025- June 1, 2026

During the Summer, contact

Graduate Administrative Coordinator
Frank De La Santo 
frank.delasanto@csun.edu
Sierra Tower, Room 705
(818) 677-3433

During the semester, contact

Dr. Scott Kleinman
English Graduate Advisor
Sierra Tower, Room 803
scott.kleinman@csun.edu
(818) 677-0901
Office Hours and book an appointment

English MA- Literature Option

English MA- Creative Writing Option

English MA- Rhetoric and Composition

A. Admission Requirements

In addition to the University requirements, the English department requires that students meet one of two conditions before being admitted into the department program:

  1. Students with a B.A. in English must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division English courses. This GPA is determined by the cumulative GPA of all approved upper division English courses.
  2. Students with a B.A. in a subject other than English must have a minimum of 24 semester units of approved upper division English courses or their equivalent (as determined by their disciplinary relevance) with a minimum 3.0 GPA in these courses. This GPA is determined by the cumulative GPA of all approved upper division English courses.

One of these two conditions must be met before a student may be admitted into the English department M.A. program. Applicants who, upon departmental evaluation, do not possess enough qualifying units or the required GPA need to take additional undergraduate upper division English courses to make up any deficits before admission into the program.

B. Classified Status

A classified student has fulfilled the following criteria:

  1. A B.A. in English or has already completed 24 upper division-approved English or their equivalent (as determined by their disciplinary relevance) semester units (upper division English GPA minimum required: 3.0).
  2. A GPA of 3.0 or greater in upper division English and a 3.0 in the last 60 units.

C. Denied Students

Denied students fall into one or more of these categories:

  1. Do not have a B.A. in English.
  2. Do not have 24 upper division approved English semester units and/or the equivalent, as determined by their potential to be offered in English department curriculum.
  3. Do not have the required minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper division English units.

Denied students may not take any graduate level courses (500- to 600-level).

Note that the English department’s requirements for classification are more stringent than the University’s requirements.

Source: CSUN Catalog

International Applications

International applicants to CSUN’s English MA Program who received their bachelor’s degree at universities where the primary language of instruction is not English must meet the minimum score on one of the following English language fluency tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT): 85
  • International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic: 7 overall score
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced English (formerly CAE): 185
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 64
  • Global Test of English Communication Computer-Based Test (GTEC CBT): 1275

The English Department MA Program does not accept Duolingo scores.

Students may take qualifying courses through: Tseng College Open University

How to Apply for Admission to the English MA Program

1. APPLICATION: File an online application to the university through Cal State Apply (this application is for all CSU's, select the Northridge campus). Your upper division English GPA must be 3.0 or higher; your last 60 units (overall GPA) must be 2.5 or higher.

2. SEPARATE DEPARTMENT APPLICATION: Please fill out the Pre-Application form

3. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Not required; please do not send.

4. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Not required

5. WRITING SAMPLE: Not required to come into the master's program.

6. TRANSCRIPTS**

Admissions and Records (A&R) requires one set of official sealed transcripts. All transcripts, preliminary and final, must be official (received in sealed, unopened envelopes). Ask your previous schools to send your official transcripts directly to A&R.  NOTE: If you graduated from CSUN with your BA, do not send CSUN transcripts.

Mail to: 
CSUN, Admissions and Records
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8207 (again, use the entire zip code to ensure prompt delivery)

7. SECOND SET OF TRANSCRIPTS** 

Please send official sealed (preliminary and final) transcripts of all four-year institutions to:
CSUN, Department of English 
18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8248 
Attention: Graduate Program. 

Please make sure to use the entire zip code to ensure prompt delivery.

EXCEPTIONS:

  • Junior College transcripts are not required by English department. However, A & R needs them, see below. 
  • Graduates from CSUN with a BA do not send CSUN transcripts.

8. Notification: Plan ahead, once Admissions and Records receives all transcripts it takes approximately 8-12 weeks before English Department receives application. Students are notified of status via email and U.S. Mail.

Application for Fall 2025: Open October 1st, 2024- June 1st, 2025

Teaching Associates have the opportunity to teach our first-year writers as sole instructors in the classroom. Graduate students are eligible if they have completed one or more of the following: ENGL 525WS (or equivalent course in Composition Studies); Two Semesters of Work as a Supplemental Instructor; One year of previous experience teaching at the high school level. For more information, please refer to the Teaching Associate Application Packet 2024 (.pdf).

The Fall 2024 Deadline to apply: April 8th, 2024 by 4pm

Teaching Associate (TA) applications due via email to: Ella Fisher

CSUN English Department Graduate Program

Q: How many units does it take to complete the English MA Program?

A: 30 graduate units with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Note the MA exam is 3 enrolled units but does not carry unit weight towards degree. Students taking MA exams must take 33 units.

Q: What is the average course load?

A: 2-3 courses per semester.

Q: Can I take courses online?

A: The English MA at CSUN is an entirely on-campus program. Some courses taken as electives may be completed online, but all of the English graduate courses are offered in-person only.

Q: How long does it take to complete the English MA Program?

A: It typically takes students 2-3 years to complete the English MA Program.

Q: What is a Classified student?

A classified student has fulfilled the following criteria:

  1. A B.A. in English or has already completed 24 upper division-approved English or their equivalent (as determined by their disciplinary relevance) semester units (upper division English GPA minimum required: 3.0).
  2. A GPA of 3.0 or greater in upper division English and a 3.0 in the last 60 units.

Q: Can I transfer graduate courses into the English MA program from another university?

A: Students may transfer up to 9 semester units of graduate work into the program. Please supply syllabi and course description for Graduate Advisor to evaluate. Please note: courses cannot be older than 7 years when completing program.

Source: CSUN Catalog

Q: When should I seek advisement from the Graduate Advisor?

A: We encourage students to meet with the advisor every semester, however definitely after you have completed 12-15 units of graduate study.

Q: What are the English MA program options?

A: Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Composition. Students may pick up a Guideline packet for Creative Writing or Rhetoric and Composition from the English Graduate Office, Sierra Tower 705 or visit http://www.csun.edu/humanities/english/graduate-programs.

Q: How do I apply for the TA program?

A: Notices for application are posted in the English department and announced in graduate classes during each Fall semester. T.A. Program Packets can be obtained from the Composition Secretary, ST 716, or from the English Department Graduate Office, ST 705. For information, you can contact Composition Secretary at (818) 677-4111. Submission packets are due in November. The deadlines can be found on the MA Program Calendar of Important Dates. Please submit application packets to Department of English, Sierra Tower 716.

Q: When should I complete my core requirements?

A: Graduate students are encouraged to complete their core requirements by the time they complete their first 21 units. If students are approaching the final semester of their program and still need to take a required class before they can graduate, the department may be able to reserve space for them in an upcoming section of the course. Students should contact the Graduate Advisor and fill out appropriate paperwork before the last week of the current semester.

Q: When should I apply for Graduation?

A: Students must submit an Application for Graduation with the Office of Admissions & Records one year prior to graduation. If you do not apply for graduation on time your name will not be listed in the commencement ceremony program. Also, graduate students are required to be enrolled during the semester of graduation. 

Q: What is the 7-year rule?

A: Courses completed more than seven years prior to the date on which all requirements for the degree are met cannot be counted to meet unit requirements unless the student can show competency in the content of the outdated courses. Course validation requires departmental approval. A maximum of nine units taken in residency at CSUN may be validated in this manner. See the Graduate Programs section of the current catalog for more information.

Source: CSUN Catalog

Q: How do I fulfill my Culminating Experience?

A: Creative Writing option students take the graduate project (698D). Literature and Rhetoric/Composition option students can choose between taking the graduate project (698D) or taking a comprehensive exam (697C).