M.A. in English

Cal Poly Pomona's M.A. program is distinct for its dual-emphasis program, which allows a great deal of flexibility to accommodate students' varied experiences and aspirations. With 15-21 units dedicated to each option, or field, your degree will be highly customized to your needs and interests. Our graduate programs also incorporates CPP's Learn by Doing approach, with ample opportunities for professionalizing activities, which helps connect you to the professional world. You'll have the  opportunity to do professional research, present at the professional conferences, and teach in the classroom.

Cal Poly Pomona’s unique dual-emphasis program refers to three different Options. or fields, within the English department: Literature, Rhetoric & Composition, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). For more information on each option, click on the links to the left. You will declare one field as a primary research field and then select a group of directed electives as your secondary area of expertise. Literature students may choose to take their directed electives in Literature, Rhetoric & Composition or TESOL; Rhetoric & Composition students may choose to take their directed electives in Literature or TESOL. TESOL students do not select a secondary area of study, in order to meet State requirements in their field.

Absolutely. Most of our students are gainfully employed throughout their education, either full-time or part-time.

No prerequisites are required to enter the program and pursue any of our three options, whether you hold an undergraduate degree in English or not.

Courses in the program are scaffolded to ensure the success of all students no matter their level of preparation in the field.

The M.A. program is typically a 2-year to 2 ½ program for full-time students. The time it takes to complete the degree depends on the individual. Factors that can extend the time it takes to complete the degree include commitments outside the University.

The program prepares you to pursue a career in high school and postsecondary teaching in community college and university settings, work in the field of publishing/editing, or continue on to doctoral studies. Most importantly, students are prepared to enter career fields that require superior proficiency in written and oral communication, critical thinking, analysis, and research.

The English M.A. program at CPP has a long track record of helping teachers strengthen their skillsets and earning potential, advancing English B.A. graduates into Ph.D. programs, training a new generation of international teachers (both abroad and domestically), and allowing students from outside the field to transition their career path into the discipline. As such, the program welcomes all applicants regardless of previous field of study or work.

As part of their application, students are required to submit a 1-2 page statement of purpose and unofficial transcripts from all of their previously-attended institutions of higher education. These documents are provided alongside the application which applicants submit through a platform known as Cal State Apply. For information about the application process or to access Cal State Apply, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

The M.A. program does not require GRE scores. Students are also invited to submit letters of recommendation and/or a writing sample as part of their application if they feel it would strengthen their application. These documents can be submitted through the Cal State Apply portal. Applicants can also request that their recommenders email their letters of recommendation directly to the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lise-Hélène Smith, at lvtrouilloud@cpp.edu. Letters of recommendation need to be signed and appear on letterhead.

Most incoming students have a GPA around 3.0 (either in the English major or overall), though students may demonstrate their skills and potential in a number of ways (through a strongly-written statement of strong letters of recommendation, strong writing sample, etc.).

For international applicants, the admitting TOEFL score is usually 100.

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students may begin their study in Fall or Spring:

• For Spring semester, the admission deadline is 10/15
• For Fall semester, the admission deadline is 3/1

Each year, the Fall semester application period opens on 10/1.

Applicants submit their materials through a program known as Cal State Apply. For information about the application process, see the Graduate Admissions webpage.

You might also take this opportunity to read the CPP Graduate Student Handbook.

Times may vary depending, but if you haven't been contacted within one month of your application, review the status of your application online to make sure that all of your materials—and in particular, your transcripts—have been received and that your application is complete. If there seems to be an error, contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lise-Hélène Smith, at lvtrouilloud@cpp.edu.

Congratulations and welcome to the Cal Poly Pomona community! You will receive two emails acknowledging your acceptance, one from the Cal Poly Pomona Graduate Studies office, and another from the Graduate Coordinator in the English and Modern Languages Department. Once you have received these emails, follow the steps below.

1. Verify that you can access BroncoDirect, your portal to your CPP career. Go to BroncoDirect and use the BroncoID Number in the admissions email sent from the Admissions Office.
   • When you log in, you may not see enrollment information for the upcoming term. Depending on when you sign in, that information may not be available. To verify your enrollment status, contact the Registrar’s Office at (909) 869-3000. If you have difficulty logging in, contact I&IT at (909) 869-6776.
2. Contact the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Lise-Hélène Smith, at lvtrouilloud@cpp.edu, and she will help you plan your graduate trajectory. The Coordinator will plan your coursework with you, assist you with registration, and provide you with essential information to complete your degree in a timely fashion.