Applying to the Program

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.

To make sure students are prepared for the rigor of graduate work in English, students may be admitted "conditionally." Students with a B.A. in English, but a major GPA below 3.0, or those who do not have an undergraduate degree in their prospective field—Literature, Rhetoric & Composition, TESOL—may take prerequisite coursework to prepare them. Prerequisites do not need to be completed before applying to the program. Prerequisites are typically completed once an applicant has been admitted.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are only for conditionally-admitted students, and are determined on an individual basis depending on prior experience. The following chart lists those courses typically expected of incoming graduate students:

OR

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 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. The deadlines for admission into each of these semesters can be found on the Admissions Deadline page. For Spring 2024, the admission deadline is 10/15/2023. For Fall 2024, the admission deadline is 3/1/2024. The Fall 24 application period opens on 10/1/2023.

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 (PDF).

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.

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. Smith, who 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.