Prerequisites for Admission to the M.A. or Ph.D. Program

(Beyond the usual requirements of the Graduate School.)

Undergraduate Degree
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree or a recognized foreign equivalent, either with a major in a language-literature field or with substantial literary studies.

Language Preparation
All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and in one language other than English, and a working knowledge of a third language.

Examinations
In accordance with Graduate School regulations, applicants are required to have taken the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) within five years of the date of application. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is required of all non-native speakers of English who are not U.S. citizens. The Program requires a minimum GRE verbal score of 550 (156 new scale).

Critical Essay
Applicants are required to submit, with the application, a substantial critical essay (15-25 pages) in literature or theory that demonstrates the candidate's ability to analyze texts. Essays written in a language other than English should be accompanied by an English translation done by the candidate.

Note: There are separate requirements for applying to the Translation Studies Track for the MA in Comparative Literature.