Requirements for admission to the Literature concentration include an undergraduate major or its equivalent and the Graduate Record Examination, both the aptitude and the advanced test in English literature. (In exceptional cases, superior students who have not majored in English may be admitted conditionally.)

An applicant ordinarily should have at least an overall GPA of 3.2, a GPA in English of 3.7. Scores on the GRE should exceed 160 on the Verbal and Subject tests. The Analytical Writing score should be 5.0 or higher.

For admission to the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from a department other than our own, the undergraduate GPA requirement remains the same. Add to this a 3.9 GPA in graduate courses (out of a possible 4.0). Scores on the GRE Verbal and Subject tests should ordinarily approach 166.

More significant than scores and grades, however, are an applicant's personal statement, letters of recommendation, proficiency in foreign languages, and especially, a writing sample. These materials may offset lower scores on the GRE exams or lower grade point averages.

Applicants to the doctoral program are required to submit all primary application materials online.

These include:

• The IU Graduate School Application (the online application may be found here).
• A 300-500 word statement of the applicant's academic goals and areas of specific interest (please make sure to note field specialty--e.g. medieval, 18th century, literary theory, comparative ethnic studies).
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A 15-20 pp writing sample.
• The application fee.

Secondary application materials, including:

• Graduate Record Examination scores
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate study to date should be mailed directly to the department, to the attention of:
  • Bev Hankins
    IU English Department
    1020 E. Kirkwood Ave.
    Ballantine Hall 442
    Bloomington, IN 47405-7103

Applicants to the doctoral program who have not completed an M.A. in English should indicate the M.A. program as their degree choice on the electronic application. Students admitted at this level will be advanced to the doctoral program upon completion of 30-32 hours of relevant graduate work (with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher), and demonstrated proficiency in one language.

Applicants who have completed an M.A. in English should indicate the Ph.D. program on the electronic application. While generally the English department does not offer a terminal M.A., it does offer a dual M.A. with ILS (Information and Library Science), and a 4 + 1 M.A. for IU undergraduate majors. Additionally, in rare circumstances, application for the M.A. may be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Applicants to these programs should indicate their choice in their personal statement.