English B.A./M.A. 4+2

Program Highlights

Arcadia’s undergraduate English program engages students through small classes, personal attention to student goals and interests, and internships. 

The English Master of Arts program continues to build on these opportunities, offering courses that stress effective writing in a broad array of genres, critical thinking, and interpretive skills, even as it fosters the growth of initiative and self-confidence—qualities much in demand in today’s professional world.   The  flexibility of the program ensures that, whether students complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule, they can pursue their academic goals while maintaining their individual lives and professional responsibilities. 

About the 4+2 Program

The English B.A./M.A. 4+2 program at Arcadia University allows undergraduate students who are majoring in English to apply for admission to the English Master of Arts program during their junior year. Through this program, students can complete two graduate requirements while still in their undergraduate program, thus allowing them to finish the M.A. by taking fewer than the usual 36 credits. 

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate academic performance - Applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA in their major, but exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Accepted students are required to maintain their grades through graduation. 

Writing sample - Applicants must submit a writing sample of at least 15 pages, representing their best efforts in critical literary analysis. 

Applying

Undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in English program can apply to this 4+2 program during their junior year at Arcadia. Students who do not apply for this program during their junior year but still wish to enter the M.A. program could still apply through the normal application process.

Deferral

Students accepted into this program will have the option of deferring admission to the M.A. program for one year after completing their undergraduate work. If a student then chooses not to attend the M.A. program this will not affect their undergraduate studies as the bachelor’s degree would already be complete. 

Coursework

The integrated program is designed to be completed in six years, with four years at the undergraduate level and two years of graduate study. The B.A. in English remains at 120 credit hours, but the completion of the English Master of Arts program is reduced from 36 to 30 credit hours. 

Students accepted to this program take two graduate-level literature course while completing the B.A. in English. Students can take 400-level sections of cross-listed B.A./M.A. courses, but any graduate-level literature course will fulfill this requirement. Once the course requirement is complete, it’s listed on the student’s undergraduate transcript, eliminating the need to take the course as a graduate student. Students should work with their advisers to ensure this course requirement is complete before finishing their undergraduate study.