The Undergraduate Handbook
ENGLISH AS A PRE-PROFESSIONAL MAJOR
Law School
Admission to law school does not depend on a student’s major, but rather on his/her grade- point average, letters of recommendation, and score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). An English major is great preparation for law school because it teaches the skills necessary to succeed on the LSAT and in a law school curriculum, skills of textual analysis, reasoning, and argument. The LSAT also has an essay question component.
Graduate School in Business or Public Administration
In order to pursue an M.B.A. or M.P.A., a student needs an acceptable undergraduate grade-point average and an acceptable score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Businesses are looking for prospective employees who have business knowledge and a well-rounded education and who are literate enough to hold managerial positions or to absorb the requisite training. If a student is interested in the world of commerce, he or she can combine the English major with the necessary business courses on the undergraduate level and then study business further on the graduate level.
Graduate School in English
Some English majors may wish to continue their studies by pursuing a graduate degree in English. Various graduate programs offer M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in literature, writing, or linguistics and M.A. or M.F.A. degrees in creative writing. Because students have different academic interests and career goals, it is difficult to give advice that suits every student preparing for graduate study; we encourage you to speak to the English advisers about your area of interest. As a general rule, however, students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in literary studies should acquire a solid background in British and American literature and in criticism and theory. Students can also pursue graduate work in linguistics and in professional or creative writing. Suggestions for graduate school preparation appear in Appendix B.
Generally, full-time students can complete a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in two years. It can take from four to seven years to complete a Ph.D. For each degree, students must take courses, pass exams, and write papers. M.A. students have the option to write a thesis. Ph.D. students are required to write a dissertation.
Financial assistance is often available for graduate study, usually in the form of a teaching assistantship. A graduate teaching assistantship (G.T.A.) provides students with a stipend, usually for teaching undergraduate courses, often in composition. Students with a G.T.A. are usually exempt from paying tuition, though they may have to pay fees. However, getting accepted to a graduate program does not guarantee an assistantship. Because most schools award assistantships in the early spring, it is important that you apply for admission in the winter. Application deadlines often fall in January.
Most graduate programs in English require applicants to take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). For testing dates and information, contact Ann Reeves in the Office of Admissions and Records (304-293-2124, ext. 1563).
The easiest way to locate information about graduate programs at other institutions is by finding each school’s site on the World Wide Web. WVU offers M.A., Ph.D., and M.F.A. degrees in English. We encourage students to begin investigating graduate school options during the junior year. For more information about graduate school in English, contact:
Michele L. Marshall
Administrative Associate
WVU Dept. of English & WVU Press
107 Colson Hall, PO BOX 6296
Morgantown, WV 26506-6296
304-293-3100
email: Michele.Marshall@mail.wvu.edu
Medical and Dental School
Although medical and dental schools require applicants to have a strong background in basic science and math courses, many programs are looking for well-rounded individuals. They are looking for mature applicants who will understand the complex social, cultural, and ethical issues involved in the medical professions. Provided that you meet the application requirements in science and math, an English major can give you a boost over students who focused only on the sciences.
Medical school admission is based on the student’s overall academic record, score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), a written personal statement, letters of recommendation, volunteer work in the field, and an interview. An English major can help you prepare for the MCAT which covers four areas: verbal, math, general knowledge of arts and social sciences, and science. It also helps develop skills useful for writing the personal statement and conducting the interview.