Continuing to a PhD Program

MA students can apply to a PhD program in the fall semester of their first or second year in the MA program. Most students apply to a PhD program after completing the MA degree or in the second year of study. This option has the advantage that applicants will then have completed or made significant progress toward completing the MA thesis, which can be used as a writing sample. Students applying to a PhD program in their second year also have the benefit of a full year’s maturation of their work.

Students are encouraged to submit applications to multiple institutions, as this increases the possibility of acceptance to a PhD program.