English Masters Program

Pursuing graduate studies in English at Lehman can be a life-changing experience, one that invites students into sustained, meaningful conversations about language, literature, and culture. In small, seminar-style classes, our graduate students read deeply and widely, testing ideas through lively discussion, careful research, and imaginative writing. The work is both demanding and deeply rewarding, as students refine their critical voices, discover new intellectual passions, and learn to see texts—and the world—through richer, more complex perspectives.

Guided by committed faculty mentors and supported by a close-knit scholarly community located right here in the Bronx, our M.A. students gain the confidence and skills to teach, write, and think at an advanced level, whether their next steps lead to the classroom, creative practice, or further graduate study.

Students who enroll in our program choose a concentration in Literature, Creative Writing (Poetry or Fiction) or Rhetoric and Composition. They take a total of 10 courses (30 credits), both in a common core of required courses and in their areas of specialization. Seminars are enriched by a mix of students from several programs—the English M.A., the M.S. in English Education, the MA in Liberal Studies (MALS), and the Graduate Program in Literacy Studies.

Our students also have the opportunity to sample a limited number of graduate courses in other master's programs across the CUNY system. As the capstone of their studies, our graduate students complete their degrees by writing a master's thesis under the supervision of an accomplished faculty mentor in their field. 

We accept graduate applications on a rolling basis and no longer require the GRE. The final deadline for applications is December 15 for Spring enrollment and June 15 for Fall enrollment, although earlier applications are welcome.  Students should work closely with the English graduate director during the application process to ensure timely reviews and decisions.

Please reach out to Dr. Bret Maney, Director of Graduate Studies, at bret.maney@lehman.cuny.edu with questions, or start your application today by clicking here.

Non-Degree Candidates & Dual Credit for Undergraduates

Students who already have a B.A. (from Lehman or elsewhere) who want to try out a graduate course without going through the full application process can apply using the quick and streamlined application process for non-degree candidates.

Current Lehman English majors with a strong undergraduate track record may sample the English M.A. Program curriculum by taking one or more graduate courses (up to a maximum of 12 credits) with permission of the program director. Through Lehman's dual credit program, these courses can be counted toward the student's undergraduate degree in English and provide the student with transferable credit toward the English M.A., should the student later be admitted into the M.A. Program. 

In either case, please email the director of graduate studies for guidance.

The Dr. Alice Griffin Fellowship

Upon completion of 15 credits toward their M.A. in English with a Concentration in Literature, students may apply for the Dr. Alice Griffin Fellowship. This fellowship is the generous gift of Professor of English Emerita Alice Griffin, an expert in Shakespeare and American Theatre who taught at Lehman College from 1949, when it was still the women's college of Hunter, to her retirement in 1991.