FAQ

Most courses meet once weekly, Monday through Thursdays evenings. There are also online course options.  This schedule allows students to work full- or part-time while they earn their degrees. For in-person classes, classes are held at the Lincoln Park Campus, with a small number offered at DePaul's downtown Loop Campus. The Lincoln Park Campus is served by CTA Red, Brown, and Purple Line trains. The Loop Campus is accessible by all CTA and Metra lines.  Visit the Course Modalities page for more information on the various course options at DePaul. 

About half our students take two classes per quarter, and about half take one course per term. Some students will also take a class during one of the two summer sessions or the December intersession. Students taking two courses per quarter can complete the degree in two academic years. While some students manage three courses per quarter, this is a very demanding schedule and not recommended for most students, especially those who work during the day. Remember that students in the MA and MFA programs are required to maintain an average of 3.0 or better in their course work.

There are three regular quarters in the academic year, extending from early September through early June; each quarter is ten weeks long, with an additional week for final exams. See the online schedule (it can be reached through MyDePaul or  Campus Connect ) for specific dates.

The English department offers three kinds of financial aid:

Graduate Assistantships 

Each spring, the English Department awards approximately 5 Graduate Assistantships for the upcoming academic year. Any current or prospective student in the MA in Writing and Publishing (MAWP), the MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing, or the combined BA/MAWP degree programs may apply for an assistantship.

Graduate Assistantships carry:

• Full tuition for up to 6 graduate-level courses taken for credit towards your degree during the academic year (up to 12 courses over two years if the award is renewed)
• A stipend of $8,000 per year, up to $16,000 if award is renewed, payable September through May.
• In addition, DePaul offers student health insurance and various types of leave.

Graduate Assistants are assigned to work a minimum of 14 hours per week at the Lincoln Park or Loop Campus during the fall, winter, and spring quarters. These assignments include:

• Writing Center tutoring
• Performing editorial or administrative duties for in-house journals and Big Shoulders Books
• Website and blog duties for the English department

New students applying simultaneously for admission to one of the two graduate programs in English and for a graduate assistantship should submit the following materials as their application:

1. A completed admission application form
2. A 200-300 word personal statement describing your reasons for seeking a graduate degree
3. A separate 200-300 word personal statement specifically outlining your qualifications and goals for an assistantship
4. A 25-page writing sample
5. Undergraduate transcripts from all institutions
6. Two letters of recommendation from people familiar with your ability to perform academic and/or administrative work, especially former classroom instructors.

Current BA/MAWP, MAWP, and MFA students may also apply for a graduate assistantship. Check your BlueMail account for the department's email calling for applications. The email will include details about submitting new application materials in consideration for a GA position and/or accessing your original application materials should you choose.

Important Dates:

October 15 - Graduate assistantship award application opens.
January 15 - Deadline for submitting BA/MAWP, MAWP, or MFA admission applications if you are planning to also apply for a Graduate Assistantship.
March 1 (at the earliest) - Graduate assistantship awardees are notified.

Apply to the graduate assistantship award at: https://www.depaul.edu/apply/Pages/default.aspx​.

If you have additional questions about admission to the BA/MAWP, MAWP, or MFA or about applying for a Graduate Assistantship, please contact Dr. Michele Morano.

Partial Tuition Scholarships 

For the fall, winter, and spring quarters the MA and MFA programs offer Partial Tuition Scholarships (PTS) to recognize outstanding academic achievement of students in the department's two graduate programs in English. Partial Tuition Scholarships provide a partial reimbursement for tuition paid for up to two courses per quarter taken toward the MA or MFA in Writing and Publishing degree. [NOTE: PTS awards can be applied only to courses in English taken toward earning your degree.]

You are eligible to apply for up to two Partial Tuition Scholarship awards if:

• You have already completed at least two courses in the MAWP or MFA
• You are enrolled in one or more classes for the current term
• You have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7 or higher
• You are paying your own tuition and fees (without financial assistance from any agency, employee reimbursement program, or any grant or scholarship, including the Double Demon Scholarship. Student loans are okay).

Please find the current PTS application form on Ex Libris. If you have questions about Partial Tuition Scholarships or the application process, please contact Dr. Morano.​
 

Other endowed scholarships 

Every year around October 1, the Scholarship Connect portal opens for enrolled students to apply for one of several endowed scholarships in English. These competitive, one-time scholarships range from $2,000 to $10,000 and usually require you to submit a short statement or writing sample.

For information about loans and other aid assistance, including LAS College-level awards or university-level awards, contact DePaul's Office of Financial Aid. 

Because DePaul has rolling admissions, we accept applications all year round; however, we suggest that students submit their applications ten weeks prior to the quarter in which they hope to enroll. Those students who wish to apply for Graduate Assistantships for the upcoming academic year should submit their admissions materials no later than January 15.​​

The minimum cumulative grade point average needed to earn an MA in Writing and Publishing or an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing with distinction is 3.85. However, MFA students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 but who earned the rating of "Pass with Distinction" on their thesis are also eligible for a degree with distinction.

For more information about Spring Degree Conferral with distinction, please contact Dr. Michele Morano, MFA/MA program director.