California State University Graduate Programs-- English Literature

[A_to_the_K]

I'm considering applying to Cal State English programs as my family lives in Southern California. Is there a campus with a particularly strong grad program? I have been considering all those in the Los Angeles area (LA, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, and San Bernardino). Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!

[Dr. Old Bill]

No one has chimed in yet, and I have a pretty good idea as to why. Usually program research is done earlier than November, and usually (though not always) geography isn't as important as fit. In other words, you need to have a solid idea of what you want to be studying at the graduate level, and what programs have the faculty and resources that best complement those studies. Additionally, there are many great programs in the greater L.A. area: UC-Irvine, UCLA, USC, UC-Riverside, UC-Santa Barbara, Claremont...and several others. But it all depends on what you want to study, what your long-term goals are, how strong of an application you can prepare, and myriad other things.

At this point, it would be a good time to start considering programs for next year's applications (and perhaps you are doing that already), but you may be hard pressed to assemble all of the necessary application materials etc. for this year's applications in the next three weeks.

[NoirFemme]

Each CSU campus you named has a different focus. Look at the grad programs and pay attention to their emphasis 

http://english.csusb.edu/graduates/MA/index.htm

http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/english/gdegree.php

http://www.csun.edu/humanities/english/graduate-programs

http://www.cla.csulb.edu/departments/english/ma/

http://english.fullerton.edu/academics/eng_grad_program/

Also...where in SoCal do you have family? I'm guessing you've been to the area? None of these schools are close to one another! You need to weigh cost of living and traffic very carefully.