UMD English Moves Up in U.S. News Graduate Program Ranking

The Department of English moved up from No. 32 to No. 26 among all graduate English programs and is No. 13 among public universities.

By Chloe Kim

The University of Maryland Department of English is now ranked No. 26 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools list of Best English Programs released on April 8. The program moved up six spots from its previous ranking of No. 32 in 2021.

The new ranking reflects significant overhauls that the department made to the graduate program during the height of the pandemic. Some of these efforts include improving time to degree, introducing best practices for mentoring and opening up more career pathways. The program also significantly enhanced the diversity of its cohorts.

“Our graduate program has a strong track record of supporting collaborative, interdisciplinary research that amplifies forward-facing, 21st-century holistic training and a curriculum that is responsive to the evolving academic and professional needs of students,” said Professor and Chair Amanda Bailey. “As a result, we have been able to attract, retain and graduate top-flight graduate students, advance student-centered policies and procedures, and make diverse career paths visible, valued and viable.”

“We can be proud of the strength of our English graduate program and its elevation in the rankings. This is due to the creative innovation of the faculty and the leadership of department chair Amanda Bailey who helped transform the program over the past five years to emphasize scholarship that has an impact on the public good,” said Stephanie Shonekan, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “Graduates of UMD English go on to great careers across different industries where they contribute to our understanding of who we are as a society.”

Here are a few stories that highlight how UMD English stands out:

Faculty Innovations

Our faculty are leading scholars in their fields, who also prioritize meeting student interests and needs. From establishing new research spaces to creating support centers that advance student success, English department faculty are committed to inclusivity and innovation.

NarraSpace: UMD’s Hub for Immersive Storytelling and Inclusive Scholarship

With VR headsets and tactile tools, UMD's new lab is redefining what scholarship can look—and feel—like.

Disability Resources Tailored for English Classrooms

This new center provides tools and support specifically for writing-intensive courses. Faculty can access one-on-one curriculum consultations, and students can try out tools to help them complete their coursework.

Graduate Opportunities

Our graduate students are at the forefront of innovation, from winning grants to support interactive and immersive installations to pioneering new forms of digital dissertations.

Three English Graduate Students Win ArtsAMP Student Grants

Learn more about the research of three English graduate students who are integrating the arts with technology and other disciplines.

A New Generation of Doctoral Scholars Goes Beyond the Page

From video games to textile art, English doctoral students are expanding dissertation scholarship through digital and experimental work.

Doctoral Student Named to the Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography

Dylan Lewis, who researches rare books, the history of typography and queer bibliography, was named to this distinguished community of scholars working to advance the study of texts, images, and artifacts as material objects.