The MA program in literature is a vital and exciting program that brings together dedicated scholar-teachers and a varied group of students. This program appeals to:

Recent college graduates and returning students planning to pursue doctoral studies in English or comparative literature

Recent college graduates or returning students interested in pursuing careers as professors, teachers, editors, and writers

Career professionals exploring the possibility of a career change

Current teachers seeking to update their credentials and develop their skills

Individuals seeking a broad background in literature for professional enhancement

Program Overview

The literature master's degree program at American University offers students challenging courses in a wide variety of areas. Faculty is outstanding scholars who are deeply engaged in their fields of intellectual inquiry. In graduate seminars and other courses with unique-often interdisciplinary-topics, students develop intellectual confidence and strengthen their skills in critical reading and analytical writing. Courses, supplemented by our Graduate Speaker Series, focus not only on traditional periods and national literatures but on African, African American, and Asian American literatures; Latin American and other literatures in translation; literary theory; feminist theory; and cinema. Because our department also offers an MFA in creative writing, students in the master’s degree program have the opportunity to study with distinguished creative writers as well.