Top Masters Programs in English Language and Literature

The aim of the Princeton graduate program in English is to produce well-trained and field-transforming scholars, insightful and imaginative critics, and effective and creative teachers. With two years of coursework and three years of research and teaching, all fully funded, it is possible to complete the degree in five years. We offer multiple opportunities for a fully funded sixth-year, should students need additional time for dissertation completion.

In keeping with the goals of the University at large, the English seeks to cultivate and sustain a diverse, cosmopolitan, and lively intellectual community.

In addition to offering seminars in every major historical field of concentration, from medieval to contemporary literatures, we offer training in fields such as gender and sexuality studies, psychoanalysis, Marxism, American studies, African American studies, Latinx studies, Asian American studies, postcolonial studies, environmental humanities, digital humanities, political and social theory, book history, performance studies, film and media studies, and poetry and poetics. Students may also take courses in cognate departments such as comparative literature, classics, philosophy, linguistics, history, and art history.

The graduate program in English is a five-year program (with multiple opportunities for funding in the sixth year) leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Students may not enroll for a Master of Arts degree. During the first two years, students prepare for the General Examination through work in seminars, and directed or independent reading. Through numerous funding opportunities, we are able to offer sixth-year students generous research support.

During the first two years of the program, graduate students normally take an average of three courses per semester, to complete the required 12 courses by the end of the second year.

Our distribution requirements are designed to acquaint each student with a diverse range of historical periods and thematic and methodological concerns. The Department values both historical expertise and theoretical inquiry, and assumes that our discipline includes the study of film, visual culture, and media studies.

Graduate Students in English must take at least one course in each of the following six areas:.

All distribution requirements must be taken for a letter grade. The six-course distribution requirement comprises 50% of the courses required for the degree, leaving sufficient room for intensive coursework in areas of specialization.

Although some graduate seminars may cover than one field, students may not use one course to fulfill two or distribution requirements. For example, a medieval course with a substantial commitment to theory may fulfill either the medieval and Renaissance or the theory requirements.

Students normally qualify for the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree on the way to the Ph.D. by completing the general examination. Students who leave the Ph.D. program for various reasons may also be awarded the M.A. by satisfactorily completing all required course work, the course distribution requirement, and the language requirement.

Although the minimum Department requirement is four hours, most students teach than this. Students may teach in the writing program, conduct sections of large lecture courses, or direct precepts in upper-division courses. The Department and University also offer, on an annual basis, teacher training seminars.

Through numerous funding opportunities, the Department offers sixth year students generous support with time off from teaching to complete their dissertation.

Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

In this interdisciplinary class, students of race and gender read deeply and broadly in academic journals as a way of learning the debates in their fields and placing their scholarship in relationship to them. Students report each week on the trends in the last five years of any journal of their choice, writing up the articles' arguments and debates, while also revising a paper in relationship to those debates and preparing it for publication. This course enables students to leap forward in their scholarly writing through a better understanding of their fields and the significance of their work to them.

This course provides a critical of the writings of Toni Morrison. Close reading, cultural analysis, intertextuality, social theory and the African American literary tradition are emphasized.

Course explores the dynamic interplay between painting, poetry, and fiction in 19th-century France and England. The focus is twofold: painters and paintings as protagonists in novels and short stories, and paintings inspired by literature. Themes include problems of narrative, translation, and illustration changing theories of the relative strengths of painting and literature as artistic media realism and the importance of descriptive detail the representation of the artist as a social (or anti-social) actor the representation of women as artists and models and the artist studio as a literary trope.

In this class, students of literature, art, and music read deeply and broadly in peer-reviewed journals in their disciplines and fields as a way of learning current scholarly debates and placing their scholarship in relationship to them. Students report each week on the trends in the last five years of any journal of their choice, writing up the articles' arguments and debates, while also revising a paper in relationship to those debates and preparing it for publication. This course enables students to leap forward in their scholarly writing through a better understanding of their fields and the significance of their work to them.

A study of major topics current in the field of English early modern and renaissance studies.

A study of development, form, and content in Tudor and Stuart drama.

This course examines a range of American texts written over half a century in order to clarify connections between their informing philosophies, narrative strategies, and historical moments.

A study of 19th-century English fiction, emphasizing social contexts, narrative forms, and critical theory.

ENG 566 Studies in the English Novel.

Selected 20th-century English novelists, considered in terms of critical theory, technique, and form.

Course will analyze and apply readings on pedagogical theory and method, and discuss particular problems and successes in precepts, methods of leading discussions obligations and protocols of grading, preparing syllabi and lectures, and writing letters of recommendation. Required of all graduate students in English teaching as AI for the first time. Normally taken in Spring Term of third year.

This topics course offers seminars with a focus on climate change and or biodiversity. Seminars under this topic examine environmental and societal issues associated with two of the key defining challenges of our time: climate change and or biodiversity loss. The course uses a multi-disciplinary combination of perspectives and approaches grounded in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

The Yale English Department offers a broad-ranging program of graduate education, with courses that engage all periods of British literature, American literature since its inception, and many of the contemporary interdisciplines (feminism, media studies, post-colonialism, Black studies, LGBTQIA+ studies, and the environmental humanities).

The Department aims to train future scholars, writers, and teachers of many kinds: our primary focus is on the development of college and university professors, but our alumni also go on to careers as curators, librarians, secondary school teachers, university administrators, journalists, editors, and professional writers. Our faculty believe in the values of pluralism (in what is studied and how it is studied), and they are committed to preparing students to succeed in competitive and demanding professions. To that end, we make the teaching of undergraduates an important part of graduate training, as well as offering a wide array of professional development opportunities at The Yale Review, university libraries and museums, the Digital Humanities Lab, and elsewhere on campus.

Pluralism within the Department is enhanced by relations with other graduate programs. The English Department offers combined PhD programs with African-American Studies, Film and Media Studies, History of Art, Early Modern Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and has strong affiliations with graduate programs in American Studies, Comparative Literature, Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, and other humanistic disciplines. Faculty members are often joint appointees in English and another of these programs, and many courses are cross-listed. The Department encourages its students to design programs of study that combine specialization with wise generalization.

The Graduate Program in English aims to provide PhD candidates with a broad knowledge of the field of English, including critical and cultural theory. Additional important skills include facility with the tools of scholarship—ancient and modern foreign languages, bibliographic procedures, and textual and editorial methods. The program also emphasizes the ability to write well, to do solid and innovative scholarly and critical work in a specialized field or fields, to teach effectively, and to make articulate presentations at conferences, seminars, and symposia.

The program takes from four to seven years to complete, with the majority of students finishing in five or six years.

The admissions committee carefully examines the overall profile of each applicant, taking all aspects of the application into consideration. The English Department Guidelines for Admissions provide answers to many initial questions and program requirements.

The Masters in English program at Stanford University is a rigorous and interdisciplinary program designed to cultivate advanced knowledge and critical thinking in the field of English literature and language. Students engage in in-depth study of various literary genres, periods, and critical theories, while also having the flexibility to pursue their own research interests. The program emphasizes close interaction between students and faculty, encouraging intellectual dialogue and collaborative learning. Students typically complete the program within two years, taking a combination of seminars, workshops, and independent research courses.

The credit requirements vary depending on the individual student's course plan but typically range from 45 to 60 units. Stanford's program offers a wide range of unique courses and features, including the opportunity to work closely with renowned faculty, access to extensive research resources, and participation in literary events and conferences. Graduates of the program emerge with advanced skills in critical analysis, research, and written communication, positioning them for careers in academia, publishing, writing, and other related fields.

Major Minor BA MA Option Courses Study Abroad After the BA Honors and Awards For Current Students.

Graduate Joint PhD Programs Admissions Teaching Courses Intellectual Life Career For Current Students.

At Johns Hopkins, the PhD in English literature takes three years to complete after two years of dissertation research and writing. The same amount of financial assistance will be provided to students for the whole five-year period who maintain good standing.

The University of Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive and dynamic Master in English program that provides students with a deep understanding of literature, critical theory, and advanced research skills. Designed for students with a passion for the written word, the program offers a diverse range of courses spanning different literary periods, genres, and cultural contexts. Students have the opportunity to engage in rigorous scholarly inquiry, develop their analytical and writing abilities, and contribute to the vibrant academic community at Penn. The program typically requires the completion of eight graduate-level courses and the submission of a master's thesis.

The duration of the program varies but is typically completed within two years. Unique features of the program include small seminar-style classes, close faculty mentorship, and access to world-class research libraries and resources. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to pursue advanced academic studies, teaching careers, or enter various professional fields that value strong critical thinking and communication skills.

Northwestern University's School of Professional Studies offers a Master's in English Literature program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of literary theory, analysis, and interpretation. This program is designed for individuals who are passionate about literature and seek to deepen their knowledge and critical thinking skills in the field. Students explore a wide range of literary genres, periods, and cultural contexts through a combination of core courses and elective options.

The program offers flexibility, allowing students to choose courses that align with their specific interests and career goals. The program can typically be completed in two to three years on a part-time basis. Through engaging coursework and discussions, students enhance their analytical and research skills, develop a nuanced understanding of literature, and gain the tools to critically analyze and interpret literary texts. The program also offers opportunities for networking and professional development in the field of literature.

The English doctoral programme is competitive and limited. Every year, normally accept 8–10 new students. The PhD program is vibrant and rigorous within a collegial environment of intellectual interaction, and they are well known for their unique and influential approaches to the study of literature. The Black Atlantic, Irish and other diasporas, multilingual North America, and pan-Pacific literatures are among the many English and American literary genres that students are urged to read widely.

The English graduate program at Brown provides specialised instruction in literary theory, criticism, literary research, and the teaching of writing and literature. A variety of theoretical stances are represented among the faculty in the English department. Literary history, novel theory, poetic form, literature and visual arts, African American and Asian American literature, critical race theory, postmodernism, new historicism, feminist theory and criticism, gender and sexuality studies, postcolonial literature, and film studies are just a few of the topics in which faculty regularly publish books and articles.