M.A. in English and American Literature

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The M.A. in English and American Literature is a two-year program designed for students seeking advanced training in literary studies. Graduates of the program have gone on to enroll in Ph.D. programs at other institutions or to apply the skills and knowledge gained in the M.A. in another professional field, such as secondary teaching, government, publishing, and nonprofit work.

Who is the M.A. in English and American Literature for?

The M.A. program is open to Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College graduates and to students from other institutions with portable funding, for instance, international students with government funding or service members with tuition scholarships. Students who do not meet these criteria but wish to pursue graduate studies in English at Notre Dame should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.

What will I study?

As a student in our program you will enjoy access to outstanding scholars working in a range of fields and practicing diverse theoretical and methodological approaches.

You will have leeway to choose from among a wide range of exciting classes, and you will receive individual mentorship from faculty and the Director of Graduate Studies.

You will also be eligible to participate in our departmental area seminars and may choose to pursue one of five graduate minors in:

• Gender Studies
• Peace Studies
• Irish Studies
• Screen Cultures
• History and Philosophy of Science

“Notre Dame’s M.A. program prepared me well for the rigors of pursuing a Ph.D. By the time I enrolled at Princeton, I had taken nearly a dozen graduate seminars alongside Notre Dame’s Ph.D. students. Because of this, I was comfortable participating in seminar discussions from day one. In addition, I was familiar with the research methods and time management required to write several 20-page seminar papers each semester. My dissertation, which explores the homology between the theological doctrine of intercession and the mechanics of romance narration, is also the natural extension of the research questions I focused on at Notre Dame.”