Literature degree overview

Literature is an expression tool. Through the written word, it offers insight into the spirituality, intellect, emotion, and physical environment that form a culture, society, or social group. It is one of the cornerstones of every civilization across the globe.

Degree programs in the field, therefore, vary dramatically. They may focus on geographical distinctions, such as British literature, French literature, or American literature. They may explore specific eras, such as the Classical period, the Renaissance and Reformation, or the Romantic period. They may study different genres like historical fiction, mythology, fable, or short story. Or they may combine some of these subject areas in a single curriculum.

This wide spectrum allows literature students to flex their interpretation and analysis muscles, explore philosophical and moral questions, and understand our past and plan for our future.

Note
As noted above in the introductory section, there is no single standard literature program. The degree sections below are merely examples of how a typical curriculum might be structured.

Bachelor’s Degree in Literature – Four Year Duration
Regardless of their specific focus and content, bachelor’s programs in literature aim to provide students with foundational knowledge in the discipline. The curriculum asks students questions which provoke discussion and foster skills in communication, interpretation, and creative and critical thinking. How do we distinguish literary texts from non-literary ones? What role does literature play in society, and what role did it use to play? Why are certain stories exciting, while others fail to excite us? How does one recognize a good plot? What types of plots recur in different guises throughout the ages? How do literature and society affect each other?

Here are some sample courses that may be part of a bachelor’s level literature curriculum:

• Introduction to Literary Studies – the role of literature in society, how to link literature to culture and history and how to write about it
• Close Reading – close reading is a method of reading and literary analysis which focuses on the specific details of a passage or text to discern some deeper meaning present in it; reading of stories and poems to practise this method
• Topics in British Literature to 1800
• The British Novel
• Chaucer
• Shakespeare
• Milton
• Whitman and Dickinson
• The Gothic Tradition
• Renaissance English Literature
• Romantic Literature
• Victorian Literature
• Irish Literature and Culture
• Introduction to Major American Writers
• William Faulkner
• Literature of the American South
• Jewish American Literature and Culture
• Introduction to US Latino /Latina Literature
• Introduction to African-American Literature
• Topics in US Ethnic Literature
• American Literature of Social Justice
• American Indian Literature

American Literature
This degree field is concerned with the literatures and literary history of the United States, from the colonial period to present. Coursework may include contemporary American literature, literary theory and criticism, the American novel, and American Jewish literature.

Children’s Literature
Children’s literature is about much more than picture books with beautiful illustrations. It is about the power of words and images to both entertain and teach children. Degree programs in the field span classic and contemporary works, poetry, folklore and mythology, and multicultural and global literature.

Throughout their studies, students read, analyze, and critique children’s literature. They explore the characteristics and components that are common to works written for children and adolescents: repetition, instructional qualities, illustration, optimism, fantasy, child and young characters and perspectives, innocence, action, and transition from childhood to adulthood.

English
In English degree programs, students read, study, and write about the literature and culture of the English-speaking world. Coursework also includes the history, linguistic structure, and use of the English language.

Classical Studies
The study of the languages, literatures, philosophy, history, archaeology, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome is the focus of a degree in the classics.

Creative Writing
In creative writing programs students analyze how prose and poetry are constructed and also write their own works. Typical classes include American poetry, fiction writing, the contemporary short story, and the creative process.

First and foremost, graduates with a literature degree develop a keen capacity to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in written form. It is not, however, the only transferable skill that they take away from their studies:

• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to understand different points of view
• Ability to work independently and in groups
• Capacity to communicate, debate, and lead discussions
• Capacity to summarize written material
• Confidence
• Creative and critical thinking, reasoning, and analysis
• Organization
• Research
• Time management
• Understanding texts, concepts, and theories

Most graduates with a Master’s Degree in Literature go into teaching at the secondary, community college, or university level. Literature doctoral grads typically teach and conduct research at universities.

The career path for individuals who earn a bachelor’s in literature is not as defined. Literature undergrads who choose not to pursue further education often apply their transferable skills in somewhat related fields, such as professional writing, editing, and publishing, or in other careers which call for exceptional critical thinking and communication abilities.

Here are some employment options outside of the teaching and research sectors:

• Literary Editor
• Proofreader
• Lexicographer (a person who compiles dictionaries)
• Media Researcher
• Journalist
• Author
• Copywriter
• Public Relations Specialist
• Marketing Executive
• Advertising Agency Creative Director
• Social Media Manager
• Public Administrator
• Librarian
• Information Officer
• Archivist