Article Index
Graduate English Literature Courses
If you already have a first degree in English Literature or are thinking about studying a graduate course, you must, first and foremost, have a love of reading. Reading and studying literature does not have to end with graduation, many students carry their learning further with a graduate program. The decision to study a graduate course in English Literature is often taken as an opportunity to study in further detail, the area of English Literature that has interests a person the most. For graduate study, students normally pick a topic they have covered in their first degree in English Literature. However, on more interdisciplinary courses, you will not only become more sophisticated in your specialist knowledge of English, but will have the opportunity to explore its relationship with other disciplines such as History or Philosophy.
What will I learn?
At graduate level, courses tend to be structured around a particular period or genre (for example, Renaissance or Victorian Literature; Modern Poetry, Children’s Literature) or specialist area of the subject (Critical Theory, Gender and Literature, Creative Writing, History of the Book). For some university and college programs, the opportunity is there for you to construct a course according to your own interests by choosing from the range of different modules that are on offer. Graduate English Literature programs will generally contain a compulsory research methods aspect. This is designed to teach the advanced level of study skills necessary for graduate study in critical writing, bibliography, research (including the use of archives), and IT.
How will I learn?
What significantly differs between undergraduate and graduate study in English Literature is the method of teaching. Graduate programs tend to be led by seminar rather than lectures and there is more emphasis on independent research. Assessment will generally be made by the submission of extended essays instead of examinations. However, this is something to check before applying to your chosen university or college. Nearly all graduate courses in English Literature will feature a dissertation or thesis whereby you can fully immerse yourself in your chosen topic. This is your chance to produce some original, independent work. The dissertation or thesis can be either the culmination of four or more years’ engagement with a particular text or author, or the beginning of a PhD thesis and a professional career in English Literature.
What do I need?
Most universities and colleges will require a good second-class first degree in English or a related subject. Sometimes, some specific areas of English Literature will be an essential prerequisite so check the admission requirements of your chosen institution. It is likely that you will be asked to submit some sample work with your application.
If you pursue English Literature to graduate level then you will find that you are very employable. Graduates in English tend to be highly skilled in research competencies and have a range of both subject-specific and transferable skills of analysis, argument, and research. As an international student, your knowledge of English to this level in addition to you own native tongue, make you an asset to any international organisation. You will be able to demonstrate your sensitivity to language, the capacity for independent thought and the ability to synthesise both complex and wide-ranging kinds of information. Studying a graduate program in English Literature not only enables you to access a wide range of skills and competencies but also, gives you the chance to study a subject that you love, and to spend more time with the kinds of texts that interest you the most.
Related articles
Graduate American Studies Programs
Graduate Liberal Arts Courses
Graduate Librarianship and Information Services
Graduate Philosophy in the Netherlands
For general information on studying at university in the
Higher Education at Courses & Careers UK
Graduate Careers - search for graduate careers and get the job you want
Graduate Careers at Courses & Careers UK
Postgraduate Courses - search for a postgraduate course and get a place at a good university
Graduate Courses at Courses & Careers UK
If you are interested in combining your education with a medical or nursing degree please see:
Medical Schools & Nursing Colleges Worldwide
No comments:
Post a Comment