Graduate Literature and Writing On-Campus Programs

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Graduate Literature and Writing Programs offer students the opportunity to deepen their theoretical understanding of different types of literary works and genres as well as how to express themselves accurately through advanced writing techniques. Offered as graduate certificates, masters and masters of fine arts (MFA) degrees as well as doctorate programs, studying on-campus gives students a chance to experience a social learning environment.

Graduate Literature and Writing Campus Programs Essentials

Prospective candidates for Graduate Literature and Writing on-campus programs may be required to submit writing samples along with fulfilling other admissions requirements. Students looking for advanced training in writing, editing or scholarly literary research may attain that through a master's degree program in writing and literature. Some programs also prepare students for doctoral degrees which is the credential needed to teach at post-secondary levels[i].

GradSchools.com has a directory of sponsored listings in:

  • Comparative Literature
  • Creative Writing
  • Literature
  • Professional Writing
  • Technical Communication

General Graduate Literature and Writing Degree

A general Graduate Literature and Writing Degree program is often interdisciplinary and gives students the opportunity to do extensive critical reading of a specific type of literature as well as develop their analytic writing skills. Often, students are also given the chance to develop their own scholarly interests which are explored in a thesis-project.

DID YOU KNOW? Writing is not a language but a form of technology that developed as tools developed with human society.[ii]

Types of Graduate Literature Degrees: Literature & Comparative Literature

Graduate Literature Degrees may be very broad or comparative in scope. Literature is considered to be

writing of any kind as an art form with artistic or intellectual value, and is often classified as either[iii]:

  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Poetry
  • Prose
  • Novels
  • Short story
  • Drama
  • Genre/aesthetic features
  • Written and electronic literature

Comparative literature is the academic study of literature and cultural expression across various languages, nations, and disciplinary boundaries. These graduate programs are often interdisciplinary in that the literature may be affected by sociology, history, anthropology, translation studies, critical theory, cultural studied and religious studies.[iv]

Review sponsored listings such as Master of Science in Comparative Literature or Master of Arts in Classical Studies.

Types of Graduate Writing Degrees: Creative, Professional & Technical

Graduate Writing Degrees teach learners how to communicate through text and uses – whether this be to tell a story or record facts.[v] While writing courses often include grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure, one can also learn the technical skills involved with specific types of writing. Which program is right for you? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Creative Writing Graduate Programs may be the right fit if you enjoy original composition and self-expression as they encompass forms such as[vi]:

  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Screenwriting
  • Playwriting
  • Novels
  • Biographies
  • Short stories
  • Poetry

Professional Writing Graduate Programs are often geared for educators or others who earn a living through writing. They may include topics such as

  • Writing practice
  • Writing processes
  • Research
  • How to communicate to a specific audience
  • How to influence the audience

 Technical Communication Graduate Programs are often a great fit for someone who has specific knowledge in a field such as science, engineering or other factual area; in order to communicate this information, a specialized set of writing methods or computer-based training is used. Commonly these programs help students learn how to write[vii]:

  • White papers
  • Manuals
  • Instructional material

Review sponsored listings such as MFA in Creative Writing, MA in Classical Studies, Master of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature for Educators.

Why Study Literature and Writing at Graduate School?

Effectively, most Graduate Literature and Writing Programs have a campus requirement, even if the courses are available online. Why? It is not uncommon for graduate level Literature and Writing programs to involve some degree of classroom participation; students may have to read their works out loud, give their opinions in live discussions or critique the work of their classmates. These interchanges can be a great way to boost communication and interpersonal skills or enhance your ability to analyze. A few other potential benefits to studying on-campus for you to consider:

  • Graduate Literature and Writing Programs involve reading, researching and writing; studying on-campus means access to libraries.
  • Campus-based programs offer students the opportunity to work in groups, learning how to collaborate, participate and lead
  • Engaging in lively discussion, brainstorming, forming new networks and interpersonal relationships is a possibility with face-to-face learning
  • Hands-on learning and being able to get live feedback and mentoring from professors may be encouraging and motivating

Accreditation

As part of your search for a graduate school and graduate program, verify that your prospective school or program is accredited. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) recognizes the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the premier association of accreditation.

Take the Next Step

Whether you want to interpret complicated texts or write copy, there are a variety of Graduate Literature and Writing degrees that may offer you the next academic step. Why not use the navigation menu on GradSchools.com to find on-campus graduate programs in your preferred city, state or country!

sources[i] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm | [ii] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing | [iii] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature | [iv] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_literature| [v] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing| [vi] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_writing |[vii] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_communication

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