MA
Certificate
English Department
The Master of Arts in English Literature at NDMU is ideal for secondary English teachers or those planning to pursue doctoral-level work in English. Focused on breadth of content, the program provides broad surveys of English, American, and world literature, while also requiring a depth of knowledge in literary research, history, and interpretation.
Woman reading in front of a bookshelf
Program Location

Program Options

The English Literature program offers two distinct options

  • Master's Degree
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Stackable Credentials

Credits earned in the post-baccalaureate certificate program can roll seamlessly into the MA in English Literature.

Master's Degree

Required Core Courses

ENG 501 - Research Methodologies of Literary Criticism (3)
ENG 508 - Contemporary Literary Theory (3)

Literary Movements Courses

ENG 518 - Medievalism (3)
ENG 519 - Renaissance and Neoclassicism (3)
ENG 528 - Romanticism (3)
ENG 529 - Realism and Victorianism (3)
ENG 538 - Modernism and Postmodernism (3)
ENG 547 - New Woman Literature (3)

Topics Seminars and Other Courses

ENG 507 - Pedagogy of Creative Writing (3)
ENG 511 - Topics in Literature (3)
ENG 527 - London Theatre Tour (3)
ENG 548 - Classical World Literature (3)
ENG 549 - Modern World Literature (3)
ENG 551 - Literary Utopias (3)
ENG 558 - Multicultural American Literature (3)

Curriculum for MA Certification - 5 Courses (15 Credits)

Required: choose either ENG 501 - Research Methodologies of Literary Criticism (3) or ENG 508 - Contemporary Literary Theory (3)
Choose any other 4 courses in Literary Movements, Topic Seminars and other Courses

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

This 15-credit-hour program requires five courses in literary research methods, literary theory, literary movements and topics seminars.

Required Courses

Select one of the following courses:

ENG 501 - Research Methodologies of Literary Criticism (3)
ENG 508 - Contemporary Literary Theory (3)

Electives

Students also complete four additional courses from among the following. The courses in Literary Movements provide breadth in literary history. Topics courses provide depth in a particular significant area.

Literary Movements Courses

ENG 518 - Medievalism (3)
ENG 519 - Renaissance and Neoclassicism (3)
ENG 528 - Romanticism (3)
ENG 529 - Realism and Victorianism (3)
ENG 538 - Modernism and Postmodernism (3)
ENG 547 - New Woman Literature (3)

Topics Seminars and Other Courses

ENG 507 - Pedagogy of Creative Writing (3)
ENG 511 - Topics in Literature (3)
ENG 527 - London Theatre Tour (3)
ENG 548 - Classical World Literature (3)
ENG 549 - Modern World Literature (3)
ENG 551 - Literary Utopias (3)
ENG 558 - Multicultural American Literature (3)

What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Small classes, lectures and seminars assure personal attention and encourage interactive group discussions in a collaborative environment while carefully designed class schedules offer working professionals the flexibility to study part-time.

Class Schedules

Courses are offered in a sequence:

  • One evening class per week in fall and spring
  • Two evening classes per week in both summer sessions

Taken part-time, the degree can be completed within three years.

Katherine Ridgway
Alum

Katherine Ridgway

Breadth & Depth of Understanding

Alum, NDMU Class of 2017
English Literature
At the time I entered MA in English Literature program, I was a public school English teacher looking to get a Masters in my field for professional development. This program gave me a breadth and depth of understanding of literary criticism and the cannon of English literature that I did not receive quite so fully in my teaching program. It helped me to contextualize readings for students in a way that better prepared them for their college experiences. Currently, I work in Higher Education, and in many ways my current role is an extension of the college preparatory work I was engaged in with my students in the past. I can speak to them from a place of knowledge about their collegiate and post-graduate options in the Humanities thanks to this program.

English Careers

The Master of Arts in English provides the content and methodologies required to become a better teacher of English at the secondary level, or to prepare to pursue doctoral-level work in English.