Program Overview
The study of literature is about more than fiction and poetry. It is about communication, culture, community, and the human condition.
In the English Master’s Degree Program, you’ll expand your critical thinking skills, enabling you to analyze complex ideas — not just in print but online, where stories thrive but often conflict. You’ll learn to contextualize competing narratives and interpret their meanings. Abilities like these are essential in professions such as law, journalism, publishing, marketing, politics, education, film, and even game design — essentially in any field where language, and the evaluation of language, is paramount.
Through the graduate program in English, you’ll:
- Refine your ability to identify topics and develop questions that lead to meaningful scholarly inquiry in the humanities.
- Develop an enhanced knowledge of the philosophical, historical, and cultural forces that shape literary works.
- Cultivate a deeper understanding of the work that literary scholars do.
- Hone the skills required for communicating your ideas effectively.
- Graduate with a Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies in the field of English.
Courses
The English Master’s Degree Program includes a wide range of English literature courses to choose from. You can tailor your experience to meet your unique learning goals. To further personalize your experience, you choose between a thesis or capstone track.
Example Courses
Example English Courses
- Advanced Poetry: Learning from Poets
- The Novella: A Global History
- Poetry in America: Whitman and Dickinson
- Seeing Nature in the Twentieth Century
Example Electives
- Advanced Memoir
- Happiness
- Understanding Race and Racism
- What Is the Enlightenment?
You’ll join faculty and peers for the on-campus course Engaging in Scholarly Conversation. See course spotlight.
Stackable Certificate
As you work toward your master’s degree, you can take courses that also count — or “stack” — toward a American Literature and Culture Graduate Certificate. It’s a cost-effective, time-saving opportunity to build specialized skills and earn a second professional credential.
Admissions
The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program. You’ll earn your way in through our performance-based admissions, completing coursework for admission and earning credits toward your degree right away.
Next Start Term
You can enroll in your first admission course this fall. Course registration opens July 21.
Featured Faculty
Our english instructors bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Elisa New
Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature, Harvard University
Daniel Donoghue
John P. Marquand Professor of English, Harvard University
Martin Puchner
Byron and Anita Wien Professor of Drama and of English and Comparative Literature, Harvard University
Maria Luisa Parra
Senior Preceptor in Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Career Opportunities & Alumni Outcomes
Alumni work in various fields related to writing, research, and communication, including:
- Public service
- Information technology
- Publishing
- Advertising and marketing
- Fundraising
- Education (secondary and higher education)
In addition, they have pursued graduate work at top schools, including:
- Boston University
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Tufts University
- University of Pennsylvania
Program Benefits
Experience a rigorous curriculum. 100% of recent graduates would recommend the program.
Access career advising and other services through Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success.
Complete an in-depth thesis or capstone project.
Explore paid research opportunities through the Faculty Aide Program.
Become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).
Tuition & Financial Aid
Learn more about the cost of attendance.
