The M.A. in Literature at Colorado State University is designed to facilitate the intellectual growth of future teachers, scholars, and engaged public citizens. Graduates have gone on to highly-ranked PhD programs, publishing houses, and careers in the non-profit sector. Whatever your aspirations, the training you receive at CSU will prepare you for a more vibrant future.
Our program offers the flexibility to explore a wide range of literary subjects, critical methodologies, and historical periods. Graduate coursework is designed to support students’ individual interests, with opportunities to engage deeply in areas such as contemporary cultural studies, ecocriticism, critical theory, gender studies, and postcolonial studies.
Faculty bring diverse scholarly perspectives to the study of literature, creating a dynamic intellectual environment. We are particularly strong in early British and American literatures, ecocriticism, and literary theory. With a low graduate student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from close mentorship and individualized guidance from teachers and advisors who are deeply invested in their success. The result is a supportive, intellectually rigorous community that challenges students to grow and reach their full potential.
Our requirements are modest and focused, and the courses we offer change regularly. We encourage students to use the flexibility of our program to develop an individualized program of study that may be focused on a topic, author, genre, historical period, or an interdisciplinary subject. Students interested in interdisciplinary topics may take courses in other departments and in other programs in the English Department, including courses on topics such as literacy theory, computers and writing, teaching English as a foreign language, creative writing, and English education.
To find out more about the specifics of this program, take a look at these resources:
“I highly recommend CSU’s literature program to anyone seeking the versatility to pave their own career path. As a program graduate, I have been able to pursue career opportunities outside of those traditionally reserved for English degree holders, most recently with the National Park Service Climate Change Response Program and currently with the Smithsonian Institution. My English degree proved invaluable in both positions as they required advanced writing skills, ability to perform and analyze in-depth research, and a high level of critical thinking. These skills are highly sought by employers in every career field.”
~Kimberly Townsend, MA English: Literature
“As a graduate student of Literature at CSU, I was extremely impressed with the wide range of seminars from which to choose. From a feminist course grounded in Dickinson and Stein to an Early Modern Women Writers’ course to a course devoted entirely to Ezra Pound, I was able to create my own pathway to success. My cohort became my family; we studied together and have remained close all these years. We have all chosen different career paths. I chose teaching at the secondary level. Although my students will never be exposed to Foucault or Said or Butler, their ideas permeate my teaching. I have discussions with my students to view everything around them – billboards, movies, their very words – as ‘text.’ My experience in the M.A. program is the single-most important factor in my success as a teacher, a leader, and a coach.”
Review the Graduate School guide to start your application process. Here you will find information about general application requirements, international applicant requirements, how to submit your transcripts, and more.
The MA in Literature Program at CSU is a WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible for in-state tuition.
CSU supports options for students to apply for free as part of our commitment to access. We have options for graduate students to apply for free through fee waivers.
Are you a current student? Quickly access essential academic, professional, and wellbeing resources, as well as important information about graduate student responsibilities via the Graduate School Student Handbook.
