CUNY(The City University of New York)

What you'll study

The programme combines intensive coursework in literary periods and genres with training in theory, research methods and professional communication. Core modules typically include:

• Literary Theory and Criticism — contemporary and historical approaches to reading texts, including close reading, structuralism, post-structuralism, feminism, postcolonial theory and critical race studies.
• Period and National Literatures — in-depth study of major movements and authors across American, British and Anglophone literatures; options to study medieval to contemporary periods.
• Global and Comparative Literature — courses that place literatures in transnational and cross-cultural contexts, including translation studies.
• Research Methods and Bibliography — graduate-level research skills, archival methods, scholarly citation, and preparation for thesis work.
• Digital Humanities and Textual Analysis — elective modules introducing digital tools for textual scholarship, data visualisation and corpus analysis.
• Pedagogy and Professional Practice — options that cover college-level teaching, curriculum design, public humanities and writing pedagogy.

Students normally select electives to build a coherent plan of study and complete a substantial capstone: either a supervised thesis, a practicum-based project, or a comprehensive examination, depending on the chosen track and departmental options.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised bachelor's degree with substantial coursework in English, literature, or a closely related humanities discipline. Typical application materials include:

• Academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• Statement of purpose outlining academic interests, relevant experience and goals for graduate study.
• Writing sample (often an academic essay of substantial length) demonstrating close reading, argumentation and research skills.
• Letters of recommendation (usually two or three) from instructors or supervisors who can speak to your academic potential.
• Some programmes may request a CV and may consider GRE scores where provided; for applicants whose first language is not English, an approved English language test is usually required unless waived.

Meeting the minimum eligibility does not guarantee admission; selection is competitive and based on the overall strength of the application and fit with departmental expertise.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a variety of career paths that make use of advanced analytical, research and communication skills. Common outcomes include:

• Further academic study — many students continue to PhD programmes in literature, comparative literature or related fields.
• Teaching and education — roles in secondary education (often combined with certification), community education, or college-level instruction and administration.
• Publishing and editing — positions in book and magazine publishing, copyediting, commissioning and literary agency work.
• Writing, communications and media — careers in content strategy, journalism, technical communication, grantwriting and corporate communications.
• Museums, libraries and cultural organisations — roles in curation, outreach, research and public programming; some roles may require additional professional qualifications.
• Public sector and non-profits — policy research, advocacy, fundraising and program development that value strong critical thinking and written communication.

Why study at CUNY (The City University of New York)

CUNY offers graduate study in English within a large public university system embedded in one of the world’s most vibrant literary and cultural cities. Students benefit from access to diverse faculty whose research spans traditional and contemporary fields, connections across multiple campuses, and close ties to New York’s libraries, archives, theatres and publishing industry.

The system’s emphasis on affordability, community engagement and inclusive scholarship provides opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary work, secure internships with cultural organisations, and build professional networks in a metropolitan setting. Small-seminar instruction combined with supervised research prepares graduates for both advanced scholarship and a broad range of careers that rely on rigorous textual and critical skills.