About the Program
The Arts and Letters program's interdisciplinary structure recognizes that in the contemporary world, a thorough grounding in the humanities offers the necessary intellectual and personal development for individuals to stay informed.
The Arts and Letters program stresses a broad liberal arts education at the graduate level and takes as a guiding principle Henry Adams' belief that a valid education prepares a citizen to meet any emergency with economy and force. This program acknowledges the timely issues-and timeless speculations- emerging throughout the world.
Degrees offered:
- Master of Letters (M.Litt.)
- Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.)
- Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Concentrations offered:
- Concentration in Writing
- Irish/Irish-American Studies Concentration
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Degree Requirements
Master of Letters
Students enrolled in the Master of Letters (M.Litt.) degree program have two options:
- completion of nine courses (27 credit hours) and a master's thesis of 50-75 pages.
- in lieu of writing the thesis, students may elect to take two additional courses for a total of eleven (33 credit hours).
In either case, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better in order to graduate.
Doctor of Letters
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree program must complete nine courses (27 credit hours) plus a required writing seminar, the Joy of Scholarly Writing, for a total of 30 credit hours with a cumulative average of 3.1 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. All D.Litt. students must prepare and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation of 150-200 pages.
Concentration in Writing
M.Litt. and D.Litt. students may choose from a wide variety of writing-focused courses as part of their studies in the Arts and Letters program. In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of the program, students can explore writing through several different genres: essay, poetry, short story, prose, academic writing, and more.
Irish/Irish-American Studies Concentration
M.Litt. and D.Litt. students may enroll in the Irish/Irish-American Studies concentration beginning with the Fall 2004 semester. Study in this interdisciplinary concentration focuses on the literature, history, politics, and culture of Ireland and Irish America. Courses offered include such topics as Contemporary Ireland: 1922-Present, Irish and Irish-American Literature for Children and Young Adults, The Great Hunger: The Great Irish Famine, Constructions of Irish-American Identity, Celtic Archeology, Northern Ireland, Commemoration and Memory in Irish History, Irish History Through Film; Researching Irish History: Archives and Archival Research; Modernism and Irish Literary Revival, James Joyce, Irish History to the Normans, Normans to the Irish Civil War (1922), and The Irish in America. Five courses are required for the concentration.
Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies
The certificate requires completion of a total of 16 credit hours, consisting of three required seminar courses (The Holocaust/Core Seminar; Comparative Genocide; The Jewish People: An Introduction), two elective courses, and a one credit, four-day capstone experiential seminar during the summer term. Students may enroll for the certificate only, or they may earn the certificate as part of the Master or Doctor of Letters degree.
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Sample Course Offerings and Areas of Concentration
A recent sampling of course offerings include:
Series 100: Foundations of Civilization
St. Augustine's City of God
Revolutions in Prehistory: The Social Impact of Technological Development
Classical Roots, Modern Revisions; Eclectic Electra
The Medieval Mind: Dante and his World
The Evolution of the Empire in the Ancient World
Series 200: The Modern Era
The Search for the Good Community
The Great War: Its Impact on Culture and Politics
Shakespeare's Real Men
History Imagined: Literature Opens the Annals
Irish Literary Renaissance
Series 300: Contemporary Studies
The Yearning for Paradise: Images of the Garden in American Literature
Contemporary American Fiction
Theatre and the Holocaust: Resistance, Response, Remembrance
Victorian Landscapes: Writers and Artists
American Myths & Folktales: Myths of Origin and Sources of National and Transnational Identity
Series 400: History of Art and Music
Choral Music
The Botany of Healing
Bach and the Expression of Faith
Renaissance and Anti-Renaissance
History of Russian Art and Culture, 1840-2000
Series 500: History and Philosophy of Science:
The History of Scientific Medicine
Plagues in History
Cultural History of Medicine
One Hundred Years of Einstein: More or Less
Series 600: Studies in Spirituality
The Life and Work of Thomas Merton
Sanitary Sanctity and Sanity: Physical, Spiritual and Mental Dimensions of Wellness and Illness
Eastern Christianity
Readings in the Theology of the Body
Series 900: Writing Practicum
Poetry Workshop
Writing to Heal
Travel Writing
The Joy of Scholarly Writing
To learn more about our course offerings, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for a current Arts and Letters Course Offering brochure.
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Cost of Attendance
Tuition and Fees for M.Litt. and D.Litt. in 2007-2008.
| Application fee (nonrefundable) |
$35 |
| Tuition per credit |
$832 |
| Tuition per credit (summer term) |
$416 |
| Student Health Insurance |
$1,448 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. It's been a while since I have been in school. Will I feel out of place in this program?
Aside from coming from a multitude of professional backgrounds and walks of life, students in the program also reflect a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and countries of origin. A significant strength of the program is the multiplicity of voices that are present in the student body.
2. I have family and work commitments. Can I take classes part-time?
Students in the Arts & Letters program may elect to study on a full or part-time basis. Most classes meet in the late afternoon or early evening to accommodate the schedules of working professionals enrolled in the program.
3. If admitted, can I defer my admission offer?
You may defer your offer of admission for up to two terms (e.g., if you applied for spring admission, you can defer to any term up to spring of the following year). After that time, you must reapply through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
4. Is there campus housing available for students in the Arts & Letters program?
There is a limited amount of campus housing available for full-time students and their families. Units range from dormitories to apartments. There are also commuter rooms available which allow students to stay on campus up to three nights per week.
All apartment and residence hall applications are made to the Housing Office. For more information on graduate housing, visit the Residence Life Web site.
5. I've taken some graduate-level classes at other institutions. Can I transfer those credits to this program?
Drew's Arts & Letters program does not grant advanced standing for graduate work completed at other institutions.
6. Can I teach at the college level with a D.Litt.?
D.Litt. degree recipients complete a rigorous, interdisciplinary course of study that many find makes them excellent candidates for teaching. However, students whose sole goal is to teach full-time at the college or university level should be aware that full-time teaching at this level usually requires a Ph.D. in a specific discipline.
7. Are comprehensive examinations required? What about a language exam?
Neither comprehensive nor language exams are required in the Arts & Letters program.
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