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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2021-2022 
    
American University Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Literature, Culture, and Technology (MA)


Offered by the Department of Literature , College of Arts and Sciences 

Information technology, data science, game design, and even cyber-security want what our innovative Literature, Culture, and Technology (MA) teaches: strong writing and analytical skills, a capacity for abstract reasoning, a penchant for creativity, and, above all else, synthetic thinking and inventive problem-solving. Through careful analysis of texts and theories, the program’s seminars not only emphasize the intellectual but also the emotional and social aptitudes necessary in the twenty-first century workplace. Unlike programs that stress the acquisition of specific information, students are taught how to map onto the world of technology and business the conceptual and analytical skills best acquired by the deep study of texts and ideas.

Full-time students complete the program in 15 months, while part-time students choose the pace that fits their needs. Students supplement core seminars that emphasize conceptual skills with practical courses from one of three tracks: data and computer science, game development and design, or literary studies (literature, cinema, transcultural studies, writing, and writing pedagogy). Students pursuing a technology track have the option of obtaining a specialized certificate in addition to completing their MA. An interdisciplinary professional portfolio or academic project demonstrating the student’s skills completes their degree.

Admission to the Program


In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants should have a grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale), submit two letters of recommendation and a sample of critical writing. 

Degree Requirements


  • 30 credit hours of approved graduate work
  • Capstone Experience: Submission and approval of Capstone Project or Professional Portfolio. Project details or portfolio contents determined in consultation with a faculty mentor and formalized in a 2-3 page proposal due by the end of the first semester

Course Requirements


Literature and Culture (12 credit hours)


Complete 12 credit hours from the following, or other graduate-level courses as approved by program director or advisor:

Tracks (9 credit hours)


Complete one of the following tracks:

Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature, Culture, and Writing